Evening star., 1946-02-24
that $799,000,000 should be spent
annually in a 20-year program.
Enrolment SkyrOcketS

other hand, has said that annual
expenditures for public and private
schools, colleges "and science build
ings" will actually average $402,-
100000 in the postwar decade. Post
war projects in. the design stage
now total $840,0O0,000.
Meanwhile, enrolment in the
public schools is reachig unpre-
cedented peaks as rehabilitation
OF the armed forces continues and
demands for. labor slacken. Even
kindergartens are overcrowded as
a result of the high birth rate
during the war.
The tuition and subsistence aid
given returning veterans under the
CT Bill of Rights has spurred their
re-entry in the schools and colleges.
AS OF last November l, a total of
1898 veterans have been admitted
to 539 colleges as full time students.
1t is predicted that 2,250,000 vet
Grams will ultimately return to
school. OF the 100000 American
men in World War II, $780, 900 had
never gone beyond elementary
school.
Despite the inadequacy of school
facilities and the shortage of teach
ers, Government officials launched
"back-to-School" drive last August
in the conviction that it was i'm
perative to get children out of fac
tories and plants. Child labor regu-
lations Of the Fair Labor Standards
Act OF 1888, which had been relaxed
during the war, were restored to full
effectiveness on November /. This
campaign was largely successful, and
the next problem is to provide ade-
quate school facilities, sufficient
teachers and more uniform educa-
tional standards. 1t is sizable |
order.
Federal Aid Opposed.
Although many of the States have
shown that they are unable or un-
willing to cope with this critical
situation, opposition remains formi-
dable to Federal aid programs. Even
in the sos numerous bills were
introduced in Congress to subsidize
public education, but failed to pass.
While the fear of Federal en-
croachment of States rights was
expressed by many opponents, there
were ample indications that the real
stumbling blocks were racial and
religious questions Should Federal
grants be extended to parochial and
other religious institutions? Could
the level of teachers salaries in the
public schools be raised without in
creasing those in parochial schools?
Should elimination of race dis
elimination in the schools be re-
quired as condition of Federal aid
to education? These were the touchy
issues, beneath the cloak of States
rights"
Despite the failure of these broad
gauge direct-subsidy measures, Fed
eral participation in public education
was expanded during the war. Fed
eral grants encouraged the estab-
lishment Of apprentice training
courses in the various States. Schools
were given subsidies specifically for
conducting engineering, science,
and management defense training
courses" under the general super-
vision of the Office of education.
Last year congressional commit
tees held hearings on two separate
measures for Federal aid to general
public education. One, introduced
by Senators Mead, Democrat, of
New York and Aiken, Republican, of
Vermont and Representative Lesin-
ski, Democrat, of Michigan would
authorize permanent annual ap-
preparation of $3.50, 100000. OF this
sum, $50, 100000 would be used to
assist needy pupils, 500, ,0O0, 900 would
be spent on educational facilities and
services and $300000,000 would go
toward equalization" purposes. In
the latter category, three-fourths of
the money would be spent to in
crease teachers salaries in areas
where they are notably underpaid.
Emergency Salary Aid.
The second bill, sponsored by
Senators Thomas, Democrat, of
Utah and Hill, Democrat, of Ala
bama and Representative Ramspeck,
Democrat, of Georgia would author
ize an emergency appropriation of
5000, 900 900 to- augment the salaries
Of teachers for one year-to be dis
tributed to the State on a population
basis-and permanent annual ap-
preparation of $100, 1000, 900 to equalize
State educational facilities.
Both measures provide for con-
tinuance of local control over edu-
cational administration. Both re-
quire equitable apportionment of
funds in States where separate
schools are maintained for minority
races. In addition, bills have been
introduced to advance specific fields
Of education, such as vocational
training, the value of which was re-
emphasized during the war years.
A bill introduced by Senator George,
Democrat, of Georgia would author