Evening star., 1933-02-05

school districts should be reorganized
and consolidated.
Reorganization Urged.
That State educational administra-
ton be reorganized through the crea-
ton Of non-political and professional
agency for the administration Of the
educational policies Of the State.
That the State must assume the re-
sponsibility within its means Of assur-
ing adequate public education to all
local communities irrespective of their
financial condition.
That when States are unable to do
so, the Federal Government must as
adequate public education to those
States In whatever manner may be
| required.
That all governments, local, State
and national, must direct attention to
the immediate reformation of the sys-
tenn Of taxation, since that is basic to
any consideration Of the financing Of
education
The committee then, after extended
and somewhat heated discussion,
adopted the following resolution COW
ertng the question which had repeat
edly been inserting itself into discus
sions earlier in the day: Immediate
efforts must be made to raise the gen.
eral level Of commodity prices. If
these efforts cannot be made or do not
succeed, the alternative is the reduc-
ton Of the face value Of debts, public
and private"
| Committee "B" on the organization
and operation of instruction called
the attention Of the conference to
the fact that widespread and drastic
reductions In budgets for public school
education have been made by boards of
education and SuperintendentS of
schools in almost every community,
large and small. in the United States.
While no definite information is avail
able as to the exact amounts such
budgets have been reduced, the records
of the Office of Education show that
they range from Is per cent to 100 per
cent. 1t Is reported that over 4,50O
school districts have closed their
schools entirely. A part Of the crisis in
public education at this time is due
to the insistent demand that school
budgets, which already have been re-
duced below the point where it is pos
sible to operate the schools with any
degree of efficiency, shall be further
reduced. We go on record as opposed
to this unwise and basically uneco-
nomical procedure"
This conference" the committee
said, will perform great service If it
brings home to the people this basic
fact. namely that We will pay heavily
in the future If our educational ma
cmnery Is allowed to break down to-
day"
The committee recommended that
the conference go on record as opposed
70 the shortening of the school year
Fear Teaching Load.
1t urged that the teaching loads be
not increased either in courses or hours
beyond the ability of the individual,
teacher to offer a reasonable standard
Of instruction to each pupil"
On the much discussed question o1
reducing teachers salaries it recon-
mended that all possible economies ir
school costs such as the postponing o1
building construction when and where
practicable, the reorganization of bust.
ness departments, the adjustment Of
the size Of class and the curtailing O,
the activities Of auxiliary agencies. etc.
be made before a readjustment o!
teachers salaries is effected" and that
such readiustment of salaries, if neces-
sary, should be made in relation to the
reduction in the cost Of living of the
teaching group IN any given CON-
munity"
The committee on legislation attacked
the problems of taxation, of Federal aio
and consolidation of school districts
They recommended that the conference
urge law-making bodies to give priority
to legislation which will alleviate condi-
tions in communities now being re-
quired to make injurious curtailments
in their school programs because Of un-
usual burdens, in equitable tax systems
or faulty fiscal machinery"
The committee also recommended
that Congress provided for Federal as
sistance through emergency loans fol
a limited period to such States as may
make an adequate showing of their in.
ability to maintain reasonable stand
ards Of support for public school edu-
cation"
The second day was devoted largely
to the discussion Of the report of Com
mittee "a" Most Of the recommends
tions were unanimously adopted. but
the committees suggestions of Fedora
assistance in whatever manner might
be required provoked dispute. Finally
on legislation, calling for emergency
loans to the States for a limited period
was substituted for the other resolution
by narrow margin.
The last recommendation Of Com
mittee "a" urging that immediate ef.
forts be made to raise the general leve
Of commodity prices, with the alterna-
tive of reducing the face value of debts
met with enthusiastic support and vio-
lent opposition. To bring the matter
to harmonious conclusion, it finally
was referred to special committee
consisting Of representatives Of all
groups in the conference. That specia
committee agreed with surprising ra-
pidity on the following resolution:
Immediate efforts should be made
through the raising of the general level
Of commodity prices, the correction OF
serious economic Embellishments and
otherwise, to increase the volume OF
income and purchasing power, and thus
to provide the moneys necessary for a
proper educational program. If this Is
not done, widespread injury will result
not only to the cause of education but
to the value Of all obligations, public
and private"
Wins Big Majority.
Although this resolution met with
some opposition, it was carried never
theleSs. ThereupOn DR.. Harley L
Lutz, professor Of public finance at
Princeton presented an additional mo-
ton designed to implement the one
just adopted, and this was carried by
an even larger majority
The importance of this conference
arises out of its composition. Here
manufacturers, farmers, educators
business men, economists and repre-
sentatives Of organized labor met to
consider the perilous state Of public
education. The conclusions of the as
sembly cannot be impeached by accu-
sations of bias or interest. All groups
exhibited an unselfish desire to forward
the cause Of education, even at the
sacrifice Of what might seem superb
cially to be their own interests. The
decisions Of the conference were not
formal or casual; they emerged from
protracted dehberation and active dis
cussion.