Evening star., 1931-12-07
WILBUR PREDICTS
RENAISSANCE SOON
IN j. s. EDUCATION
Commissioners and Heads of
State Schools Meet for
Two-Day ParIey.
SECRETARY DECLARES
BASIC NEEDS CHANGE
DR., c, R. Mann Speaks on Report
of Committee, Urging That Find
ings Be Carried Out.

Society'S new needs and the economic
depression have placed American schools
at the crossroads, Secretary of Interior
Wilbur today advised the National
Council of State Superintendents and
Commissioners of Education, meeting
with the United States Office of Educa-
ton at the Interior Department.
Secretary Wilbur could not attend the
opening session of the tWo-day meeting,
but his address to the educators was
read by Dr. William John Cooper,
United States Commissioner of Educa-
ton.
Secretary Wilbur declared that the
question of how to secure the greatest
possible advantage from every dollar
VIII be presented to every group having
responsibility for the maintenance or
administration of schools" At the same
time, he said, education is about to
undergo a renaissance" based upon
the new needs of society which, he ex-
planned, have shifted from a largely
agricultural base over to an industrial
one"
Holds Time Ripe for Change.
1t was comparatively easy. the Secre-
tary declared, to educate persons who
were to till the soil or to work at home
In the past, but he said 1t is difficult
to make proper use of the time of the
people who must be prepared to fit into
an everchanging and growing machine
age industrial organization.
Leaders In industry are asking WHY
school graduates come to them unpre
pared and why they must set I'D train
ing schools" the Secretary asserted
There is widespread feeling that
something Is wrong that needs to be
righted. At the same time there is
growing confidence in the expert In
education.
The time seems to me right for the
application of new ideas and new pro-
cedures.''
"A part of the renaissance" he said
is the conception that health recrea
ton and education are inseparable in
the training of youth"
.. DIR. C. r. Mann Speaks.
Following the reading of Secretary
Wilbur's address, Dr. Charles r, Mann.
chairman of the National Advisory
Committee on Education, discussed that
now dismissed commissions report. The
future OF the committees report, he
SAID, rests with the public at large.
since no one Is charged with respon-
slplilty Tor the carrying out of its rec
concentrations. Dr.. Mann urged the
superintendent and commissioners of
education to discuss various recon-
mendations, and, If they could, carry
them into reality.
Or. Mann expressed disappointment
IN the progress Of vocational education
he said that whereas at present only 2
per cent OF school budgets are spent
on vocational education, this phase of
notwithstanding increasingly i'm
portant-should receive at least 10 Der
cent OF the school budgets.
Weglein Sees Funds Crisis,
Discussing the proposal to establish
Federal Department of Education
under secretary of education. DR..
Mann asserted the Federal Government
now is ready to follow the public
sentiment in the philosophy of de-
centralization." In other words he
said, a secretary of education would
not attempt to be IAN administrative
officer" but would seek merely to lead
the educational activities of the States.
David E. Weglein, superintendent of
Baltimore's schools, discussed briefly
the work of the Committee on School
Costs Of the Department of Superin-
tendence of the National Education
Association. DR.. Weglein declared that
methods of securing funds for public
education are Obsolete" asserting
that I'VE can no longer rely upon
property tax" Public education today.
he pointed out, is confronted with an
increased burden Of students and de-
creased revenues The first meeting
of his committee, he said, will be held
at the National Education Association
headquarters here next Saturday.