This bill was presented at the board meeting at Akron, Ohio, in the fall of 1920, again at Davenport, Iowa, in 1921, and again at the board meeting at Asheville, N. C., last June, and again at the board meeting in New York City in November, 1923. The bill, first presented in full, was the Smith-Towner bill. We had Judge Towner to speak to us. Latterly it has been the principle which has been indorsed. We did not discuss in detail the provisions of the present bill, but the principle in every part of it, and we are heartily in accord. We shall never rest until all of the rest of you are working hard to get a department of education with a secretary in the Cabinet. Our fond hope is that there shall be a bureau of musical education, which, however, is a side issue. Miss WILLIAMS. We have a statement from Miss Lucile M. Lyon, president National Federation of Music Clubs, which I wish to incorporate into the record. This morning I received a letter from L. H. Dennis. He indicated his deep concern in this matter, and asked me to file in the record the resolutions of his association, which were passed December 8, 1923. I was also asked by Mr. W. M. Tippy, executive secretary of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America, to file his statement at this time. (The papers referred to are as follows:) An educated, enlightened citizenship is a Nation's greatest asset. Federal aid has been and must continue to be given to this end. We have Departments and Secretaries of War, State, Navy, Agriculture, and Commerce. Should we not give equal recognition to education a fundamental necessity of good government? A department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet would serve to coordinate and render more efficient those educational agencies we now have and would more quickly bring undeveloped resources to adequate function. Duplication of effort is expensive; so is wasted energy. A department of education would minimize them and is a worth while economic measure. The National Federation of Music Clubs is supporting the Sterling-Reed bill because we believe it is the part of both duty and wisdom that the Nation should provide in the best possible manner for the education of its future citizens. LUCILE M. LYON, President National Federation of Music Clubs. Education is just as important to our national life as commerce, agriculture, labor, or the Army. Not until it is so recognized by placing a secretary in the President's Cabinet will it have the attention necessary to its development. Schools and libraries have for years found it necessary to spend part of their strength in fighting an apathetic public for support, and in experimentation and research which should be done by a central Government department. With public attention focussed upon educational needs through a department of education, our schools and libraries will develop greater efficiency in bringing adequate educational opportunities to all our citizens. J. T. JENNINGS, President American Library Association. JANUARY 21, 1924 The CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, Washington, D. C. SIR: The administrative committee of the Federal Council of Churches has passed the following resolution, covering the principles which underlie the education bill: "Voted: That in view of the fundamental importance of education, the administrative committee urges the creation of a national department of education, the head of which shall be a member of the President's Cabinet, with a view to securing for education a recognition from the Federal Government commensurate with its significance for our national life, at the same time preserving to the several States the full control of educational administration within their borders." The text of the present bill has not been before the administrative committee and it is not possible, therefore, to speak with authority on specific details. I may say this, however, personally but unofficially, that the proposal for a national council of education and for Federal appropriations to State boards of education, with a view to strengthening the States in their efforts to reduce literacy and to Americanize the foreign-speaking population, seem to me sound and practicable. I am confident that the bill will have the prevailing support of the churches which we represent. Very sincerely yours, WORTH M. TIPPY, Executive Secretary of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America. Miss WILLIAMS. The American Library Association is also deeply interested in this educational work, and also the Educational Press Association. I have asked Mr. Morgan, who has already appeared before you, to speak very briefly for these organizations with which he is connected. STATEMENT OF MR. JOY E. MORGAN, EDITOR, JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION Mr. MORGAN. I would like to speak first on behalf of the Educational Press Association of America. The Educational Press Association for some 25 years has been working for the development of American education through educational journalism. It has never indorsed any measure as an association until its recent meeting in Chicago. It was a surprise to me, knowing its past policy, to see a resolution unanimously adopted after a full presentation of this bill that did not look toward indorsement of the measure at all, but merely an understanding of it, that the editors might go back and write about it intelligently. The Educational Press Association topted a resolution urging all members of that association to work for its passage. The president of the Educational Press Association sends this Iessage: SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., March 17, 1924. The Educational Press Association of America urges speedy passage of educon bill. This will greatly aid American public schools to stamp out illiteracy, bad foreign population into general Americanism, give needed support to rural tools, provide programs of health and physical betterment, and give more a tequately-trained teachers. The bill is sound in principle. Education is worthy of a place in the Cabinet and of adequate support. We speak in the I June of 4,000,000 readers, and in the name of the children of America. ARTHUR H. CHAMBERLIN, President Educational Press Association of America. The American Library Association, of which I am proud to be a ife member, and a member of its committee charged with responsibility for its interest in this bill, has been laboring for 50 years to develop in the United States, a system of free public libraries to continue the educational interests which schools exist to create. At the end of that period we find the United States spending some billion and a half dollars for education through public schools and $20,000,000, according to the best estimates that are available, for public libraries. One-half of the people of this Nation have no immediate library facilities whatsoever. During the war the American Library Association rendered to the men in camp and overseas a public library service. As those men returned to their various local communities, a flood of letters came to the American Library Association, asking how they could develop libraries back home-how they could go about it, the kind of librarians they ought to have, the type of organization, what kind of buildings they ought to construct, how much they ought to spend, and all those questions that are necessary to the intelligent development of the library movement. I am sorry to say that there was not then, and is not now, in the United States Government, a single agency that is studying those simple and necessary problems which would enable us, through the public library, to keep the level of intelligence that should be maintained in any self-governing democracy. As the American Library Association faced that problem, it invited a former member of this committee, sponsor of this bill, the far-sighted, forwardlooking Judge Towner, to