[Resolution adopted by the San Francisco Regional Conference, department of classroom teachers, February 9, 1928]

Resolved, That we sponsor the education bill and pledge ourselves to actively support it.

[Resolution adopted by the Elementary School Principals' Association Kansas City, Mo., December 13, 1927]

Be it resolved by the Elementary School Principals Association of Kansas City, Mo., in their regular monthly meeting, That they are in favor of the new education bill, which creates a department of education under the control and direction of a secretary of education appointed by the President of the United States.

This bill leaves the control of education to the several States. The National Government should not control education, but should encourage the States in its promotion and development.

The establishment of a department of education offers to education a needed service similar to that already provided to other national interests by the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and Labor.

Therefore, we are asking all friends of education to be actively interested in the passage of this bill and we especially request our Senators and Representatives in Congress to take an active part in securing the passage of said bill.

[Resolution adopted by the Mahaska County Teachers' Association at Oskaloosa, Iowa, November, 1927] Resolved, That we also recommend that this association go on record as indorsing the movement to establish a department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet.

[Resolution adopted by the Aroostook County Teachers' Association at Houlton, Me., October 14, 1927] Resolved, That we reaffirm our faith in the provisions of the bill for a Federal department of education with a secretary in the Cabinet of the President of the United States. We request our Representative and Senators, Hon. Ira G. Hersey, Hon. Arthur R. Gould, and Hon. Frederick Hale to use their influence to have this bill favorably acted upon at the coming session of Congress.

[Resolution adopted by the Steuben County Schoolmasters' Association at Corning, N.Y. February, 1928] Resolved, That the Steuben County Schoolmasters Association favors a Federal department of education with a secretary of education in the President's Cabinet, as provided for in the bill, H. R. 7, recently introduced in the House of Representatives by Mr. Reed of New York.

[Resolution adopted by the Teachers' Association of Eddy County, at New Rockford, N. Dak., April 2, 1928]

Whereas the Curtis-Reed bill embodies principles which we believe vital to the progress of education; and

Whereas this bill has been indorsed by the leading educational and noneducational organizations of our country: Be it therefore

Resolved, That the Eddy County Teachers Association in convention assembled wishes to go on record as favoring this measure; and be it further

Resolved, That the action of this association be spread upon the minutes of this meeting, and copies of this resolution transmitted to our Representatives and Senators in Congress.

[Resolution adopted by the Aberdeen local unit of National Education Association at Aberdeen, S. Dak., February 20, 1928]

Whereas there is now no adequate representation in the interest of education in the President's Cabinet; and

Whereas such adequate representation would be provided in the Curtis-Reed bill now pending before Congress, if said bill were enacted into law; and, furthermore,

Whereas a dignity and recognition would be accorded education commensurate with its importance as a factor in American life by the passage of the CurtisReed bill: Therefore, be it,

Resolved by this body, That we favor the passage of the Curtis-Reed bill, and that we instruct our secretary to send a copy of this resolution to our Congressman, the Hon. Royal C. Johnson, and to our United States Senators, the Hon. Peter Norbeck and the Hon. Wm. H. McMaster, at Washington, D. C.

105682-28- -6

[Resolution adopted by the Harris County (Tex.) Teachers' Association in September, 1927]

Be it resolved by the teachers of Harris County in convention assembled, That this convention go on record as being in favor of the creation of a Federal department of education with a secretary of education in the President's Cabinet; that we fully approve of Federal appropriations for the aid of education, but that complete autonomy should be assured to the States in the management of their public schools and the expenditure of such Federal appropriations as may be made for the aid of education; that a copy of this resolution be furnished our Congressmen and United States Senators and the newspapers of this country. [Resolution adopted by the board of education of the Wasatch County school district at Heber, Utah, on December 22, 1927]

Whereas education is declared by the greatest men of our nation to be the biggest and most important business of a people; and

Whereas the success of civilization depends on education; and

Whereas provision should be made for adequate funds and organization to carry on needed research in the field of education; and

Whereas coordination of departments are necessary in the interests of economy and efficiency through elimination of duplication and securing unity of plan and purpose; and

To

Whereas "To deny the right of education is to deny the right to live. stunt education is to dwarf life. To educate is to guide growth": therefore be it Resolved, That the board of education and superintendent of the Wasatch County school district go on record as heartily favoring the new education bill (S. 1584, H. R. 7) and urging their respective representatives in Congress to work for the passage of the above bill, that our biggest business may have Cabinet recognition.

