Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-06-30
PLEA FOR j. s. AID
OPENS CONVENTION
Creation of Secretary of Edu-
cation Urged as N. E. A.
ConcIave Starts.
FEDERAL FUNDS SOUGHT
Prof. George D. Strayer Outlines
Projeet-Says Local Initiative
Is Guaranteed.
FEDERAL FUNDS SOUGHT

department of education under the
federal government, was made in
Central High School auditorium this
morning. when the siXty-second an
nual convention of the National Edu-
cation Associate was opened formal
ly. Prof. George d. Strayer, profess
sor of educational administration of
the teachers college of Columbia Uni
versIty and chairman of the legisla-
tive committee of the n. e. A., made
the plea.
Prof. Strayer gave a brief outline
of the provisions of the measure, and
pointed out that it has the indorse-
ment of twenty-five great national or
plantations. The principal objection
he said, comes from those who be-
iieve the nation cannot afford the
cost.
y federal department of education
through It's investigation, Prof
Stra&er declared in the report, would
bring about an increase in educational
efficiency, and would make possible
scientific investigation in the field of
education similar to that which al
ready has been effectively carried on
in the field of agriculture and COM
merce under the auspices of the fed
eral government.
THE leadership of the federal gov
eminent in the field of educational
research is badly needed" said Prof.
Strayer's report Educational prog
ress is delayed in a number of di-
rections because of the lack of re-
search and investigation that would
be possible through a well organized
federal department of education.
For example, there is need for
further careful work in the field of
educational finance. At the present
d billion and a half dollars annually
Tor the public schools. Yet school
accounting procedure is in such chaos
mat 1t is extremely difficult to COL
I9ct reliable statistics on school costs.
MOST local boards in their financinp.
or the schools proceed on the basis
OF guesswork rather than on the
basis OF facts. a department of edu-
cation could work out and popula rize
eHectlve methods of school account
nis ana budgetry procedure which
Souiu result IN greater efficiency in
me expenditures of the money pro-
'lded Tor the public schools
federal department of education
uiisht also render effective assistance
% local committees in the revision
Of the public school Curriculum HnnH
dreoS OF local school systems are now
Z struggling to bri ng about the proner
revision of their curricula. Thev
IecosnlZe that the curriculum is over
oeu. Rapidly changing condi-
ions have rendered Obsolete ,nInb
OF the material that still remains in
me average course of study The
'ocai course of study committees are
seriously handicapped by the lack IF
ra1a necessary to the most effective
nf hat
partment of education through ~;
VISION OF research could have ready
ioF uiStrlbutlon on the reouest ~
tocdi curriculum committees comnila
IONS OF the best current thouebt
Io9calional aims and detectives.
ie'hoos OF organizing the materials
IN courses of study and scientifo
nelnods for realizing the desired ont
comes from the work of the schools
Aid to Educational Proxrrs
These are but two illustrations ne
"ahy that might be given to iJ,us-
rate now educational progress would
De served by the Investigation worl
mat might be expected from a we'll
organized and adequately supported
department of education.
me prestige that a department Of
-. a
~ an effective agency for the diso
nllhatlon of scientific educationo1
inhormatlon- 1t would be recopnizod
fountain source for the latest
fnrn .ttiElnprehenSIve, and reliable in,
IIa'ior on all educational oues-
IONS. The secretary of edncat;nr,
the persuasive Influence ~
me iacts at his command wouId he
liz a position nnd vftally to AFFECT educa7
from one in his position Womb ,h, ra
, ave the atten ton of the nation
lonce each year, according 70 r.
Terms OF the bill, he would SUNNI
ao naIlonal council of education. con-
nnissio ~ me Superintendents or com
assume. siohers OF education of ALI III
in.ates, and in addition twentr-
iaayhen, TO consult with the secret ",
~ euucatlon on subjects relatinp ~
- promotion and developmenf 81
euucatlon in the United State VI
! me great influence for ednna+ Ian
Iatt that the meetings Of th;s
oVerestimated? cise De
n.ntl nylng the statements of onno-
not OF the Dill that the nation Can
not AFFORD the cost Of the fade can
s.ais ineht or education, Prof Str,,e
Io mat each year the povarnaS
penus large sums for less imnor,annIe
imnrn s nalIons welfare than in tbe
Each Year we 81 pay pq q6r 1uv education:
vi
ni.wuhhjiea s in billions" he s ana
,;ie eoucatlon is paid for in eli
IONS: The United States Viz, .i mil
nnsI MN TO OF sS2O,O00,000,O0O and an ana q
can We'll io nfe or over 100000, 900. 600.
! more Tor education than is 80, huch
ue4 II one looks upon eSuo.tiS'
d. OF primary concern to the ST. KIP
yestnent s tt OF the nation-an in,
,oSement that pays generous divid. IN 4 :
ne cannot oppose the edmc attyiauend ,
on the basis of cost. uoation bill
otners say it is not ripb+
one state to educate the chiIdre 'ax x
row sao., rms cry is born of a mar
lung in the face of educationsT n peen
iesS since the beginning Of historS,
! we are also told that the Xii
ne Jeans federal control and the st;einl.
FOCAL initiative. The bill provides
Ios Just the opposite in the most snes
cffic terms. inoot spe-
treasure Upon Congress Sought.
me opponents Of the measure jns;st
! enat it VIII eventually result in fed.
erd domination in education. study
OF the terms of the bill do NOT re-
veal the basis of this contention. II
lis true that the bill recognizes tbat
the nation has a stake in edmcot tnal
1t would. therefore. require a state
IN order to share in the federal an,
proprlatlon, to recognize English az
the basic language of its schools. 70
maintain a minimum school term -
twenty-four weeks per year. and 70
require attendance in some school
public or private, for at least tWentv
four weeks in the year, for ali chill
dren between seven and fourteen
These provisions reduced to the low.
est common denominator merely saw
that in order to obtain federal funds
a state must provide the educafio
n1inima that are essential to the mo
vision Of reasonable educational op
portunity.
1.-THE passage of time has brought
greater and greater support for the
principles embodied in the education