Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-06-06
PRESS PLAYS
Big PART In
.- EDUCATION
Newspapers Can Be Great
Help to Schools, DR..
Tigert Says.

Washington - Extension of the
educational influence OF the press has
been advocated by John j. Tigert,
commissioner, United States Bureau
Of Education, as a means OF safe
guarding the school! system offthe. ma
ton. In an interview with a rep
resentative of the American Publish
ers conference here this week, DR..
1igert declared that his observations
On q recent trip throughout the, coun-
try showed the need Tor u general
public awakening, which may be
achieved only through the instructive
character of newspapers ana maya
zines. He paid tribute. to the press
as n of the most useful instruments
of the human race in the acquisition
and dissemination of knowledge.
The commissioner stated thai the
enlightened press of today is a neces-
sary force in moulding minds and
manners Of young citizens because
publications. are an invaluable asset
to education in building UP respect
and reverence for law and govern
ment.
DIR. Tigert has been advised that
his appeal to the press OF the country
for it's support cannot achieve it's full
response until there has been a re
duction in postal charges on second
class matter originally imposed as u
war revenue measure. The publish
ers insist. that their activities in pro-
noting education are handicapped by
these discriminatory taxes on reading
matter.
Tells Of Help Possible.
Describing the helpfulness of news
papers and magazines, the federal
commissioner OF education said:
'Thcre is no single factor that can
do SO much for the promotion Of
public EDUCATION in the United States
as can the press OF the country: l
have just returned from an extern
! western states and I have been tell
ing the people Of those states that
what is most needed today is not
! larger salaries far teachers. or, more
consolidated schools. or longer school
terms in the rural districts, Or bet
ter school buildings and equipment
but an enlightened public CONSCIOUS
moss or our educational system.
'There is evident, in II places
a reactionary tendency regarding our
schools ans the only way in which
this an DC successfully 4Ouenl is
through a. general public awakening
and understanding as to what our
public schools really mean to our
American democracy. The; press car
render inestimablc service to the
cause of public education if it., will
take an active interest in educational
matters.
There can he no liver topic for
newspaper or magazine than thai
which affects the future life Of the
twenty-seVcn million boys and girls
in America. Whom it is Remembered
that last year far more was snent or
.cigars and cigarettes than on public
education. and nearly as much or
paints and powders, it is evident that
the public schools of this country are
not quite SO expensive a luxury az
some OF its critics would like to make
out. Surely, the welfare. Of oul
children is not dear at this price.
With the aid OF the limelight Of
the press it will be much easier tt
overcome the difficulties that still ex,
list in many parts of this country il
the way Of giving to every American
boy and girl such opportunities FOL
that Kind and degree {of education
that will best fit him or her for a lif,
Of greatest usefulness in our grea
democracy"