its meetings on different occasions. He explained the provisions of the bill and its purposes. There were discussions of it, and after discussion the association went on record as being in favor of it, and has repeatedly reasserted its position in favor of it. I do not believe, as Doctor Winship, out of his broad experience in the United States, said here a moment ago, that the details are going to matter very much. I am willing to trust the judgment of the men and women and of the research workers who have made the calculations that underlie these detailed provisions. I am confident that if this Congress appropriates seven and a half million dollars for the removal of illiteracy, or whatever it sees fit to appropriate, that provision will accomplish a great good to American education. It may not all be used. After experience it may be increased or decreased, but there is a job to be done, and I think that the American people ought to know that we are determined to do that job. I do not know whether seven and a half million dollars is exactly the right sum for the Americanization of our foreignborn, but I doubt that anyone in this room, after he has been in contact with the actual facts out on the firing line, would hesitate to commit this Nation to spend seven and a half cents per capita to give the ideals of American civilization to those who have come from foreign lands, with different ideals. Perhaps $15,000,000 is not enough to secure the adequate training of American teachers, but I do know this, out of my experience as a school superintendent in Nebraska. The legislature modestly offered the various high schools in that State the sum of $350, if they would provide for the normal training of teachers. Within a few years after the offer, the teaching personnel of the schools changed from eighth grade graduates to high school graduates. That shows that a little money goes a long way. Mr. BLACK. Would your argument be in favor of the bill if the States who can not support an educational system could find ways of doing it? Mr. MORGAN. I do not think that is the question at issue. Here is a program that has been framed by the best minds in American education, men and women who know this country educationally, from coast to coast, and from the Gulf to Canada. Mr. BLACK. It is an appropriation matter largely. Mr. MORGAN. I do not think so. There are three provisions in this bill, and I think one of them is just as important as the other. The dignity which a Federal department of education, with a secretary in the President's Cabinet will give to education, is necessary. In this room a few weeks ago the United States Commissioner of Education testified that the work of the library in the Bureau of Education was one whole year behind. I do not think, gentlemen, that would be true if our national educational interests were presided over by a man who sat in the President's Cabinet, and who would speak to this committee and to this Congress, with the authority and dignity and information that that office would enable him to have. Mr. BLACK. Do you not think that there would be more dignity to education that has less political control? Mr. MORGAN. I do not think that political control is implied in this bill. It has not been so in other leading countries, all of which have departments of education, with ministers in the cabinet. I do not think any political interest in America would dare meddle on a political basis with the educational interests of this country. There is another provision of this bill which is very important, which would bring together the State superintendents of schools, 25 experts, and 25 laymen. Mr. BLACK. That is possible as a voluntary proposition without statute? Mr. MORGAN. Its findings would have a dignity, a method of distribution, and a prestige, if it were brought together in this way, that they could not have on any other basis. The third provision is Federal aid. The educational workers and laymen interested in this bill are numbered in tens of millions, and they understand its provisions. They may understand all the details involved but they have perfect confidence in the measure, and the results it would achieve in American education. As we look back on this movement, 20 or 25 years from now, we will wonder why the bill did not pass sooner. I would as soon stand against the tides as against this measure, knowing, as I know, the sentiment that is back of it in this country. I recall a meeting in 1921, in which there was discussion of the status of this measure. There were those at this meeting who expressed the feeling that if the measure were not passed in 1921, the forces would disintegrate. A gentleman got up and said, "I am not afraid the forces back of the bill will disintegrate. My only fear is that the bill will pass too soon, that it will pass before the great issues at stake have had a chance to register themselves throughout the United States," and he proceeded to tell of a school bond issue in a local community that would not have passed without this great nation-wide interest in education. It is three years since 1921, and that prediction is true. The movement which we then thought was strong is ten times as strong to-day. If this bill is not passed within a short time, it will have twenty times the strength within a few years. The interest is fundamental. Miss WILLIAMS. Mrs. Glen Levin Swiggett, chairman of the committee on Federal legislation, National Council of Women, was not able to be present, but Miss Elizabeth Eastman will make a statement for her. Miss EASTMAN. Mrs. Swiggett, chairman of the committee on Federal legislation of the National Council of Women, was detained and could not be here this morning, but she wishes me to say that the National Council of Women, composed of 37 organizations, 33 of which are national organizations, represents more than 11,000,000 women. This council indorsed the establishment of a department of education in the belief that such a department follows in the natural and logical order of things. In the historical development of the country it has been the practice of this Government to establish executive departments for the purpose of fostering and promoting those interests which can better be done by the Government to the profit of all its citizens than by leaving the promotion of such interests to the States; and that it will be the means for the creation of needed vocational types of training, while giving at the same time a more purposeful objective to our national educational program; that is, the preparation of all our people without exception for the intelligent exercise of citizenship, political, economic, and social. Miss WILLIAMS. It has been asked how many people belonged to these various organizations, and I have a list of the organizations with their membership here, their bona fide membership, which I should like to file. (The paper referred to is as follows:) Membership of allied organizations National Education Association... American Federation of Teachers.. American Federation of Labor.. National Committee for a Department of Education.. National Council of Women... National Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teacher Associations... National League of Women Voters. Supreme Council, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Juris diction of the United States (reaches). International Sunday School Council of Religious Education... National Council of Jewish Women__ National Women's Christian Temperance Union. American Association of University Women National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs__ National Women's Trade Union League... General Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star.. National Society, Daughters of American Revolution_ National Board of Young Women's Christian Association National Federation of Music Clubs. American Library Association _ _ _ . National Vocational Education Association.. Total.... |