The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-03-23

TIGERT THINKS
YANKSM CLOUD
U. S. Education Head
Raps Church and
Home.
SAYS THEY FAIL
Declares Soldiers Nor Himself
Knew Real Cause for
Fighting.

Three idols were broken yester-
day by DR.. John J. Tigert, United
States Commissioner OF Education.
They are:
The American Expeditionsry
Force.
The home.
The church.
Speaking Of the war and the con-
'litions growing out of il before the
Congress OF Mothers land Parent
Teacher Associations 1T the Har-
rington Hotel yesterday, he said:
Il have not met a man yet who
knew why he vas fighting and ]
am not so sure that know either"
Nnd then he turned on the home
lIo said that il had Craspd to func-
ti"n and that the church's influence
was waning
sees IcOseninY or Code.
Til" home" sid Dr CERT. to
larE" extent has ceased to func-
ti0n as an Ancri, an institution and
the church IS a"o;h-r institution
whose functions are becoming oh
solete. and the breakdown of the
TWO has brought problem to cdu-
Gators which has not been solved.
Influence Of the church nd home
have not been supn1ant"d by whole
some clements. but by moving pic
turcs. automobiles. cigarette smok-
ing by both sexes and a loosening
Of the moral code"
ono o. the reasons fo- this, in
the opinion of DIR. Ti-ert, is the
recent attainment by women OF a
status of economic and social indie
pcndence.
Not War Problem.
81 do not want to send women
back 10 the home" he said. Far
from that. it may be a good thing
that she is away from it. but It is
our problem to find a solution to
the problem that has arisen by
reason of this change in our in
Stitutions. There was time when
we explained these things as a re-
suit of the war. The problem came
before the war, which has come and
gone, and IL is no longer honest
to dispose of the matter so lightly.
All of these matters are Sub
ject for scientific study rather than
for wholesale and unjustified con-
demnation.
4 deny absolutely that the re-
turned soldier is responsible for the
rhine wave. 1t is just another eN-
ample of slothful minds disposing
Of a complex problem"
Principals Also Speak.
The crime wave. he said. is en-
tirely a result of the breaking down
of our institutions and has moth
ing whatever to do with the war
in his opinion. He expressed his
opinion that the remedy. il any, is
essentially one for educators.
Mrs. Giles Scott Rafter, president
sons for Parent-Teacher Associa-
tons" Kindergarten work in the
District of Columbia was discussed
by Mss Mary wilkins. Miss Ger
trude Macarthur, field secretary Of
the Y. w. c. A. addressed the con-
gress on problems of organization.
Elmer S. Newton. principal of West
ern High School, spoke briefly on
the value of Parent-Teacher Asso-
Citations. The congress also was
addressed on the same topic by
Miss Francis S. Farley, principal
of Park View School: Miss s. r.
Craighill. principal of Abbott School
and Miss Gertrude Young, principal
of Peabody School.
Mrs. smoot Presides.
Mrs. L. D. Smoot. chairman Of
the membership committee, pre-
sided, and gave the opening address.
She was assisted on the committee
by Mrs. E. ]. Brennan and Mrs. II.
S. Parsons. The congress was en-
tertained with musical selections
rendered by Madame Marie Won
Unschuld.
Following the. executive session
of the congress. tea was served by
Mrs. Marie Hodgkins, vice presi-
dent of the Board of Education, and
Mrs. Frank W. Ballou. assisted by
the executive board of the con-
gress.