Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-08

amount which the city Of New York alone
is now spending each year in the mainte-
nance of its public educational system, ex
elusive of the cost of new buildings and
their sites. Such amount, however
large it may sound, when spread over the
entire country will be but a drop in the
bucket TO accomplish any such purposes
the proponents of this measure have in
mind, would require a national appropria
ton of five hundred millions, or even to
one thousand millions, annually Is there
anyone who really supposes that the ma
tional government would make, or would
be justified in making, any such appropria-
ton unless it followed it with administrative
supervision and control? Any other course
on the part of the national government
would be mere profligacy, and what ma
tional supervision and control of our school
systems would mean | have already indi-
Gated"
DR.. Pritchett speaks with even greater
force, if possible:
ga second objection arising out of consd-
eratons of large public policy, rests upon
Well-known economic facts. If ever the
states and communities accept the notion
that local schools and teachers are to be
subsidized out of appropriations frcsn the
treasury of the general government not
only will the sense of community responsi-
DlIIty for education be weakened, but ever
increasing pressure will be put upon the
congress to give in larger and larger meas
ures. The one hundred millions carried by
! the Dill as now drawn will in time swell into
sums beyond any mans ability to esti-
mate.
There is no way by which the objea-
ton for the support of education can he
permanently shifted from communi+v
large or small, without weakening it's sense
OF educational responsibility In some states
iaWs nave been passed under which the
limit
tent equalzed The plan is sound ONLY so
long as the area is sufficiently limited 81
thdC the sense of community resnonsihiIi+y
IS NOT lost 70 undertake artificialIv to
| equallze educational opportunities over our
vast country through a national department
", euucotlon VIII not succeed. But one may
ne very sure it will go far to destrov tho
community sense of educational resnonsi-
Dlilty, and most certainly il will in tina -,
pose upon the treasury of the United Statos
staggering burden
The peril of the matter as 1t now stands
! is that a compact lobby at WASHINGTON. or
ganized by the National Education associa-
| tlon, Is pressing members of congress to
| pass the bill, while the great BODY of the
American people do not know what is goin o
! on. 1t is a most pernicious form of ''class
IeglsIatlon,' legislation by bloc which taxes
an the people in order to give salaries to a.
lew. Inc stupendOus appropriations which
its advocates will seek in the future IF tbis
Dill should become a law, no man can fore
see or overestimate. They would never GOT
| enough TO satisfy their ever-increasing de-
mands" 'i's oe-
Upon this point DR.. Pritchett speaks most
clearly and cOgently. He says:
From the point of view of large public
policy this bill cannot be commended TO the
! people of the United States 1t PROMISES
to depart from the constitutional methods
OF the past, under which the responsibility
LOT unsupported education was placed
SquarelY upon the states and the conmuni-
ties That the legislation proposed will
weaken the sense of local responsibility is
certain; that a centralized department of
EDUCATION carries great risks to Democratic
ideals is equally certain. That It will uIti
matey impose stupendous load on the
natlonal treasury cannot be doubted. That
us establishment in response to organized
propdganda would be but the beginning of
indefinite demands one can doubt.
Indeed the National Education associa-
ton already has visions of further grants.
At its meeting in July, 1923, report on
pensions for public, school teachers was
made which contained this significant state
ment: 1T is the distinct duty of the Ma
tlOnal Education association to ascertain
what part, II any, may properly be taken
by tpe government Of the United States to-
ward aiding or encouraging the establish
ment OF retirement systems Of the different
states.
lone Of the gravest objections to the
Sterling-Reed bill lies in the fact that it is
a part Of the prevailing movement for group
legislation. well meant by those who pro-
pose it, but undemocratic, paternal in it's
efforts and capable of great harm both to
the people and to the schools. Education
will be better served in the long run if it
leaves to the communities their educational
freedom"
Thoughtful and patriotic people should
make known to their senator's and repre-
sentatlVes in congress their opposition to
this dangerous bill
/ Some members OF congress in a hest
tant state of mind by reason OF the
getic influence by the lobbyists who are
supporting the bill. Appeals to religious
prejudice are being made, by the support
ers of the bill, which are as unworthy as
they are uncandid. No church has any par
ticular interest in the passage or defeat of
this bill. 1t would be hurtful to all denomi-
nations If it should become law, for it is
as injurious to religion as it is damaging
to education.
Good citizens Of all churches should make
known to their representatives and senators
in the federal congress their strong oppo-
sition to the measure. In that way the
energetic efforts of the lobby at Washing
ton which is pressing the passage Of the bill
can be offset and overcome.
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