Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-23
BY GEORGE w. CAKES
Special Writer for The Star

0pcCldA WElISE IOT Inc star
The congressional search for a
politically practical Federal aid-to-
education program now appears
to have narrowed to two major
approaches - the administration
plan and the Hill-Elliott bills.
There are many other bills. of
course, but these are the ones re-
ceiving the most attention and
likely to receive the most support.
Proponents of an about aid pro-
gram are far from satisfied with
either bill, declaring that they
deal only indirectly with two ma
jor Unconstitutional school IA
cilities and higher pay and quality
Standards for teachers. But they
ere inclined to go along with the
proposals in the belief that polit-
ic2lly they are the best that can
% obtained at this time-and
ith the secret hope that expan-
on of their provisions can be &C
o1mplished during consideration
in House and Senate.
Both the $1-billion adminiStra-
ion plan and the $3.5-billion Hill
Elliott bills are similar in two
basic respects-each attacks the
educational problem mainly at the
college rather than the school
level and each puts the greatest
stress on the sciences and mathe-
mates. The problem of raising the
quality and standards of school
enthusiastically recognized as
fundamental to any real improve
ment in American education-re-
ceives secondary though impor-
tant attention in both pieces of
legislation.
Figures Show Problem
A few facts from the Office of
Education based on the current
school year show how critical the
school problem is:
Enrolment increased by 1.3
IL million full-time students in
public elementary and secondary
schools for a total of 1923 million
pupils-an increase of 4.3 per cent
over a year ago.
= There were 1900 full-time
- teachers with substandard
certif1cates-an increase of 1900
or 2 per cent over year ago.
4 The number of pupils in ex-
De cess of normal capacity in
public elementary and secondary
schools was reported by the States
as $4,000 of which 709 per
cent were in elementary schools.
A The States reported that a
II. total of 100000 additional
classrooms were needed in the fall
of 1857.
The chief ways in which the ad-
ministration and Hill-Elliott bills
would tackle these problems is
through proposals to increase the
number and quality Of teachers.
Senator Hill states that SIP billion
of 40 per cent of the total funds
recommended under his proposal
will provide Federal assistance for
programs directly benefitting sec
ondary and elementary schools"
These include fellowships for
graduate study. an expansion OF
teacher summer institutes and ex-
tension courses and funds for
other devices to improve the
standards Of school teachers.
However the Hill Elliott and adj
ministration bills only include
small amounts for the most seri-
Gus single problem school teachers
face-inadequate pay. Federal
funds for teachers are considered
politically explosive at the school
level because of integration and at
college level because denomina-
tional and some private institu-
tons might fear indirect Federal
control.
Scientists Beck Humonities
Despite the fact that both the
administration and Hill-Elhott
bills stress the sciences and
mathematics. the scientists them
selves are the most ardent oppo-
nents of legislation that would
give undue preference TO these
subjects. Their voices are the
loudest for aid to both humanities
and science even If the aim is
simply to produce outstanding
scientists.
Research scientists like DR.. ISL
dor Rabi and scientific educators,
sucA' as President Fred Hovde Of