Evening star., 1924-07-04
Coolidge Supports Educators
Plea for Greater Federal Aid
Tells N. E. 4. Assembly He Fauors add
ing Secretary of Education to Cabinet
Pays Tribute to Teachers.

way of modern convenience was
wanting. and save where a a-going
commerce was beginning. there was
an entire absence of wealth. The
be made. But the land was blessed
with a great people and with great
leaders. Washington and Jefferson.
Franklin and Mason, Hamilton and
gest type Of citizenship and lead
ership of scholarship and statesman
ship of wisdom and character. of
ability and patriotism unsurpassed
by any groun of men ever brought
together to direct the political des-
they could in their time for the ad-
vancement of the public welfare. and
they were not discontented because
they could not Immediately secure
worked toward it. They knew that
in their day it was not to be fully
realized. They did not lack the
courage to have faith in the future.
Pioneer Genius Praised.
They started the country on that
long road of stupe pendous achievement
with which you are all so familiar.
To provide for that human welfare
which was the cherished hope of the
Declaration of Independence and the
we'll wrought out plan of the federal
Constitution it was necessary to de-
velop the material resources of our
country. There had to be created
the instruments with which to min
lister to the well being of the people.
National poverty had to be replaced
with national possessions. Trans
portation had to be provided by land
and water. Manufacturing plants
had to be erected. Great agricul-
under cultivation. The news service
of the press had to be established
The schoolhouse. the university. the
place of religious worship, all had to
be built. All Of these mighty agencies
had to be created that they might
contribute to a unified national life
where freedom might reign and
where the citizen might be his own
sovereign.
1t was only as this work was ac-
were provided these properties built.
and these possessions accumulated,
that there could be a reduction in the
hours of labor. an increase in the re-
wards of employment and a general
betterment in those material condi-
tions which result in a higher stand
ard of living. The leisure for culture
had to be secured in this way. Servi-
tude of all kinds scarcely ever Is
abolished. unless there is created eco
are beginning to see that the eco
ncmic development of our country
was not only necessary for advancing
the welfare Of the people. but that we
must maintain an expanding power of
production If that welfare is to be
increased Business makes most
valuable contribution to human
progress.
AS we look back upon all this de-
velopment while we know that it was
absolutely dependent upon a reign of
law. nevertheless some of us cannot
help thinking how little of it has
been dependent upon acts of legisla-
tion., Given their institutions, the
people themselves have in the past.
as they must in the future. to a very
large degree worked out their own
salvation without the interEosition of
the government. 1t is always pos
legislation what has already been
created. but while legislation can
stimulate and encourage. the real Gre
ative ability which builds up and de-
makes human existence more toler-
able and life more complete has to
be supplied by the genius of the peo-
pie themselves. The government can
supply no substitute for enterprise.
2e,2o6.75s Students in U. s.
AS result of the activity of all
oped enormous resources. 1t has like
wise to be admitted that it's require
ments are very large, but the fact re-
mains that it has come into a posi-
ton where it has the accumulations
of wealth and the means of produc-
tion more adequately to provide for
the welfare of It's people and more
securely to establish their physical,
are making your contribution to this
great work in the field of education.
1t is here especially that the growth
and progress of our country can be
most easily understood. We can re-
alize what an opportunity for secur-
ing the higher things of life they
have provided when we recall that
it is claimed that one of every four
persons in this nation, either as pu-
pill, teacher or administrator, is now
in some capacity directly concerned
in education.
In the year 1922, the latest time
for which complete statistics have
been compiled, the students in the
in the colleges and universities had
the unprecedented number of
26.206,756, and the total number of
teachers and administrators approx
mately 882,500. II to this number
one should add the parents. the men,
bers Of school boards and the tax
payers who maintain them, it be-
comes clear at once how universal
is, the direct or indirect concern of
our citizens with the schools.
Another indication both of our in
creasing resources and of the tre-
Importance of education in
the life of the nation is the great
amount of money which we are able
to spend for it. Twelve years ago
the total money expended for all edu-
cational purposes amounted approx
mately to $705, 900. In ten years
this had increased to $2,144 ,651 900.
Even when one takes into account
the depreciation of the dollar due
to the economic changes caused by
oIo N