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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 12, 1934)
TWO THE NEBRASKAN, THURSDAY, JULY 12, 1934. The Nebraskan Station A, Lincoln Nebraska OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION AND BULLETIN OF THE 1934 SUMMER SCHOOL SESSION Published Tuesday and Thursday morning during the summer session d circulated free to summer school students and faculty members from boxes in campus buildings and book tores. Directed by Student Publications Board. Telephones: Day B6891 Night B3960 B3333 Monday and Wednesday Nights Bruce Nlcoll Editor Wilbur Erickson ....Business Manager Education of The Future. All educational roads from the north, south, east and west led last week to the federal city, where the National Education association was holding its seventy-second an imal meeting. Twelve thousand members of this vast voluntary organization f citizens engaged in education work and aiding in the advance f education were expected to at tend this meeting at which "Edu cating for Tomorrow" was the Chief subject of discussion. It is high time to take thought for education's tomorrow in this country. The economic depression has delivered a body blow to the American system of education Compelled by decreasing revenues to reduce expenditures, state, county and local governments have struck at education instead of mod ernizing the obsolete system of county and local government from which nearly every state in the union suffers today. Public schools all over the coun try have been closed, school terms have been shortened, teachers have either gone unpaid or have been subjected to reductions in salaries, in order to pay the wages and expenses of the thousands of pol iticians that this obsolete system of county and local government keeps on public payrolls. "Educating for tomorrow" is a task that will be under an in creasing handicap until this obso lete system of county and local government is modernized to meet the needs of & new day. This system, as President Roose velt has truly said, is an inher stance from the days when the ox cart was the chief means of trans portation in this country. It is as much, out of place today in the field of government as is the ox cart in the field of transportation. But, as the president has also said, the people cannot look to the politicians to get rid of the cx cart system of government. Politicians live by this system. They fatten on it. The more poli ticians on the public payroll the greater is the grip of the politicians on the throat of government and on the purpose of the people. At a citizens' conference on the crisis in education, which the fed eral government assembled in the feueral city at the beginning of the depression, these timely declara tions of policy then made may well be reiterated by the representative body of American educators now meeting in the federal city: "Education is a necessity, not luxury, because the growth of the child cannot be halted or post poned during an economic emer gency. Therefore, e d u c ational service should be accorded a high degree of priority in determining the purposes and services which shall be supported by the states during a depression. "The major wastes in education should be eliminated thru the abolition of the control over, and interference with, education by politicians, of political appoint ments and of political corruption. "Local school governments and local school districts should be re organized and consolidated. "Administrative control of the schools must be centralized in the superintendent "State administrative organiza tion of education must be reor ganized through the creation of a nonpolitical and prof 68 Hional agency for the administration of the educational policies of the state, where such agencies do not already exist. The state must assume the re sponsibility within its means of assuring adequate public education to all local communities, irrespec tive of their financial condition." Under the American system of government the support and con trol of education is a primary function of the state. The foster ing leadership of education, its ad vance by mears of research and by the distribution of the fruits of re search to the several states, is an inescapable responsibility of the federal government. These two responsibilities can neither be ex changed nor merged. The states can best do their part by giving people "fewer politi cians and more and better schools." The federal government can best do its part by restoring the depart ment of education which once ex isted and placing at its head a sec retary of education with a seat in the cabinet of the president Omaha Bee-News. Economy in the School Program. A Kansas educator, who has made a study of the educational system in his home state, has come to the conclusion that IV2 millions can be saved if a proper survey of school organizations is made and reforms indicated are put into ef fect Prof. P. F. O'Brien of the Uni versity of Kansas has recently published the results of a survey undertaken to determine what can be done to relieve the taxpayer's burden. Coming from an educator the survey may be accepted fair to the schools. To begin with he would eliminate some 3,500 schools by enlarging country dis tricts and consolidating city schools. That, he concludes, would save 5Vi million dollars. He would increase the average enrolment from 14 to 28 or 30. He would in crease tne average pupils per teacher from fifteen to twice as many. Changes in operation of school plants and curriculum re vision would add the amount of saving necessary to reach the to tal economy under his plan. Professor O'Brien has no illu sions about the troubles that would follow an attempt to put his plan into effect He would combine school boards and give them more schools to manage, but in doing so would run against those who clamor for local control of local affairs. He would give one board supervision of many nearby schools; for instance in a county with 141 school districts, each with a school, he would have all the schools ruled by six boards. Tbese changes, the professor says, cannot be brought about wnoiesale nor in a short time. To attempt to do what he suggests would make necessary a very com plete survey of the school situa tion in every county in the state. He feels that he has rendered a service to the taxpayers