Evening star., 1960-10-09
WHAT THE SPEAKERS IGNORE
y. S. Pays Teachers Now

extensive FeQeral installations.
In Arlington County, Virginia, the
Federal Government supplies is
per cent of that county's operat-
ing costs Of which 81 per cent was
spent in teachers salaries. Across
the Potomac, Montgomery Coun-
ty, Maryland, receives Z per cent
Of its school operating budget
from the Government. OF this
total so per cent was used to pay
teachers salaries.
The question of Federal control
of those schools receiving Gov
ernment money does not arise
because the law states specifically
that no direction or supervision"
is to be exercised over the per
sonnel, curriculum or program of
instruction. The Office of Educa-
ton deposits the funds in the
school districts operating account
where they are mixed with State
and local contributions.
Vocational Troinine Proerom
President Woodrow Wilson in
augurated the vocational training
program in 1918 based on the idea
that vocational training is essen
tial to the Nations welfare and
that the States cannot conduct
this instruction without financial
aid from the Federal Government.
Fifty million dollars a year is cur
rently given to the States accord
ing to their population and $685.
million of Federal money has been
appropriated since the program
began. Federal grants must be
matched by State or local con-
tributions.
Ninety per cent of these Federal
funds for the development and
improvement of vocational train
ing is spent on teachers salaries.
There are 10000 vocational train
ing teachers, mostly in public high
schools, who derive between 20
per cent and Is per cent of their
salary from the Federal Govern
ment.
Fifteen thousand out of the
$4,000 high schools conduct
courses in agriculture, distribu-
ton, trades and industries, home
economics and practical nursing
for 4 million students. The cur
riculum is determined by the local
school board and is in no way
controlled by the Federal Gov
ernment.
National Science Foundation
One of the functions of the
National Science Foundation is
to improve the quality of the
Nations mathematics and sci
ence high school teachers. Most
Of the Foundations SOS million
educational budget is spent for
this purpose. In fact the law re-
quireS that minimum of $50 mil
lion be used for the supplement
tary training Of secondary school
teachers. Nearly all the funds go
to pay teachers salaries. For sew
eral years it has been sponsoring
six to nine-week summer institutes
conducted by universities and coll
leges throughout the country.
These institutions select the
teachers who attend and Ak the
course Of study.
Last summer 17.415 science and
mathematics teachers - IA per
cent of the Nations total y were
enrolled in 392 institutes. For their
operation the National Science
Foundation provided $19 million
of which 73 per cent were used
for stipends, dependency allow
ances and travel to enable the
teachers to attend. Sixteen per
cent of the Federal funds went for
salaries to the college faculties
who ran the courses. The subjects
studied included mathematics.
physics, chemistry, biology and
other natural sciences.
Also, the Foundation operates
full academic year training insti-
tutes for high school teachers at
a cost of SO million. Seventy seven
per cent Of this money is used to
compensate the 1,491 teachers in
attendance.
Defense Education Act
In addition. training institutes
are being held for 1,751 college
teachers in the sciences and
mathematics. OF the So million
which the Government puts up,
68 per cent is used to pay StipendS,
dependency allowances and travel
to the participants and 81 per cent
for staff faculty salaries.