Evening star., 1947-04-21
Federal Grants Urged
For Education 10
Stop Human Erosion
sy ii. As.oeioisd Press

By ihe Assoeiutsd Press
Federal aid to education to pre-.
vent "senseless erosion Of human
possibilities was urged today b,
Ralph b. Jones, Arkansas commits
sioner Of education. u.
Mr.. Jones told a Senate Labol
Subcommittee considering four bill.
to authorize Federal grants to the
States for school purposes that de.
mocracy will not be saved either
by beautiful illusions to its pas
grandeur or by shouting its eco
nomic benefits from the industrial
housetops." He continued:
1T viii be saved and perfected
exactly to the extent that every
single one of these human resources
Of ours is guaranteed full an6
complete opportunity to develop it.
latent powers Of performance in 8
free society"
Mr.. Jones said Arkansas is anoi
here to beg for charity" While
Arkansas is spending more of it
income for education than many
other states, Mr.. Jones said, "stil
there is not enough money to do ths
job as 1t ought to be done" !.
Bill IS Supported.
Elementary school teachers from
three States and Columbia Uni
versity professor joined Mr.. Jone.
in supporting a bill by Senator Taft
Republican, of Ohio, and seven ol
his colleagues to provide $3.50 900 ,00(
to aid State school systems next
year.
The Columbia education professor
John K. Norton, testified that "de.
NAL of educational opportunity ane
gross inequality of educationa,
opportunity are far too prevalent ir
the United States" He continued
"The plain fact is that millions Of
children and youth never have 8
chance to 60 to a good school anc
some have no chance to go to any
kind of school.
There should be Federal aid fol
education since the gross inequaI-
ties in the support of schools in the
various States can be removed only
if Federal aid is provided"
MIR. Norton said a minimum oil
81 800 expenditure for each class.
room in the Nation could be reached
by Federal appropriation of $316,-
000, 900. He added that more thar
/ 600, 900 children are now in schools
which spend less than $500 for each
classroom.
Soviet Outlay Cited.
Senator Aiken, Republican, OF
Vermont, meanwhile, called for the
United States to approach more
nearly Russia's outlay for schools.
when we stop to think that this
country is spending about IL per
cent of its income on education
while Russia is spending 7 per cent,
we'd better sit up and take notice, u
the Senator told reporter. .
Senator Aiken is chairman of the
subcommittee which opened hear
lngs on four bills to authorize Fed
eral grants to the States for edu-
cation.
Expects Approval by August.
He Is the author of one of the
measures which after five years
would provide for. a 81, 200, 600 900
contribution by the Govern
ment.
Saying he believes Congress will
approve some Federal aid proposal
by August, the Senator added: .l
"It is a question OF whether the
and groups which are
backing, Federal aid. really mean 1t
enough to reconcile some difference
Of opinion over the program" Sen
ator Aiken listed the principal points
of dispute as:
l. The amount to be appropriated.
2. How the funds shall be allo-
Gated among the States.
3. Whether any money shall 60 to
oarochial and other private insti-
tutions."
It insist that education is a ma
tional responsibility and L don't
want to treat 1t as a relief prob
lem," Senator Aiken said.
Four Bills Considered.
Specifically, the four bills under
would:
/. BY Senator Aiken, to provide
400 10000 or $40 for each pupil,
whichever is larger, in the fiscal
year starting July l. The amount
would be increased by 5000, 200, 90
each year, reaching a peak of ST.
zoo 900 900 or $50 for each pupil in
1852.
Funds would be allocated among
the States in proportion to the
of school pupils in each.
Another $50, COO, 900 would be ap-
each year for tax-ex-
smpt non-public schools to help
meet their expenses for (a) pupil
transportation, (b) health examina-
ions ano (c) non-religious instruc-
,ional supplies.
2. The Taft bill to provide $780,
100000 in the coming fiscal year,
s2G0, ,000,0 in 1949 and $3.50, ,000, 900
in each succeeding year.
Funds would be allocated under a
formula based on the number OF
children and the income tax pay
ments of each State.
Senator Taft says the formula is
designed to see that funds go to
States which make an educational
effort in excess of the national
effort compared to their own in
FOR BIDS