Evening star., 1932-02-22
|DR. COOPER TAKES
RAP ATP0L[YANNAS
Educator in Broadcast Urges
Fearless Study of Busi-
ness Conditions,

Accusing business men Of being
"Pollyannas." DR.. william John Cooper.
United States Commissioner of Educa-
ton. last night, in a nationally broad
cast program under the auspices of the
national Education Association, advo-
Gated scientific education for admin
istrators and fearless study Of business
conditions as the only solutions of the
Nations economic problems.
~; cooper, with DR.. Edwin c. Broome
of Philadelphia, president of the nee
partment Of Superintendent of tha
oa'0nal Eoucation Association, and
OF the University of Southern Cali
fornia spoke over the National Broad
csStlng Co.'S chain in connection with
the o2d annual convention Of the De-
partment Of Superintendent.
Ioday," DR.. Cooper declared, "busi-
ness men as a group decline to hear
the unpleasant. Our Chamber of Com
merce and civic clubs hold to the doc
trine, Boost don't knock Their
philosophy Is almost 'Pollyanna.' Imae-
Inc the diagnostician who refused tn
recognize the early evidence of cancer
because suffering for the patient is in
dicated"
Education Vast Industry.
Pointing out that education can helm
bring to business leadership a profess
sional point OF view which plans the
general good above private gain" DR..
Cooper said:
Il hold that the essential relation
ships OF education and business are
tnese: First, American education Is a
vast industry not growing out of simple
needs made OF a society which cares for
standard Of living that provides food.
shelter and clothing. but developed in
response to a secondary or cultural
want: second. literacy and a continued
education have developed the Ameri-
can standard Of living. which creates
business by giving people purchasing
power.
In the future, business must under
take a scientific and fearless study of
It's own problems, program which can
be carried out only by schools. colleges
and graduate institutions OF business
administration. II American business
and American capitalism are to sur.
vive Russian bolshevism and thereby
keep American individual liberty from
falling before a dictatorship such as
exists IN Russia. 1t will be through
changing the attitude of business from
self-lnterest and accumulation Of
money as q measure Of personal sue
cess to an attitude Of social service in
which capital and labor work together
for the good OF the entire Nation. Only
through education can We expect that
the coming generation will recognize
and maintain such standards of eco
nomic and civic prosperity"
Believe Slump Temporary.
Asserting that seldom has a gather
ing of leading educators been as irnpor-
tant as the current convention here
DR.. Broome pledged the Department Of
Superintendent to the dual task Of
evolving plans by which educational
standards may be maintained in the
face Of depression and of making
valuable recommendations with respect
to character education. DR.. Broome
pointed out many communities have
had to curtai their educational activi-
ties during the present crisis and added
that convention leaders believe, "as do
all other leaders, that the present eco
nomic situation is temporary" They
hope at the Washington convention. he
said. ito outline plans for maintaining
the present high standards Of educa-
ton until the return of prosperity
makes the support OF the schools no
longer difficult
No one wishes children to suffer be-
cause of conditions for which they are
not to blame" DR.. Broome said.
Citizens in every community are CO.
operating with school officials in ef-
forts to save the schools from serious
Dermanent in ilry"
In his address, Dr. KleinSmid
characterized the superintendency Of q
school system as one of the most ex-
acting positions in the United States.
"As the superintendent thinks. so
are the schools" he said. His PHI
losophy Of education determines his
thinking and controls his actions. His
understanding of the contributions OF
the past to contemporary civilization
will determine his thinking and the
curriculum of his schools. II he dares
think, he will experiment and encour-
age experimentation. If he dares not
think. the curriculum of his schools
will remain static in the face Of .
rapidly changing order"