[Resolution adopted by the Weber County Teachers' Association at Ogden, Utah, on November 12, 1927]

Whereas a bill known officially as Senate bill 291 and H. R. 5000, or generally as the Curtis-Reed education bill, and more popularly as the new education bill, providing for a department of education with a secretary in the Cabinet of the President of the United States, will probably again receive consideration in the next session of Congress: Be it

Resolved, That the Weber County Teachers Association indorses the said CurtisReed bill and urges upon Senators and Representatives from Utah that the bill be given their support. Be it further

Resolved, That the secretary of this association is hereby instructed to forward a copy of this resolution to each Senator and Congressman from Utah, and that a copy be sent to the secretary of the National Education Association.

[Action taken by the Norfolk Education Association at Norfolk, Va., on December 9, 1927]

Mr. Rorer made a motion that the association go on record as favoring the national education bill.

Mr. Nolley stated that the basis of the bill was sound and that any fears that might be entertained were groundless.

The association went on record as practically unanimously favoring the national education bill,

[Resolution adopted by the California Teachers' Association, southern section, at Los Angeles, Calif., December 22, 1927]

We urge all teachers, school authorities, and the public to give strong support to the national education bill authorizing a secretary of education in the President's Cabinet, as recommended by President Coolidge in his recent massage to Congress.

[Resolution adopted by the northern section of the California Teachers' Association at Sacramento, October, 1927]

Pledging support to the Curtis-Reed bill, which provides for the establishment of a department of education with a secretary of education as a member of the President's Cabinet.

[Resolution adopted by the Chicago division of the Illinois State Teachers' Association, 1927] We reaffirm our indorsement of the Federal education bill.

[Resolution adopted by the southeast division of the Minnesota Education Association at Winona, Minn., October 8, 1927]

Resolved, That we indorse the Curtis-Reed education bill as expressing proper aims and standards for a national department of education to be directed by a secretary as a member of the President's Cabinet. We commend this measure to the favorable attention and the support of the Members of Congress from this State.

[Resolution adopted by the Missouri State School Administrative Association at Columbia, Mo., February 4, 1927]

Resolved, That we indorse the proposed Curtis-Reed bill providing for the creation of a Federal department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet. We recommend that each superintendent and principal make a personal effort in securing the aid of his Members of Congress in this matter.

[Resolution adopted by the South-Central Missouri Teachers' Association at Rolla, Mo., October 22, 1927]

Resolved, That we favor a secretary of education in the President's Cabinet. [Resolution adopted by the Northwest Missouri Teachers' Association at Maryville, Mo., October 15, 1927]

Resolved, That we favor a secretary of education in the President's Cabinet. [Resolution adopted by the Southwest Missouri Teachers' Association at Springfield, Mo., October 29, 1927]

Resolved, That we indorse the proposed legislation for the creation of the Federal department of education with a secretary of education in the President's Cabinet.

[Resolution adopted by the Southeast Missouri Teachers' Association at Cape Girardeau, Mo., October 22, 1927]

Resolved, That we indorse the proposed legislation for the creation of a Federal department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet. [Resolution adopted by the Central Missouri Teachers' Association at Warrensburg, Mo.,October 15, 1927]

Resolved, That we indorse the proposed legislation for the creation of the Federal department of education.

[Resolution adopted by the Southeastern Ohio Teachers' Association at Athens, Ohio, 1927]

Resolved, That we cheerfully undertake our responsibility in connection with the national education bill. And that we interpret our responsibility as one of understanding and promulgating its provisions.

[Resolution adopted by Northeastern Convention District of the Pennsylvania State Education Asso⚫ ciation at East Stroudsburg, Pa., March, 1928]

The convention district resolved in favor of the Curtis-Reed bill providing for a department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet.

Doctor DAVIDSON. The next speaker to be heard is Dr. Thomas E. Finegan, Education Director of the Eastman Kodak Co., and former acting commissioner of education in New York State, and State superintendent of public instruction in Pennsylvania.

STATEMENT OF DR. THOMAS E. FINEGAN, EDUCATION DIRECTOR, EASTMAN KODAK CO., ROCHESTER, N. Y.

Doctor FINEGAN. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I am in favor of the enactment of a measure which will establish a department of education in the National Government, with the head of that department given the status of a Cabinet member. I am for this bill because of the experiences which I have had during a period of 40 years in educational work, and with your permission I just want

to refer to some features of that briefly in order to give you the background upon which this opinion is based.

