Evening star., 1924-07-04
PROMOTION OF EDUCATION
ADVOCATED BY TEACHERS
FAVOR Ne,O Fedora! Department. Back
Private Schools-Code of Ethics
for Instructors Urged.

Sixteen resolutions outlining the Ma
tional Education Associations stand
on educational, foreign relations and
public questions were adopted unani
mously by the general assembly of
the organization at the final business
meeting Of its sixty-second annual
convention yesterday afternoon in
the auditorium of Central High
School. The resolutions were pre-
sented by the committee on resolu-
tions, and all except the one pertain
ing to international relations were
passed without discussion. They fol-
low:
The Education Bill.
We, the members of the representa-
tive assembly of the National Edu-
cation Association, here assembled in
the National Capital, reaffirm our de-.
voted and unqualified support Of the
education bill now pending in Con-
gresS. We believe that federal lead
ership as provided by the creation of
a department of education, with a
secretary in the Presidents cabinet
highest degree of efficiency in the
schools of the nation. We know that
the federal government has an obli-
cation to support research and in
vesigation and to disseminate infor-
nation with regard to public educa-
tion comparable to that undertaken
by other federal departments. We
are convinced that the nation should
contribute to the development of a
nation wide program for the removal
of illiteracy, the Americanization of
the foreign born, the training of
teachers. the development of d pro-
gram of physical education and the
equalization of educational oppor-
tunity. This leadership, to be pro-
vided by secretary of education in
the Presidents cabinet and the fed
eral aid required to promote the pro-
gram of education on a broad scale,
can and should be accomplished
without any interference on the part
of the federal government in the
constitutional right of the states to
organize, administer. supervise and
control their own schools. 1t is graft
flying to note that the two great po-
litical parties have in their plat
forms recognized that education is
one of the chief concerns of the ma
tion and that the President of the
United States is favorable to the es-
tabli Shment of a new department en-
phasizing the Importance of educa-
ton.
Private Institutions.
The National Education Association,
while recognizing the American pub
lic-school as the great nursery of
broad and tolerant citizenship of
democratic brotherhood, acknowledges
also the contributions made to edu-
cation by private institutions and
enterprises, and recognizes that citi-
zens have the right to educate their
children in either public or private
schools. when the educational stand
ards of both are approved by the
state educational authorities.
Professional Ethics.
We believe that the time has come
in the development of the teaching
profession for the preparation of a
professional code of ethics to govern
the general attitude of teachers and
school officials, as well as their gen.
eral relation to society. In this we
should be following the practice
found SO necessary and beneficial to
the great professions of medicine and
law. To this end we suggest that
the secretary to the National Educa-
tion Association. correspond with the
officials of the various state asSocia-
tions to encourage them in the prepa-
ration of professional codes, looking
eventually to a committee to be ap-
pointed a year hence to prepare
national code of ethics for the teach
ing profession.
Status of Teachers.
The security of the professional
status of teachers and supervisors has
not been adequately provided for.
Too often are teachers. principals and
SuperintendentS dismissed without due
notice or any adequate statement OF
the cause of such action. In the last
year there have been reported nu-
merous instances of teachers. princi-
pals and superintendents who have
failed of reappointment in utter dls-
regard of professional and lay publlc
opinion for no other than political
reasons.
committee of the National Educa-
ton Association be empowered TO
give it's active support to any asso-
citation of a state in which there is
pending legislation for the protec,
ton to teachers and supervisors ana
for the promotion Of the efficiency OF
The teachers retirement system
must be improved in order that a
teacher shall receive an annuity that
will be adequate to living conoltlons'
Teaching the Constitution.
Teachers welcome the cooperation
of the American Bar Association ana
similar agencies in a task with which
the schools have always been vitality
concerned-"to establish and main
tain the Constitution of the United
States and the principles and ideals
of our government in the minds and
hearts of the people," We believe,
therefore, that the Constitution
should be taught in all the upper
grades of the elementary schools.
We further maintain that in the
schools instruction should be given
in the history and ideals of our
public school system.
Character Education.
Our boys and girls are the greatest
assets of the nation. 1t Is essential
that they shall receive the proper
character training. Honesty, integri-
ty and truthfulness should be en-
phasized in all the work of the
schools. We believe, however, that
the responsibility for character
building must fall primarily upon the
home. At the same time, teachers
must do everything possible to de-
velop the highest type of character
in the boys and girls under their in
fiuence. We Furthermore believe that
religious education is fundamental
in the development of character.
HOLDING to these views, we urge
that the school, the home and the
church operate fully in the training
of our youth.
The day has come when parents,
teachers and leaders in religious,
moral and educational work must