J. M. Gwinn, superintendent of schools, San Francisco, Calif. Robert R. Hartzell, president Tehama County Teachers Association, Red Bluff, Calif. C. A. Howard, superintendent of schools, Marshfield, Oreg. H. E. Inlow, superintendent of schools, Pendleton, Oreg. Ida Christine Iverson, president Los Angeles City Teachers Club, Hotel Trinity, Los Angeles, Calif. W. W. Kemp, dean school of education, University of California, Berkeley, Calif. Mark Keppel, county superintendent of schools, Los Angeles, Calif. E. J. Klemme, director extension service, State Normal School, Bellingham, Wash. Tully C. Knoles, president College of the Pacific, San Jose, Calif. J. S. Landers, president Oregon Normal School, Monmouth, Oreg. Vaughan McCaughey, associate California Teachers Association, San Francisco, Calif. J. O. McLaughlin, superintendent of schools, Corvallis, Oreg. Arthur L. Marsh, executive secretary, Washington Education Association, Seattle, Wash. Z. May Meighen, county superintendent of schools, Chehalis, Wash. Mary F. Mooney, vice principal Washington School, San Francisco, Calif. Jay Nash, superintendent of recreation and director of physical education, Oakland public schools, Oakland, Calif. C. L. Phelps, president State Teachers College, Santa Barbara, Calif. O. C. Pratt, superintendent of schools, Administration Building, Spokane, Wash. Josephine Corliss Preston, superintendent of public instruction, Olympia, Wash. E. D. Ressler, secretary Oregon State Teachers Association, Corvallis, Oreg. Ethel Richardson, assistant superintendent of public instruction, in charge of immigrant education, Los Angeles, Calif. S. P. Robbins, principal grade school, Chico, Calif. Jessie A. Skinner, president Federated Teachers' Council, Campbell Hill Hotel, Portland, Oreg. A. C. Strange, superintendent of schools, Astoria, Oreg. William C. Weir, president Pacific University, Corvallis, Oreg. Samuel O. Welday, school principal, 1826 De la Vina Street, Santa Barbara, Calif. John Franklin West, superintendent of schools, Pasadena, Calif. E. H. Whitney, assistant superintendent of schools, Portland, Oreg. Will C. Wood, superintendent of public instruction, Sacramento, Calif. OUTLYING POSSESSIONS Ken C. Bryan, president Hawaii Education Association, 2122 McKinley Street, Honolulu, Hawaii. Charles E. Bunnell, president Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines, Fairbanks, Alaska. W. E. Givens, superintendent of public instruction, Territory of Hawaii, Honolulu. Lester D. Henderson, commissioner of education, Juneau, Alaska. J. E. Johnson, superintendent of schools, Ketchikan, Alaska. W. K. Keller, superintendent of schools, Juneau, Alaska. Benjamin O. Wist, president Territorial Normal School, Honolulu, Hawaii. Juan Hyke, commissioner of education, San Juan, P. R. STATEMENTS FROM LAY PEOPLE I know of no more potent influence or effective service that could be rendered education in all parts of the country than the enactment by Congress of a measure similar to the Towner-Sterling bill. A Department of Education in the National Government would afford a unifying influence throughout the land which would stabilize and promote educational activities in every State in the Union and would in no way interfere with well-established State or local rights and privileges or decrease or minimize the influence of a single State in its educational affairs. Time after time when I have endeavored to promote some educational reform within my official province, or to effect legislative results which would improve the opportunities of boys and girls. I have felt the need of the power and influence which can be supplied through a Federal department of education. Having a viewpoint of the State administrator, as I have worked in such capacity all my life, I have no fears whatever of a national department of education interfering with the prerogatives of a State office responsible for the supervision of education in a State or of decreasing the influence of such officer with his State constituents. On the other hand, I believe such a department would increase greatly the dignity, the power for usefulness and the prestige in every way of an official responsible for the leadership of education in one of our American States. As the National Education Association itself has influenced the professional side of education in every section and corner of the land, so would a national department of education influence the legal, the constitutional, the financial, the official side of public education not only in every State and school district of the country, but also in the eyes of the world. Each State and the Nation itself must join in giving to every boy and girl in the land the opportunity of obtaining the education which will best fit them for the service of the Republic. DR. THOMAS E. FINEGAN, Former Commissioner of Education, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. OUR PRESENT EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IS INADEQUATE Such legislation respecting education as is comprised in the passage of the