Evening star., 1944-04-22
Letters to The Star
Federal Control of Schools
Resisted by Educator
tn the Editor nf Tho Ctor.

Resisted by Educator
To the Editor of The Star:
Unfortunately, the opinion has been
formed in certain circles that educators
are solidly in favor of Federal aid for
public education; but many of us are
opposed to Federal aid for those States
which are capable of supporting their
own systems of education and resent
the fact that only one side of the Fed
eral aid question ever has been pre-
sented on the programs of the American
Association of School Administrators
associated with the National Education
Association down through the years.
If Mississippi cannot get along with
out Federal aid, let us give it to her;
but there are not many States actually
in that condition. Vermont, while one
Of the greatest States in some other
respects, is the poorest of the Eastern
States in financial wealth, but she is
able to take care of her own schools.
This also applies to Maine, where very
highly organized and well-oiled unit
in favor of Federal aid is well under
way.
To be sure, the sharp method that
defeated the recent Federal aid bill
In Congress in itself is not to be ad-
mired. However, it is no less praise
worthy than the attempt on the part
OF those of the bills supporters who
regarded only one section as an emer-
gency to represent both sections of the
bill as such.
We have had the sad experience of
the WPA and the NYA in educa-
tion. Immediately before the latters
demise, the writer received an appeal
sent from Chicago asking him whether
or not he believed in the NYA to
contact his Senators at once in its be-
half. Such an appeal doubtless was sent
throughout the country. There is a
well-organized pressure group demand
ing Federal aid, but many in public
education do not wish Federal particle
patton in education in those States ca
pable OF carrying on their own systems:
and this means the great majority of
States.
An underlying principle in American
life has been that those powers which
are remote from the individual belong
to the Federal Government while those
which are immediate or close to the in
dividual belong to the separate States.
With the exception of the right to wor-
ship God as one sees fit, for which the
Pilgrim Fathers left their native shores,
and probably family sustenance, moth
ing is closer to the individual and the
family than education; and conse-
quently the control of education has
been the function of the individual
State, not of the Federal Government.
The issue of the soldiers vote should
not be confused with State rights in
education.
Those who favor Federal control of
education contend that the relation of
the Federal Government to the State is
identical with that of each State to its
towns. This is a common fallacy.
The local municipality is the creature
of the State; the commonwealth NAV
destroy the local community any time it
so determines. But the Federal Govern
ment may not destroy the autonomous
character of the State, because our Fed
eral Constitution specifically protects
the identity and perpetuity of the State
in providing that the only way a State
may lose its representation in Congress
is by its own volition.
1t sometimes is contended that be-
cause Of an agrarian civilization those
responsible for the Constitution over
looked the consideration of education.
They purposely omitted education be-
cause they recognized that education is
the function of the States, not of the
Federal Government. No greater evi-
dence is needed to sustain the conten-
ton that the great thinkers of that
day were not unconscious of the need
OF education than to realize that during
the same year that the Constitution was
adopted the Great Ordinance of 1887
had as one of its cornerstones the stip-
ulation that religion, morality and
knowledge being necessary to good gov
ernment and the happiness of mankind.
schools and the means of education
shall forever be encouraged"
TO think that the Federal Government
would continue to furnish Federal aid
Indefinitely without participating in its
control is fantastic-as "the one who
pays the piper calls the tune" The
States should not be induced by coer-
cion or by favor to surrender the man
agement and control of their own
schools. WILLIAM R. BARRY,
Georgetown, 18; President Massa.
chusetts School Superintendents'
Association.
Northampton, Mass.
America First Today.
To the Editor of The Star.