The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-03
Frederick Haskin's Letter
Congress and Education.

AT mule euLeaIed ana
healthy population. But these nr --'
. teal bills, too. are finding il me- me-
and more difficult to get a hsa 49,
in congress. -''as
The domestic science bill. nal
a strong appeal to women vb ,-e'l 4
was discussed at committee - u
ings last winter. 1t provides an -
preparation to be spent in -
; states to promote the stBdv
homemaking. The proportion ~
women who cook, sew, and sbon VI ~
instinct Is said to be appalling W =,
go along following the old tbso,ee
, that mother learned to make 49,,
bread and to distinguish eo Stoa
from wool by long practice AMI
therefore daughter can do no ~.
ter than follow in her footsto.,
and learn by experience. This SEEM
an old-fashioned idea, but it hod.
in innumerable families.
Teach Women to Work.
The congressman who introduces
the domestic science bill. howsvo.
believes that girls and women WI,
are housekeepers or expect tn n.
can save money and health by lean
ing facts of their business a,
school. Part of the appropriate,
is set aside to be used for women
who work. That is. the classes 81
tablished by the fund must be part.
time or night classes. This nro.
viso was made in the hope that the
classes would benefit girls who
have never before had the oppor-
tunity of this sort opened to them
Compared with the half million
a year asked by the domestic sci.
ence bill, and the half million in
finance the national university for
two years, the bill for the depart.
ment of education demands a heavy
appropriation. 1t is, Therefore
doubly handicapped.
The appointment of a secretary
of education to be a member OF the
presidents cabinet is the part OF
the bill that has been featured
There are a number Of other in
portant provisions, however. in
which various sums of money are
set aside for educational advance
ment.
Thus, $500 900 is provided for
overcoming iIIiteracy. to be dis
tributed to the states according 10
the percentage of illiterates in each.
A similar sum is named for Amer.
caniZation work, to be distributed
to the states according to the num-
Der Of their foreign-born residents.
Fifty million is provided to level
up" opportunities in public schools,
especially rural schools. Twenty
million is to be used for physical
education and instruction in prin-
ciples of health and sanitation; and
fifteen million for trainig of teach
ers in the states.
1t is expressly stated that each
state is to administer its share Of
the fund according to its own laws
The schools of the country are not
TO be put under federal control
through the creation of the depart
ment of education. The report Of
the House committee on education
explaining the bill says that 1.-THE
secretary of education is denied the
right to establish standards or n
exercise any power over the COL
duct of the schools. All details
with respect to courses Of study
plans, and methods are left entirely
to the states"
1t is pointed out that the treas
ury would not be called upon 10
surrender the entire amount men
toned in this bill, because, in or
der to obtain its share of each fund
a state is required TO double its ap-
preparation. If then, state is 10!
interested in reducing illiteracy or
in promoting physical education, Or
IL it is pressed for funds, it simply
forfeits the allowance for the year
and the money remains in the treas
ury.
Last year, the committee approx
ed this bill saying: There is moth
ing of more Importance in cur
scheme of government than the 81
ucation of the people. Whatever
else may be left out, education can
not safely be excluded. II there
is any one thing that justities a la1
in the judgment of American eli
zens. it is that which strengthens
and supports our public schools"
This year, economy is impressed
upon congress as the most urgent
necessity, and the house commit
tee on education is patiently wait
ing a sign from somewhere saying
that the economy crisis is over.