Evening star., 1943-01-22
Federal Agency Urges
Educators 10 Plan
Postwar Courses
Importance Of Programs
And Increasing Costs
Discussed by Official
By JESSE o. IRWIN.


The United States Office of Edu-
cation said today the impact of
economic changes, chronological de-
velopments, movements of popula-
ton and governmental controls on
the activities of every individual is
stimulating a type of thinking that
is little short of revolutionary"
To cope with this trend, the
agency is urging educators to plan
now for. schools of tomorrow" as, it
asserted, nothing seems more Ger
tain than the fact that the good
old days are gone,'" and "only to
the degree that consistent and con-
tinuous effort is exerted toward i'm
provement of the existing social sit
uation can satisfactory pattern
of living be achieved"
Hysteria Over Crash Feared.
In pamphlet prepared by DR..
John Guy Fowlkes, executive-secre-
tary of the agency's Committee on
Planning for Education, the situa-
tion is summed up, as follows:
There is grave danger that when
the end of the war is in sight there
will be wave of hysteria induced
by fear of an impending economic
crash. This is clearly recognized by
many farSeeing persons, and some
OF them are proposing plans and
policies to avert such a disaster. In
fact, plans, both governmental and
non governmental in origin, are be-
ing laid to cope with the situation"
The agency said education as a
basic social enterprise must have
important consideration, "and it be-
hooves those who are interested in
educational service to concern them
selves with plans and policies for
the future
In planning schools for tomorrow
the Once of Education urged edu-
Gators and laymen to realize "the
imperative need for Federal support
for public education" The Federal
and State governments, it added.
have never assumed a sufficiently
large share of the cost.
Cost Discussed.
In 1910, the United States spent
approximately 50, TOO, 900 900 for pub
lie elementary, secondary and
higher education, the agency said.
OF the total, 81 per cent went for
elementary and secondary educa-
ton. 1t estimated that to offer
the educational program needed in
this country would require a mini
mum expenditure of approximately
SIS 5,000, 100000 year for regular
current expenses. An additional
similar amount would be needed, 1t
said. for the repair of old, and the
construction of new school buildings.
The Office of Education further
urged that the relation of the cost
OF public education to financial
ability, financial effort to support
public education now exerted, and
the prevailing systems of taxation
be given serious study.
The schools of tomorrow. the
agency suggested, should be ex-.
tended both downward and up-
ward" Provisions should include
educational opportunities for "the
2 and 3 year olds," and the old
adage you can't teach an old dog
new tricks" should not apply ito
adults Of all ages"
Three RS Not Enough.
Other observations include:
Teachers should be widely trav-
eled and well read and have per-
sonalities which stimulate the de-
velopment of other human beings.
The three RS do not constitute a
sufficiently comprehensive educa-
tion for the needs of modern life.
Three major types of services
that are necessary are educational.
health and recreation.
Education should teach people
how to be, to do and to live. Full
opportunity should be available for
the acquisition of knowledge and
certain necessary skills and for the
development of useful appreciations,
attitudes and ideals.
Youth should be listened to as
well as listen.
In many States there is competi-
ton between elementary and Sec
ondary education and between rural
and urban schools.
"On all counts educational op-
portunity in rural areas is more
restricted than educational oppor-
tunity in urban areas.