by telling them what can be done without impairing the service that the schools now render to the commu nities served. Further action is up to the taxpayers themselves. The saving he dangles before their eyes is so large that they should at least be interested. Sunday Journal-Star. NINETEEN RECEIVE TEACHING POSITIONS (Continued from Page 1). teach intermediate and grammar grades at Goehner; Margaret Beardsley, of Qmaba Wjn teach primary grades at Omaha. Free- damae Westman, Lincoln, will teach commercial and music at Cook.; Dorothy Jane Weaver, of Falls City, will teach Girls' Physi cal Education at Falls City; Jane Axtell, Omaha, will teach Junior college and junior and senior high school physicial education at Mc- Cook; Marian Lawson, of Hastings, will teach kindergarten at Alli ance; Beulah Persell, of Lincoln, will teach English at Kearney. Miss Roselle Trail, who has been an assistant in the classics depart ment has accepted a teaching po sition in the Hastings schools. Educational Planning Commission Is Set Up by Teachers Association Special to the Nbrakan. news wrvtrr. N. S. I. A What sort of opportunities Jn the future, what kind of a life and living conditions do we desire for ourselves and for our children? Must we leave the possibility of improved conditions to chance, or can we hasten advancement oy careful planning and teaching in accordance therewith? University students, who are in the main, the leaders of the immediate future, and teachers and school adminis trators who mold the minds of tomorrow's citizens, will find most suggestive the proposal of the Ne braska State Teachers association. So that all efforts in our state may be co-ordinated and directed at goals which are commonly rec ognized as desirable, the associa tion recently organized an educa tional planning commission. This commission has set up a long time educational program for Nebraska. This program is not nor would we want it to be one which may be realized in the near future, for such a program could not possibly represent a great improvement over present conditions. This pro gram does represent an ideal which the commission hopes, after years of careful, persistent and strenuous etfort, will eventually be realized. As a basis for the educational goals set up, the commission prem ises the belief that "future welfare rests on the progressive develop ment of all of the fundamental principles of democracy"; that rejil democracy must make it impos sible for one group to exploit an other; that real democracy must move constantly to ever higher levels of thinking and acting on the part of all the people; that the power to improve democracy and maintain it as it ought to be, lies within us, thru such extension of education as will provide ade quate learning facilities for all age levels; that our state and nation must assume responsibility in the immediate safeguarding and im provement of democracy thru the proper development of our com munities and all their opportunities for improved social living. On the basis of this belief, the educational planning commission purposes to unify and guide all efforts which are directed at advancing the pro fession of education, the welfare of all girls and boys, and the wel fare of our state and nation. More specifically, the commis sion will co-ordinate all efforts at securing for the profession, a mod ern, clear-cut philosophy of educa- j tion that recognizes the individual, the small group, and the state in their respective and interrelated spheres; training that will select and develop teachers who are ef ficient creative and inspiring in service; a guarantee of adequate wages for successful service; aud reasonable security in position. For every girl and boy the com mission co-operating with all citi zens, will 3trive to make eventually real, a good home maintained by loving, understanding parents who enjoy reasonable personal and family security; a progressive local community and state that offer maximum opportunities, within their means, for the development and safeguarding of property and people; the right to and adequate agencies for developing the best in each Individual; and the eventual acceptance of the complete chil dren's charter. As goals for our state and na tion, the commission sets forth a state system of free public schools guaranteeing equal opportunities for all children of all people; im proved methods of school organiza tion and administration; an im proved and vitalized school curri culum; a fully co-ordinated sys tem of higher education; state wide and adequate support for ed ucation thru better methods of fi nance and taxation; a state pro gram of public health and social welfare that will make for im proved social living; a recognition by the press, the radio and the movies, of their responsibility of contributing constructively to the development of the good life; and "a spirit of informed loyalty and co-operation toward our state, her products, her people, and her life, that will bind us together in home, church, school, and all industry, to combat crime disease, ignorance, and social and economic disorder, and to make Nebraska capable, efficient beautiful in the sister hood of states." Having set up a long-time educational program for Nebraska, the educational planning commission of the Nebraska State Teachers association is now bupy selecting committees which will seek ways and means, and direct all efforts toward realizing the program. A number of university faculty members are among the appointees. , Supt ' M. )CV Lefler, "Lincoln, is ! general chairman of the commis sion, whose other members are the chairmen of the five major com mittees which will serve as the hub of all activities. These commit tees, their chairmen and vice chair men, are: Finance, revenue and taxation: Chairman, Supt. H. W. Anderson, Omaha. Vice chairman, Supt H. D. McEachen, Neliga. Teacher training, certification and higher education: Chairman, Supt A. L. Burnham, Scottsbluff. Vice chairman, Supt Harry A. Burke, Kearney. Social-economic goals and gen eral welfare: Chairman, Miss Belle Ryan, assistant superintendent, Omaha. Vice chairman, Supt E. W. Wiltse, Franklin. Legislation: Supt C. Ray Gates, Grand Island, chairman. vice chairman, Henry M. Eaton, Doug las county superintendent Omaha. Public relations: cnairman, ur. George W. Rosenlof, director, teacher training and secondary