Evening star., 1961-11-10
Local School
COntroIUpheId

BALTIMORE, Nov. 10 (AP).
Federal control of education
in the United States would
lead directly to the destruction
of the freedom and integritY
of the individual. Sterling M.
McMurrin, United States Com
missioner of Education, said
today.
But, he added. "the Federal
Government must step in,
where absolutely necessary, to
provide the human and nat
ural resources needed in the
achievement of our national
goals"
Il am completely committed
to the tradition CT local con-
troll Of education" Mr.. Nc
Murrin said in an interview.
However, I do see the necessi-
ty of recognizing that the
quality and quantity of educaA
ton everywhere in the Nation
is the proper concern of every
body in the Nation"
Protection of Individual
Mr.. McMurrin said, 1--WE
also must recognize the neces-
sity of protecting the individ-
ual against the great weight Of
the Nation. There is tendency
for the individual to be over
whelmed and his individuality
destroyed. The best way to pro-
tect the individual is to protect
the local control of the schools.
IF we shift control of educa-
ton to the Federal Govern
ment. the Surest and most direct
result would be the destruction
of the freedom and integrity of
the individual" ]t'
Discussing an address to he
given later in the day to the
annual meeting of the Council
of Chief State School Officers.
Mr.. McMurrin said:
I'VE have a national ideal
that all citizens should have an
opportunity to the best kind of
education of which they are
capable.
This makes education, IN
one sense. the Nations busi-
ness. If the ideal is not being
properly recognized and i'm
plemented in one of the States,
it is the concern of the people
in all the States"
The Council of Chief State
School Officers is an organiza-
ton of State superintendents
and commissioners of educa-
ton. These superintendents
deal with a multitude of Fed
eral agencies. and there are
about rs ways in which Fed
eral funds are channeled to the
States for educational purposes.
Cooperation Pledged
MY office is willing to sit
down with these superintend-
ents and work out any prob
lens they have regarding Fed
eral control" Mr.. McMurrin
said. I'VE are as anxious as
they are to avoid it. ~
1T is very clear to me that
the long history of Federal aid
to education shows it has not
led to Federal control, and
there is no reason why it
should in the future. 5
History shows that the inn
pact Of Federal support of
education has been good.
American people can be proud
of it. Federal funds have pro-
duced remarkable. results in
agricultural technology, for
instance, and without any
semblance of Federal control
Of the schools"
Secretary of Health, Educa-
ton and Welfare Ribicoff told
the council that a legislative
proposal of Representative
Bailey. Democrat of West Vir-
ginia, chairman of the House
Subcommittee on General Ed
ucation, deserves the serious
consideration of everyone who
is genuinely interested in meet
ing the serious needs of our
school children in each of the
so States
Mr.. Bailey has said he will
introduce a bill that would
give each State an annual Fed
eral grant equal to 2 per cent
Of the States total annual ex-
penditure, both State and local,
for public education from kin
dergarten through 18th grade.
An additional allotment would
go to States where the average
per capita personal income is
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