so-called Towner-Sterling bill seems to me necessary because of the unquestioned fact that our present educational system, despite its great achievements, has fallen down before its mighty task, as the following facts show First. Nearly one-fourth of our adult males are unable to read the English language. This was shown by the Army tests. Second. Nearly or quite one half of the teachers in our public schools lack adequate education and training. Third. The facilities for education throughout the Nation are grossly unequal and in many ways sadly lacking. Fourth. There exists no adequate central clearing house of which advantage can be taken for progressive and helpful ideas wherever these may develop. If we are to give a good, even if not a generous, educational opportunity to every boy and girl in the country, a motive force and a constructive power must be provided that does not now exist. This I believe to be provided in the proposed legislation in such a way as to be helpful to all and hurtful to none. WILLIAM C. REDFIELD, Former Secretary of Commerce. Soldiers are trained to defend their nation. Future citizens, whether native or alien born, should through education also be trained. They would thus become a part of a great army of peace, and stand as a force for keeping unimpaired the privileges and benefits gained by struggle and sacrifice which have made possible the development of this great Nation of free people who hold within themselves the sovereignty of government. The Congress of the United States should give attentive heed and the consideration it deserves to the socalled Towner-Sterling bill. Its enactment into law would be a long stride in the right direction. PERRY W. WEIDNER, Sovereign Grand General Inspector, Southern California, The passage of the education bill, now before the Congress, is a long deferred, but much needed measure in the interests of national education. It need not be feared that the bill will introduce the spirit of bureaucracy or uniformity into American education. The real purpose of the bill is to give Federal oversight to a cardinal American task, that of educating the citizenry of the Nation. The creation of a cabinet department of education may serve to bring to education its proper place in the life of our country. It should and would serve as the one central clearing house for American education, unifying without regimenting the processes of education throughout the land. STEPHEN S. WISE, Jewish Rabbi, New York City. In relation to the Sterling-Reed bill I am in profound sympathy with any effort to reduce illiteracy in American life. Democracy requires an intelligent understanding citizenship. If people are to conduct themselves patriotically they must have a certain amount of comprehension and information to do it properly. I would accordingly like to see a knowledge of English compulsory in American life, not only for all children but for all others who are citizens by birth, or aspire to become so by adoption. A common medium of communication will contribute both to better mutual understanding and to increased cooperation which are essential to the realization of the possibilities of democracy as construed by an Americanism of insight and vision. America is a destiny that is freighted with inescapable implications for the rest of humanity. Americanism accordingly is not merely an opportunity but an obligation to which we must sacrifice. The imposition of a common language as a mdeium of social, commercial, and political intercourse should therefore be imposed and accepted as part of our patriotic and humanitarian obligation. Let us furnish adequate facility for the education of both youth and adults in at least a minimum of English and let us require this knowledge on their part as essential to their citizenship. Adoptive citizens may bring their respective languages and cultures as contributions to the assets of American life and these should be welcomed by us, but for the sake of what we offer and desire to accomplish for ourselves and the world's good they should cheerfully consent to study and appropriate the language of our commonwealth, as the use of it made by Shakespeare proves, will be found adequate to the noblest expressions of our spirit. DR. ALEXANDER LYONS, Jewish Rabbi, Brooklyn, N. Y. I believe, first, that every child in the United States has the right to a good common school education, and that the States which have no compulsory education law, should be encouraged to provide for their children. Second, that education is a Federal, not a State function. The citizens of one State do not always remain within its borders, and the adult who has been allowed through the lax of his native State to grow up illiterate, frequently moves to another State and becomes a charge upon it. Third, that the Federal Government should do for the individual State, what the State does for its small towns. This system is not new, nor does it imply Federal control. Agriculture has been so aided for many years, and roads all over the United States receive both