Evening star., 1938-02-23
ASK $855,0DO,ODO
FOR SCHOOL WORK
Advisory Committee on Edu-
cation Recommends Sums
Be Given States.
BY the Associated Press.


President Roosevelt transmitted to
Congress today a report of the Advisory
Committee on Education. recommend
ing new Federal grants OF 1855, ,00O, 900
to States during the next six years to
improve their public schools.
The grants, to begin year hence at
$4,000, 900, would be increased ap-
proximately $3o,0o0,000 each of the
two following years and $4,000 900
each year thereafter until they reach
sl9s, 100000 in 1s44-5. These grants
would be in addition to the perma-
nently authorized Federal grants of
more than $4,000, 900 a year for vo-
cational education
The report said the recommends
tions were based on more than a year
of exhaustive study" Mr.. Roosevelt
appointed the committee in 1886 un-
der the chairmanship Of Floyd w.
Reeves of the University Of Chicago.
improvement Needed.
In its general conclusions, the COM
mittee found:
The public school system in the
United States greatly needs improve
ment. Glaring inequalities charac-
terize educational opportunities and
expenditures for schools throughout
the Nation
The level of educational service that
can be maintained under the present
circumstances in many localities is
below the minimum necessary for the
preservation of democratic institutions.
Federal aid is the only way in which
the diffculties in this widespread and
complex situation can be adequately
corrected"
The committee proposed division of
the new grants into six major cate
gories, as follows, the first sum being
for the starting year of l939-40 and
the second for the maximum in 1e44-5:
l. General aid to elementary and
secondary education, $4,000. .O0O-
$40, 900 900.
2. Improved preparation of teach
ers. $4,000, ,o00-s6, 100000.
3. Construction of school buildings
to facilitate district reorganization
$40, ,000, ,000-s30, ,0O0, 900.
4. Administration of State DEPART
ments of education, ,000,O00-s2,-
000, ,000
S. Educational service for adults,
$4,000, ,000-sl5, 100000.
6. Library service for rural areas,
81 600 000-S6 mn OOO
Poorer States Should Be First.
The report emphasized that the
flrst item should be distributed among
the States in proportion to their finan-
clal needs. The share of wealthy
States, it said, must be small if the
schools are to be materially improved
In poorer States.
Among the more significant recon-
mendations were proposals that pupils
OF parochial and other non-public
schools share to a limited extent in
the grants.
Part of the general aid fund, it said,
should be spent in such schools for
textbooks and reading materials, trans
portation Of pupils. scholarships for
pupils l6 to l9 years of age, and for
health and welfare services
The committee recommended an
equitable distribution Of the Federal
funds between white and Negro schools
in States where separate Negro schools
exist without reducing the proportion
of State and local funds spent on
Negro schools.
The Civilian Conservation Corps and
the National Youth Administration,
the committee said, should be placed
under the direction of single Federal
agency to be known as the Federal
Youth Service Administration.
In addition to the grants the COM
mittee recommended creation Of a re-
search fund Of 81, ,250.000 for the fiscal
year beginning next July and increas-
ing to 80, ,000, 900 for later years.