education, state department Vice chairman, Harry E. Weekly, Cus ter county superintendent. Broken Bow. Aiding the commission is the Re search Advisory council, with Dean F. E. Henzlik of the University of Nebraska Teachers college as chairman. Other members are Dr. K. O. Broady and Dr. S. M. Corey, both of Teachers college, and T. V. Goodrich, research director of the Lincoln public schools. An ad visers' group is yet to be named. Both will evaluate research pro cedures and results. The activity and research m the five major fields will be carried . on thru subcommittees. With a view to making a thoro- eoine study of all phases of the finance and taxation problem, Doc tor Anderson has designated four committees to pursue four prin cipal avenues of investigation: Equalization, E. M. Hosman, Oma ha, chairman; taxation and reve nue, H. D. McEachen, Neligh, chairman, J. W. Martin, Omaha, vice chairman; economice in edu cation, Supt. E. L. Novotny, chair man; and permanent school funds. Fuller Austin, state department, Lincoln, chairman. Miss Ryan has named the fol lowing subcommittees and chair men to make surveys and propose lines of advance as to social-economic goals and general welfare: Education aims and objectives, Dwight E. Porter, Omaha; adult education, Dr. C A. Fulmer, Lin coln; greater education, J. G. Mas ters, Omaha; and teaching the con stitutions, Prof. E. P. Wilson, Chadron. As the work progresses additional subgroups may be named. Superintendent Burnham has under way an extensive survey of both phases of his problem. Col lege and secondary school rela tions are to be studied by two sub committees: Reconstruction in higher education, chairman to be named; and college and secondary school education, Dr. A. A. Reed, University of Nebraska, chairm&n, A group of five committees are to investigate teacher training: Edu cation and certification, Prof. E. L. Rouse, Chadron, chairman; in service training, Supt. M. D. Bell, Ord; professional ethics, Sarah T. Muir, Lincoln; teacher placement services, Supt. Don Leech, Al bion; and teacher retirement chairman to be appointed. Chairman Gates of the commit tee on legislation has developed a plan whereby detailed and defi nite information concerning legis lation which affects education, will be carried into every county of the state, and whereby senti ment and reactions from everycor ner of the state will be madeknown to the central committee. The set up holds promise of much better understanding of purpose and mo tive both of the profession and the laity. Doctor Rosenlof has outlined the following major functions of his committee: To provide and facili tate means of keeping the public informed about the work, aims and needs of the schools; to interpret materials in terms of publicity use. and to develop co-operation. Sub committees and perconnel are yet to be named by Doctor Rosenlof ana Mr. Gates. The work of the commission is done under the immediate direc tion of Supt. J. C. Mitchell of Mc Cook, head of the State Teachers association, and the executive committee of that organization. Mrs. Graham, who received a cracked ankle bone and a broken nose has returned home but is still unable to report for duty. Mr. Gable has returned to his work. Miss Mary Margaret Fedde of Kennard has been compelled to leave school because of illness. LRamliEui' with LAMOINE BIBLE Just ramblin' around the other day I overheard a bit of conversa tion that instantly caught my at tention. One of the summer stu dents at the university, when asked as to what secondary schools are doing to make the students more conscious of world about them, said that in his school as part of the program they were having the boys and girls read the daily papers. Then he went on to say that he didn't believe very strongly in such a course because of the propaganda that fill the columns of the newspapers. That sort of statement coming frdni a teacher, a man entrusted with aiding in the education of th nation's youth and a man en trusted with the privilege of suf ferage, seems to me the height of something or other. In sharp con trast to his statement let me loudly declare that I think one of the best things for not only youth to do, but for everybody, is to carefully read and study his daily newspaper. It is pitiful to see a large share of the population complacently going its way and not knowing what is happening right under its nose. And to make it more pitiful now is the time when it is espe cially wonderful to watch the fast changing pictures that are pre sented in the columns of the news papers. Of course I wouldn't get up and swear that this teacher was en tirely wrong in his statement I will admit that at times propa ganda may be slipped into ihe paper, but this is the exception and not the rule. Never before has the press been so free from prejudices or at least from setting forth its prejudices in the news columns. Individual opinions are confined to the editorial pages and that in itself labels the material as "opin ion" which, may be taken or left as the reader desires. I could go on like this at great length, but let the newspapers speak for themselves. If people would give them a fair chance and try reading something besides the rvmics and smorts. thev would be surprised at how really worth while it is. Have been noticing something the past week or two that is giving m me hope for relief from the heat. What's that old saying about swal lows and summer not being far hehind? WelL when the greek bouses on the campus start an in tensive schedule 01 rusn parues can autumn be far behind ? Dames Club Schedules Second Picnic July 16 The Dames Club will hold its second picnic of the year, Monday, July 16, at Antelope park, at 6:30 p. m. according to an announce ment made yesterday by the or ganization. Husbands of members of tee or ganization are invited to the af fair, it was announced. Reserva tion or further information con- - cerning the picnic can be obtained by calling M4294- Students Invited to Joint Church Meeting University summer session stu dents are invited to attend a joint meeting of the Centenary Metho dist church of Beatrice and the St Paul Methodist church of Lincoln, to be held Sunday evening, at 6:45 p. m., at St Paul Methodist church, 12th and M streets, accord ing to an announcement received by the Nebraskan yesterday. 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