Evening star., 1955-11-20
Educators Ponder Question
Of U. S. SchooIhouse Aid
By HERMAN ALLEN

Ds 0EkA26AkN ALLEN
Are you interested in new and
better schools for your children?
Almost everybody win answer yes.
The question is. how do we get
the money to build them? On this,
Americans are split sharply.
Among State school ofncials
throughout the country. about half
are convinced the answer lies only
in Federal aid to education. The
attitude of the other half ranges
from indifference to downright re-
sistance to the idea.
One Of the chief arguments
against 1t comes from State officials
who believe that with Federal aid
may come Federal control
Says Gov. Milward Simpson of
Wyoming: Il believe every effort
should be made to prevent the en-
actment OF Federal aid to education.
Whenever we accept Federal aid to
education. we accept Federal con-
troll Of our free public school sys-
tenn"
On the other side OF the fence
Is Kentucky's Superintendent Of
Public Instruction. Wendell P.
Butler:
II Kentucky's boys and girls are
ever going to be housed In school
facilities that are adequate for
modern education program. Federal
aid for schoolhouse construction Is
imperative"
Arguments Pro and Con
Backers Of Federal school con-
struction aid say there's q national
responsibility to see that every
American gets a fundamental edu.
cation regardless Of whether the
people Of his own State can or want
to give 1t to him.
Moreover. they point out the Gov
ernment already takes part In two
big State building aid programs
highways and hospitals land ask
why schools shouldn't enjoy the
same benefits.
Opponents reply: Highways and
hospitals aren't schools. They don't
work with our youngsters minds"
The Government. Of course, all
ready has hand in several fields of
education. including buildings.
Since 1850 it has given school,
house money to many 'federally
impacted" communities-that is. a
community swamped with children
because OF q new Government in
stallation land helps with the op-
Grating cost Of schools.
And since World War I. the Gov
ernnent has helped States in voca-
tional education. It has conducted
school lunch program in many
areas since 1885 and, most famous
OF all Its ventures in the field. has
financed the vast CT education pro-
gram, from high school through
college. since the end Of World War
II.
None Of these programs has
aroused significant charges of Fed
eral influence.
But because Of the long standing
deep-rooted tradition OF local con-
troll OF public schools, present pro-
posals for the Government TO stem
In and lend q hand have stirred up
q hornets nest.
The whole question is almost GER
tain to be hot issue at the White
House Conference on Education
coming up November 2s to De-
cember /. Legislation proyid-
Ing for Federal aid to school con-
struction will be pushed hard in
next years session Of Congress.
Who Needs Aid?
In Nationwide poll the Asso-
ciated Press learned ranking ON
cials in 20 States--representinr a
little less than half the Nations
school children---say the people In
their States need or want help from
washington to build more schools.
In 20 States governors or respon-
sible State school officials say they
either do not want.~or see no pres
ent need In their States for Federal
aid.
Some Of the latter do foresee
possible need in the future.
Authorities In Florida, Iowa
Nebraska. New Jersey. Tennessee
and Texas refuse to comment on
the issue.
Authorities In California, Dela-
ware. Idaho, Illinois. Indiana, Kan
sas, Maryland, Massachusetts. Mon
tana, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio.
Oklahoma. South Carolina, South
Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia.
Wisconsin and Wyoming either are
Indifferent or definitely opposed to
the idea Of Federal aid to educa-
ton.
In four Of these States-Kansas.
Montana. North Dakota and Ohio
top State school officers say: I'VE
have money TO build schools II the
Legislature viii let us spend It"
These States admit both need
and desire for Government help:
Alabama. Arizona, Arkansas.
Colorado. Connecticut, Georgia,