Evening star., 1933-12-30
HARD-H|T SCHOOLS
SEEK FEDERAL AID
Joint Commission on Emer.
gency Education to Ask Help
From Administration.

The Joint Commission en- the Emer-
gency in Education is meeting today to
plan an appeal to the administration
and to Congress for financial assist
ance for schools hard hit by the de-
preston.
The commission. jointly with the Leg
islative Commission of the National
Education Association, is expected to
draft relief legislation.
Today's session followed a meeting
yesterday of leading educators to dis
cuss the effect Of the depression on
the schools. with special reference to
certain Eastern States, including Mary
land, Virginia and the District Of Co.
lumbia The meeting, held at the
National Education Association under
auspices of the Joint Commission on
the Emergency in Education, was the
held throughout the United States and
attended in various regions by the $50
consultants of the joint commission.
Commission Views Reports.
Reports made yesterday, together
with hundreds Of similar reports made
by lay and professional people through
out the United States, are being laid
before the joint commission today.
Among the educational groups report
ing were the American Council of Edu-
cation, the Association for Childhood
Education, the Association of Land
Women, the National Organization of
Platoon Schools and the National Con-
greSS Of Parents and Teachers.
Many of our 618 branches have or
ganiZed open forums to arouse public
opinion concerning the crisis in educa-
tion," said Mrs. Harriet Ahlers Houd-
lette of this city, who made the report
Of the American Association Of Univer-
stiles for Secretary Kathryn McHale.
Study groups are under way to inform
members and persons who wish to work
with them on definite ways of help
ing the situation. Legislative programs
have been Endorsed and local chambers
of communal interests have been form
ed. Groups interested in the under
standing of rural schools and nursery
work are lending their efforts to these
developments as well as to adult educa-
ton programs"
The National Congress of Parents
and Teachers, Nationwide orgap1za-
tion, with more than a million mem
bers, reported its activities through its
general secretary, Elwood c. Baker,
who described the assistance which the
organization of parent-teacher associa-
tions is giving to enable children to
remain enrolled in school whose par
ents are unable to provide them with
the necessary funds for school expenses.
The 10000 local units Of the National
Congress a Incorporating with educa-
tors in stabilizing State support for
education, are supporting legislative
programs to obtain emergency relief
for schools and with the cooperation
of newspapers and radio chains are
keeping parents informed of the effect
of school retrenchments on the educa-
ton of their children.
Vocational Courses Desired.
Dean H. ]. Patterson of the Univer-
sity of Maryland, reporting for the land
grant colleges and universities, de-
scribed the special courses which COL
leges and universities are giving IN Vo-
cationaI readjustment and described the
operations in these institutions In CO.
operation with the Federal Government,
connected with the emergency measures
for the benefit of agriculture such as
the reduction of wheat, cotton and corn
acreage and in collecting statistical in
formation regarding such matters as tax
delinquencies, mortgage foreclosures, and
SO on.
United States Commissioner OF Edu-
cation George F. Zook described the ac-
tivities already under way by the Fed
eral Government to give emergency re-
lief to the schools. The provlslc for
the erection of new school bu --ngs,
partially paid for by c.. w. A. Inds,
and the employment of teachers on
charity rolls to complete terms of school
which have been cut for financial rea-
sons, we're outlined by the commissioner.