Evening star., 1948-05-24
PTANationa| Congress
Cites School Crisis al
Cleveland Convention
By Colt HendIey Jr.
Sfor StoH Correspondent

BY Colt Hendley, Jr.
sfor staff Correspondent,
CLEVELAND, May 24.-The
crisis in education-which may
within 10 years find 100000
children without places in
schoolhouses-had top attention
from delegates as the annual
convention of the National Con-
gress of Parents and Teachers
opened here today.
Keynoting the three-day conven-
tion, Mrs. L. w. Hughes Of Arling-
ton, Tenn, national president, de-
clsred the present teacher and
school building shortages over the
country would prevent those 6,000,-
900 boys and girls from receiving
an education If not corrected, add
ing:
1T is hard to believe that this is
what we have to look forward to
in Goth century America"
Heads Nominating Committee.
The Washington delegation of IL
is headed by Mrs o. G. Hankins,
president of the District Congress
of Parents and Teachers. She is
head of the convention committee.
Mrs Hankins' committee today
brought in names of candidates for
five Offices being filled at this con-
vention. 1t nominated DR.. Harold
C. Hunt, Chicago superintendent of
schools for second vice president.
Others named for regional vice
presidents were Mrs. Clifford N.
Jenkins, New York, region /; Mrs.
A. J. Nicely, Pennsylvania, region
2: Mrs. Robert F. Shank, Indiana,
region 4, and Mrs. C. c. Clark,
Mississippi, region 6.
There were no nominations from
the floor of the convention and
voting on these unopposed delegates
will take place tomorrow.
Mrs. Cook in Leading Role.
Also playing leading role in the
convention is Mrs. Stanley G. Cook
of Indian Head, Md, who is chair
man of the Legislation Committee.
Mrs. Cook said her committee would
press for congressional action on
several programs previously under
taken by the PTA, but did not in
tend to introduce any new legiSla-
ton.
The PTA wants the $500 .000, 900
Federal aid to education bill, now
stalled in the House Education and
Labor Committee after passing the
Senate, to be enacted, she said. The
other measure being pushed by the
PTA would provide Federal funds
for the extension and improvement
of public health units throughout
the United States, she added. Bills
for this are in both House and Sem
ate committees at present.
In her opening address, Mrs.
Hughes noted the need for these
bills as she restated the PTA -four
point" program. These four fields
being stressed by the PTAs in local
communities are school education,
health, world understanding and
parent and family education.
Family Education Stressed.
These four points are the "unfln-
ished business" of the PTA. Mrs.
Hughes declared.
The District-together with Ala
bama, Delaware, New Mexico and
South Carolina-was pointed out by
Mrs. Hughes as one of the few
places having 'asspublic~ health 'sys-
tenn which was up even to mini
mum adequacy.
Discussing the need for parent
and family life education, Mrs.
Hughes said that ultimately it was
the family that determines whether
a child grows into an adult capable
of managing the affairs OF the
world. And only parents equipped
to provide such homes can give us
the kind of men and women needed
for the world, she added.
Mrs. Hughes said that in June
about 10000 new teachers are ex-
pected to graduate from colleges.
I'VE need 100000, at least she de-
clared.
Teacher Shortage Serious.
During panel discussion OF
school education DR.. Agnes Sam
uelson, a staff member of the
National Education Associations
Washington Office, made this same
point as she told delegates that the
shortage of grade-school teachers
was the most critical problem of
American schools today.
She pointed out that the 1947
college graduates trained as ele-
mentary teachers will be only about
72.7 per cent of the number grad
uated in 1941. In the face of this
enrolment in the elementary grades
over the country is increasing tre-
mendously, she said.
DR.. Samuelson blamed the short
age of grade school teachers on low
salaries, overcrowded classrooms
which made working conditions bad.
and the unequal pay and prestige
accorded grade teachers.