Evening star., 1926-03-06

TncompromisinC. countrywide Op-
schools is disclosed in comment on the
Endorsement by convention of educa-
tors a. Washington of legislation pro
posing a department of education with
a cabinet officer at its head. The
New York World thus eptOmzes the
opinion reflected in most of the news
papers:
1--WE have extended the Federal
power enough. Let us draw the line
at the schoolroom."
THE people showed where they
stood in the matter Of homerule
rights I'm such cases" declares the
Akron Beacon Journal when their
legislatures. by overwhelm Inning vote.
defeated proposed constitutions
amendment to take the control of
child labor from the States and hand
IT over to bureaucracy at Wash
inston. There are some things for
which the people of this republic
simply will not stand, and tinkerinc
with the public school system is one
Of them" The Charleston Daily Mail
adds that creating a national bu-
reaucracy to assume dictatorial pow
ers in matters that primarily belong
to the States and to private indi-
viduals is a species OF Capitalization
that is dangerous in the extreme.
X * ~
To the Lincoln Star ct Is hardly
helievab BILE the people will wish an
other Federal department upon them
selves, to be constantly interfering
with the local management OF school
affairs: once Federal authority Is ex-
pa nded. there is no curbing II"
Education is a local function the
Chicago Daily News insists. "and II
should be vital, dynamic. progressive
Where educational conditions are uh'
satisfactory the remedy should be ap'
piled by enlightened and public
spirited local forces" In the opinion
of the Syracuse Herald, the States
would not look with favor ON the
idea. even of advisory supervision
from Washington over their hlenly
organized educational efforts. Inc
New York World expresses its Jnds
ment in similar terms. stating that
there are things which the Federal
Government can supervise better tndh
the states. but education Is not one
of them" and every problem. from
the problem of finance to the prooieil
of curriculum. Is a local problem one
where Federal assistance would oniy
he Federal interference. The Worid
concludes: I'VE have extended the
Federal power enough. Let US draw
the line at the schoolroom.
X * ~
"The proponents Of educational cen
,ralization have found here and there
some sound bases for encouragement
according to the Fort Wayne News
Sentinel. "Still the fact remains tnat
everywhere there may be found strong
opposition to the project-and the OPP
poSition comes. for the most part, tron'
natrons Of the public schools. A
great school machine might easily be
built up at Washington. working for
program of standardization and
Weakening local control or school pol
lev" And the Butte Daily Post re-
marks that "by this time the country
has thoroughly learned--contrary to
what used TO be the prevailins
tbeorv--that the Federal Government
does not do such things better than
they are done by the State
1t is conceded by the Kalamazoo Ga
zette that the measure before Con
cress docs not contemplate the ma
tionalization of the public schools.
but the Gazette suggests that in this
age of centralized burea ucracv there
is a good reason to fear that II MAY
serve as an opening wedge to that
very thing
Declaring local self government Is
the groundwork of the republic,