Evening star., 1936-02-22

and economic needs, and continu-
ously interpreting these needs to
the university.
$400. 900 Aid by U. S.
am proud to be the head of
a government that has sought to
make a substantial contribution to
the cause of education, even in a
period of economic distress.
Through the various agencies, the
Government is helping educational
institutions to add to their present
equipment. Since 1888 the Govern
ment has made. through the va
rious governmental agencies of the
administration, allotments to local
communities for schools, colleges
and library buildings amounting
to more than s400, ,000. 900. We are
also providing through the Works
Progress Administration educa-
tional courses for thousands Of
groups Of adults wherever there are
competent unemployed teachers,
and through the National Youth
Administration funds for part time
employment to help deserving
young people to earn their way
through accredited colleges and
universities in all parts of the
United States. We have rightly
taken the position that in spite
of the fact that economic adversely
through these years might impose
upon the youth of the country dis
tressing and unavoidable burdens
the Government owed it to the
future of the Nation to see that
these burdens should not include
the denial of educational oppor-
tunities for those who were willing
and ready to use them to advan-
tage.
Educational progress in the past
generation has given to this coun-
try population more literate, more
cultured. in the best sense of the
word. and more aware of the COM
plexities of modern civilized life
than ever before in our history.
And while the methods of spread
ing education are new, the lessons
of education are eternal. The
books may be new, but the truth
Is old.
The qualities of true education
remain what they we're when
Washington insisted upon its i'm
portance.
First among these qualities is
sense Of fair play among men.
As education grows men come
to recognize their essential de-
pendence one upon the other.
There is revealed to them the true
nature of society and of govern
ment which, in large measure,
eliminates in the art of human
corporation.
Democracy in Mentality.
The second great attribute Of
education Is peculiarly appropriate
to q great democracy. It Is sense
of equality among men when they
are dealing with the things of the
mind. Inequality may linger in
the world of material things. but
great music, great literature and
the wonders of science are and
should be open to all.
Finally, q rue education depends
upon freedom in the pursuit of
truth. No group and nc govern
ment can properly prescribe pre-
cisely what should constitute the
body of knowledge with which true
education is concerned. The truth
is found when men are free to
pursue it. Genuine education is
present only when the springs from
which knowledge comes are pure.
II Is this belief in the freedom of
the mind, written into our ftnda-
mental law and observed In our
every day dealings with the prob
lens of life, that distinguishes US
as q Nation.
In our ability to keep pure the
sources Of knowledge-in our
minds freedom to winnow the
chaff from the good grain-in the
even temper and In the calmness
of our every day relationships--in
our willingness to face the details Of
fact and the needs Of temporary
emergencies--in all Of these lie our
future and our children's future.
ION your own heads. in your
own handA. the sin and the saving
Hes I" 10