Evening star., 1934-07-02
FEDERAL SCHOOL
AID IS DEMANDED
zook Tells N. E. A. EduCa'
tionaI Opportunities Must
Be Equalized.
Continued From First Page)

UNEQUAL geographical distribution of
wealth results In unequal educational
opportunity.
Taxes on real estate, which in the
past have carried the greatest burden
of education. are no longer adequate
to support the schools, he said, point
ing out that 805 per cent Of school
appropriations in 1892 came from
county and local sources and that
practically all Of this was raised by
real estate taxes.
Congress Members Censured.
He said the Federal government, to
A considerable extent, has inhibited
States from resorting to other TAXA
tion mediums by its assessing OF sucn
levies at the income tax, inheritance,
liouor. tobacco and gasoline taxes.
Members of Congress were cenSureo
by the Speaker for their critical at
titude toward the pleas for local gov
ernments for aid.
During the last two decades, two
important developments affecting the
support of all State and local 1unc-
tions, including education, have oeen
taking place simultaneously, namely,
the breakdown of the property tax on
one hand, and the gradual aSsump-
ton bv the Federal Government OF
number of sources of modern ana
effective taxes which had they peeh
left TO the States would at least have
enabled the States and the local COM
thoOoc cnlVpS 0llt 0I
their financial troubles more quickly
and easily" he explained. In view
of these circumstances, 1t has always
seemed to me to be somewhat un-
becoming on the part of members OF
Congress as has happened so ire
ouently in the session just closed, TO
advise, somewhat testify. representa-
tives of State and local governments,
including the schools. that If only
thev would set their houses in order
back home it would be unnecessary
to be asking for Federal aid "
Federal Aid Urged.
He said he was convinced that if
the Federal Government continues to
levy these more modern forms OF tax
alton. as 1t alone can do most effec-
tivelv. it follows as clearly as can be
that some proportion of the proceeds
of these taxes should be returned to
the State for the support OF State
and local government functions, m
cluding schools"
Federal aid should provide for both
the building and maintenance OF
schools, said Zook.
He ridiculed as absurd the top
heavy preponderance of aid for road
construction in the P w. A program
giving the total of allotmentS for this
purpose as s400. 900 900. He called at
tention to the huge sums provided for
battleship and home construction, and
then asked
What are we going to do about
those 245,941 one-roOm rural schools,
large proportion of which are dis
grace to the level of civilization which
we claim to have attained"
"Yet past these archaic structures
suited to the civilization of gener-
alton or two ago in which most OF
them were constructed" he continued,
there have been built with the gen.
erous help of the Federal Government
thousands of miles of hard-surfaced
roads. Is road more important
than a school? Does it not raise the
pertinent question as to whether we
who are interested in schools should
not learn the lesson learned by those
interested in roads years ago?
Schools Should Share.
I'm other words. schools as well
es roads should be constructed through
the use of Federal funds. very
small part of the sum now authorized
for any of the three great construc-
ton purposes authorized by the last
Congress for roads. homes or battle
ships would replace every one-room
country school house which should be
replaced with modern consolidated
school plants"
He criticized the policy of the ad-
ministration in providing emergency
funds without attempting to achieve
some equalizing of educational op-
portunity.
The depression was seen as widen
ing the gap between educational OPP
portunities of children in the poorer
and weather. States.
"One may well paraphrase the old
parable" he said, ito make it read
from the child that hath will be
taken away little. but from him that
hath not will be taken away even
that which he hath
States Must Meet Problem.
Although seeing Federal aid as the
ultimate solution of the education
problem. Zook said State Legislatures
are the first line of defense. and must
wrestle with the task at present.
Prof. Norton warned that there are
interests in this Nation who. because
of selhshness or limited vision. want
no democratic decision as to the role
of education in our civilization. For
four years they have been proclaim
ing a gospel of negation and despair
They urge the acceptance of peas
ant standard of living and peasant
standard of educating as the easiest
way out of our present difficulties. Let
no teacher accept this towards solu-
tion of the difficulties of the depres-
sion"
Eve education organization should
have at least l0-year program. Nor
ton asserted. He told the educators
that they must turn to laymen for CO.
operation ard advice to a far greater
exten. than In the past.
Organization Is Urged.
The joint Commission on the Emer-
eency i'll Education urged the creation
in every Stale of an effective council
e., roneral educa tiOp MIA nninp IN de.