county, State, and Federal aid. The need for more and better teachers is recognized by everyone who is connected with school work and administration. The small town in Massachusetts would be unable to cope with the educational requirements of the State, were it not for the aid the State provides, and even with this help the rural schools are inadequately taught and equipped. As chairman of a small town school committee, I speak with first-hand knowledge of the conditions. Mrs. GEORGE W. KNOWLTON, Jr., Chairman of West Upton School Committee, West Upton, Mass. There is nothing in a republic which outranks education. It is basic, vital, 'Educated, we stand; illiterate, we fall." fundamental. HENRIETTA W. LIVERMORE, Regional Director, Republican National Committee. As chairman of the department of American citizenship of the General Federation of Women's Clubs I heartily indorse the provisions of the education bill. The passage of this bill will do more to raise the general level of American citizenship than any other single issue that is before the American people to-day. Education is the only lever by which we can hope to lift the world. The greatest resource of any nation is knowledge disseminated among the masses of its people. The education bill in making provisions for this adds to the future resources of the United States. I commend the study and support of this bill to every club woman of America. Chairman of the Department of American Citizenship We hope for the passage of the education bill during this Congress because more interest in education would be aroused and the educational movement would reach more people. The members of the Young Women's Christian Association should support this bill because the organization stands for mental improvement as well as physical and spiritual growth. ELLEN LYLE DAY, Miss CHARL WILLIAMS, President Young Women's Christian Association of the District of Columbia. LOS ANGELES, CALIF., January 22, 1924. National Education Association, Washington, D. C.: Would appreciate your personal appearance before Senate committee when it holds its hearings on bill creating a department of education and otherwise improving educational advantages and state that not only do I strongly urge its passage but that I also have forwarded petition of 45,000 citizens of southern California favoring the enactment of law of such a bill. PERRY W. WEIDNER, Sovereign Grand Inspector General for Southern California, NEW ORLEANS, LA., January 22, 1924. Miss CHARL WILLIAMS, Washington, D. C.: Representing 3,300 men we urge adoption of department of education. GEORGE TRADWELL, Grand Master Kadosh Grand Consistory of Louisiana. Miss CHARL WILLIAMS, Washington, D. C.: NEW ORLEANS, LA., January 22, 1924. Representing 33,000 men, we urge adoption of department of education. JOSEPH SINAI, Grand Master Masons. Miss CHARL WILLIAMS, Washington, D. C.: NEW ORLEANS, LA., January 22, 1924. Representing 3,300 men, we urge adoption of department of education. JAMES H. ROWLAND, Secretary Shreveport Consistory. Miss CHARL WILLIAMS, Washington, D. C.: NEW ORLEANS, LA., January 22, 1924. Imperative that department of education be created improving facilities for educating children and aliens. The greatest asset of our country is the proper education of the masses. Miss CHARL WILLIAMS, Washington, D. C.: J. PAUL HALLEIR. ALBUQUERQUE, N. MEX., January 22, 1924. On behalf of the New Mexico Educational League and thousands of our best citizenship I desire to urge your best effort in support of bill to create a department of education which I understand is now pending before Senate committee. May your efforts be crowned with success. RICHARD H. HANNA, State Chairman. WICHITA, KANS., January 22, 1924. Miss CHARL WILLIAMS, Washington, D. C.: I heartily endorse the provisions of and the principles embodied in the educational bill now pending in Congress. In my travels I have been in contact with many of our people who are vitally interested in this measure. I feel free to say there is strong sentiment in this State in favor of creation of a department of education. Also in favor of other provisions of the bill. THOMAS G. FITCH, Grand Inspector General for Kansas. TUCSON, ARIZ., January 22, 1924. Miss CHARL WILLIAMS, Washington, D. C.: Arizona Educational Association is unanimously back of the Sterling-Reed bill to create a department of education. If there is anything that we can do to assist this measure, do not hesitate to call on us. HARRY A. DRACHMAN. JANUARY 22, 1924. Miss CHARL WILLIAMS, Field Secretary National Education Association, Washington, D. C. United States. I hope you do every DEAR MISS WILLIAMS: Please consider this my indorsement of the education bill now pending in the Congress of the thing in your power to get the bill by. We are in favor of the Sterling-Reed bill to create a department of education, etc. MEREDITH & WIMBERLY. DOUGLAS, ARIZ., January 23, 1924. Miss CHARL WILLIAMS, Washington, D. C.: Sentiment strong here for Sterling-Reed education bill. Personally indorsed. Dr. A. M. WILKINSON. |