I was born in the country and worked on the farm as a boy, and in a blacksmith shop, and attended a rural school, later a village high school. My first experience in educational work was in a one-room school, and I had the good fortune to have had the privilege of teaching for six years as a boy in a rural school. I had the privilege of supervising the schools of the county later, and 27 years' service in the State education department of New York, during which time it was my good pleasure to have had very cordial relations with the distinguished member of this committee from the State of New York. I am glad to say he supported very cordially every proposition which the State education department presented to the legislature in New York. I served as deputy commissioner and was acting head of the department in 1918 and 1919. From 1919 to 1923 I was the head of the State system in Massachusetts

Mr. DOUGLASS. Did you say "Massachusetts?"

Doctor FINEGAN. I beg your pardon; Pennsylvania. Looking at you, I thought of Massachusetts.

Mr. DOUGLASS. I thought of Massachusetts, too.

Doctor FINEGAN. One can't help, who has been at these hearings, knowing you are from Massachusetts.

Mr. DOUGLASS. Well, I am proud of it.

Doctor FINEGAN. You well might be, and if it will give me any status with the member from Massachusetts, I should like to say that the author of the paper read by Mr. Smith, Mr. Filene, happens to be one of my very good friends, and I have had the privilege of sitting in his office and in his home a great many times for the sole purpose of discussing educational problems.

Mr. DOUGLASS. He is an outstanding public spirited man. Doctor FINEGAN. I agree with you, and I want to appear before your distinguished committee with all the credentials possible. Mr. DOUGLASS. You come well recommended by him.

Doctor FINEGAN. Now, I want to get before the members of the committee the thought that for over 30 years I was a State officer in the administration of education, and I have the viewpoint and the background and the philosophy of education being the function of the State and not the function of the National Government. Notwithstanding that I have been for this bill and am for it now and, as I said at the outset, because of the experiences which I have had as a teacher and an administrator in education.

Now, it is not possible, nor is it necessary, to go over the various features of this bill. I just want to take up two or three, because they seem to me, in the public discussions, in the hearings which have been held from time to time, and in the press, to be the two or three vital things upon which the opposition is based. I am frank to say that in my experience I have not known a State administrator in education who is opposed to this bill. I think I know the head of each one of the 48 State systems now and I don't know of one who opposes it, man or woman. I know that they are for it on the basis on which it now stands. I believe this: That if these men and women believed, if there was a shadow of doubt in their minds, that the enactment of this measure and the establishment of this department

would in any way infringe upon the prerogatives of State authority and education, they would be against it.

They are jealous of their prerogatives and they should be officially the defenders of what has been the traditional policy of this country in the administration of education. If the time ever comes when an effort will be made in this country to place the control of education in the hands of a Washington bureau or a Washington department, the first people who will rise up in rebellion against it, and who will be the outstanding defenders of this traditional policy, are the men and women in education who are represented here to-day through those who have spoken for them, and you will find that in the history of the National Education Association there will be written just as effective protests against a measure of that kind as have been written in the last nine years in favor of a Federal bureau.

The CHAIRMAN. Federal department.

Doctor FINEGAN. Federal department. Now, why have a Federal department? Why are we for it? I say I am for it because of my experiences. To illustrate-this is only one of hundreds of things which have occurred in my experience I framed a measure which was introduced into the Legislature of New York to establish a sound unit of control of administration of rural schools. We wanted to go before the legislature with as much information and background upon that measure as was possible to present to the members of the legislature. Now, how did we get it? There was no place in this country where it could be found. The National Education Association did not have it; the Federal Board of Vocational Education did not have it. And all the information which we needed, and which we had to obtain within a few months, we had to dig out ourselves from the limited amount of literature that was available upon the subject.

Now, it may be said, as I believe the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts implied in his questions which he put to some of the previous speakers, that the information which I needed was available at my office in Albany, or, if not, it was available throughout the State. It wasn't collected; it wasn't in the form it was necessary to be in to convince the minds of the members of the legislature. But suppose we did have all the information available relating to this problem in New York. When enacting a law of such vital consequences, a law so fundamental in its character, when going to the legislature with it, we ought to be able to go to that body and say, "Here is the available material and information; here are the things which we think are the ones best adapted to the conditions of our State. We submit the facts to you for your reaction."

I wish to say here that in my experience I have never relied solely upon the opinions and judgments of the expert in education. I would have burnt my fingers a great many times had I done so. But that material when formulated by an expert in education should always be submitted to a layman in education, to the citizen who is accustomed to doing large things, the citizen of vision, to get his reaction, so that through his thoughts and his powers we may penetrate the future and ascertain, so far as possible, the problems which we will be up against after the enactment of that law. It would not have been possible; it was not possible and it is not possible to-day