Evening star., 1942-08-31

'
Discussed at Meeting
At American U.
Federal aid for education was
termed a war and postwar necessity
by Senator Thomas, Democrat, of
Utah today before the fourth days
session of the National Conference
on Education and the War at Amer
lean University.
Urging support Of bill now be-
fore Congress to grant increased
Federal aid, Mr.. Thomas, chairman
Of the Senate Committee on Edu-
cation and Labor, said the revenues
of many State governments would
suffer sharp declines and that the
economic blow would fall "in the
very areas where school facilities
are most ,meager."
America must also look to the
future while fighting a bitterly
contested war, Senator Thomas said.
He pointed out that boys now in the
elementary grades may become old
enough to bear arms before the war
is won't is these same children
now OF school age who will bear the
brunt Of postwar reconstruction"
Princeton Professor Speaks.
Any Federal subsidy to education
that Is not paid out of a surplus of
current income is camouflage.
asserted Prof. Harley L. Lutz of
Princeton University as he urged
imposition Of a tax of 20 per cent on
current income at its source and an
additional 10 per cent sales tax to
help finance war costs.
Conceding that Treasury use of
Social Sucurity funds Is nom -infla-
tionary In character, Prof. Lutz
claimed, however, that the growth
of Treasury Indebtedness to its trust
funds "is just as serious for the
long-run stability of the Federal
credit as Is any other form of public
debt"
He linked the growing public debt
to imitation of a rubber balloon.
"As long as the balloon continues
to stretch without cracking, it is I .
lovely sight," he said. "Only when
it explodes in our face do we estab-
lish that the imitation has gone be-
yond control"
Contending that the rising ma
tional income permits higher indi-
vidual taxes, Prof. Lutz said that in
polls of public opinion, I'VE find a
degree Of popular support for such
a course which makes a timid policy
Of the Treasury and Congress the
more inexplicable"
Revision Of Courses Urged.
The initiative for reorganizing
school curricula to meet war needs
rests with the educators, who should
not rely on the Federal agencies for
direction, G. Donald Hudson, pro-
fessor of geography at Northwestern
University, Evanston. ILL.,. said.
He said that teachers of college
courses In mathematics, physics,
astronomy for navigation, meteor
ology and map interpretations in the
Sixth Army Corps area, comprising
the State Of Illinois, Michigan and
Wisconsin, are devising uniform
courses for pre-induction training
after an analysis had been made of
the duties and responsibilities Of rs
branches of the armed services
ranging from infantry to the medi-
cal corps.
America is not benefiting from
Its experience in the last war, the
Rev. Edmund A. Walsh. vice presi-
dent Of Georgetown University, said
at . morning symposium. He said
the ROTC in the last war was
neither a failure nor undemocratic,
in that Gen. Pershing was author
lied to promote from the ranks a
number OF officers equal to those
winning commissions on college
campuses. He emphasized that he
favored = realistic approach by
Government authorities to the ex-
periences Of the ROTC.
DR.. Byrd Is Speaker.
President H. c. Byrd Of the Uni
versity Of Maryland said most of the
States are in better financial con-
dition to aid educational institu-
tions in the war effort than in a
long time. Schools receiving such
aid, however, should curtail courses
that are not of real value in the
war emergency.
I'm my opinion, State legislatures
will look with favor on request for
additional financial support for
these institutions, provided it can
be clearly shown by the institutions
that their programs are sound and
needed" President Byrd said.
That the Army and Navy have
neglected to use their influence in
Congress to secure Federal aid for
schools in war training programs
was charged today by DR. Raymond
A. Kent, president Of the University
OF Louisville, KY. He said the Gov
ernment has given fear OF pittance
to higher education to give men the
brain power needed to spend war
funds effectively.
Roles for Home and Church.
In an address before the institute
last night, Senator Thomas pointed
out that never before was the work
OF educators quite so much under
stood and appreciated" He warned
that the country was losing many OF
It's teachers because authorities
failed to recognize their full value
and pay sufficient salaries.
Predicting that Government would
probably take an increasing role in
education, Senator Thomas assured,
however, that the home, the church
and the State, would all three have
their part in education. Selective
service itself. he declared, was a
great educational system.
Elmer Davis, director of the Office
OF War Information, enjoined the
educators to teach that this is nc
ordinary war but probably the
greatest turning point in human
destiny to date
Warns Of Hitler Peace.
Teach your students" he said
that our future will be what we
are strong enough, and resolute
enough, and intelligent enough to
make it. against the opy>ocitioy, nj