Evening star., 1960-10-09
By GEORGE w. OAKES
Contributing Writer

Although Senator Kennedy and
Vice President Nixon in their first
TVa encounter argued whether the
Federal Government should pay
teachers salaries, in fact Congress
long ago approved policy under
which the Government contrib
utes to such salaries. Federal pro-
grams authorized by law, have for
many years made funds available
to teachers in both public schools
and colleges.
Here are some of the most
striking examples of how the Fed
eral government helps finance
teachers salaries:
One out of every four public
school children in this country is
taught by a teacher who receives
part of his salary from the Gov
eminent under the federally af-
fected area program.
More than half of all vocational
training teachers in the Nations
public schools are paid an average
of $1,000 a year in Federal funds
Under the Governments vocational
training program.
Last summer alone IA per cent
Of all the country's public school
science and mathematics teachers
were given Federal stipendS and
dependency allowances which en-
abled them to attend the National
Science Foundations summer
training institutes.
Teachers in land-grant colleges
have been entitled to receive Fed
.eral funds as a portion of their
salary under a program began
nearly hundred years ago.
All teachers in the District of
Columbia public schools have re-
ceived their salaries from the Fed
eral Government by annual act Of
Congress since the establishment
of the D. c. school system.
Several teacher training pro-
grams operating under the Ma
tional Defense Education Act use
Federal funds for salaries and
stipends of school and college
teachers.
In some cases funds are turned
over to the States to be allotted
by them to the school district but
in other operations the Federal
Government gives the money di-
rectly to the local school district
concerned.
FederoIIy Affected Area
The Federal Government pro-
vides funds for the operation of
public schools in areas that have
Federal installations because the
local communities are unable
otherwise to care for the educa-
ton of children whose families
have been attracted to the region
as a result of Federal employment.
Most of these areas surround mill
tary establishments All Force
bases, naval dockyards, Army
posts, atomic energy plants. etc.
In these places local revenue
sources have been substantially
reduced by extensive Federal non-
taxable property and local school
needs have been greatly strained
by the influx. of Federal workers.
In the country as whole. local
taxes account for more than half
of school operating budgets.
Since President Truman signed
this legislation in 1850, more than
a billion dollars of Federal money
has been made available to almost
1000 federally affected school dis
tricts. This years appropriation
Of $751; 10000 is a million dollars
larger than a year ago. Both po-
litical parties have enthusiastically
endorsed this activity.
The program Is now so wide
spread that rs per cent of all the
Nations public school children.
or more than million pupils,
attend schools in federally af-
fected areas. California receives
by.far the largest amount of Fed
eral funds because of its many
Government operations. Virginia
is second and Maryland fourth in
distribution of Federal money.
The amount of Federal contribu-
ton to the total operating ex-
penses of these schools varies from
! per cent to 80 per cent. Five
per, cent is national average.
1t is reliably estimated that, on
the, average So per cent. of this
Federal money is used for the
payment of teachers salaries in
line with the national pattern.
Here is the way it works out
In the Washington area with its