illiteracy, Americanize the foreign born, prepare teachers, develop adequate programs of physical education, and equalize educational opportunities, is in accord with our long-established practice and is demanded by the present crisis in education. We therefore reaffirm our allegiance to the Towner-Sterling bill. [Resolution, Department of Superintendence, Chicago, Ill., February 29-March 1, 1924] We have noted with great satisfaction and approval that President Coolidge in his first message to Congress gave expression to his high regard for education and to a belief that education is a fundamental requirement of national activity and is worthy of a department in the National Government and a place in the Cabinet. The clear and forceful statement of the President in his message has greatly encouraged us in the hope for an early and favorable consideration of the education bill now before Congress. We affirm our allegiance to the education bill in the language of the resolution adopted last year as follows: We recognize that a department of education is necessary in order that the educational activities of our National Government shall be efficiently and economically administered. We believe that national sanction and national leadership can be provided only in the person of a secretary of education in the President's Cabinet. Federal aid for the purpose of stimulating the several States to remove illiteracy, Americanize the foreign born, prepare teachers, develop adequate programs of physical education, and equalize educational opportunities, is in accord with our long-established practice and is demanded by the present crisis in education." [Resolution of the Department of Superintendence, February 26, 1925, Cincinnati, Ohio] We have carefully noted and confidently rely on the declarations of President Coolidge before the National Education Association in Washington last July with reference to proposed legislation recognizing education as of vital national concern. National welfare demands for each person that measure and kind of education which is basal to effective participation in our democratic life. The Federal Government has contributed to the realization of this ideal by grants of land and of money to the States. This principle, long acknowledged, and this practice, long established, should-without interfering with the control of education by the several States-be maintained and extended. The present diverse and scattered educational activities of the Federal Government should at once, in the interest of efficiency as well as of economy, be unified in a department of educaton with a secretary in the President's Cabinet. To the foregoing principles we again pledge our unswerving faith and active support. [Resolution, Department of Superintendence, Washington, D. C., February 25, 1926] The American public school is the bulwark of our civil and religious liberties. The moral responsibility for the encouragement and advancement of this basic institution rests upon the Federal Government. As President Coolidge said in his address before the National Education Association on July 4, 1924, "For a long time the cause of education has been regarded as so important and so preeminently an American cause that the National Government has sought to encourage it, scientifically to investigate its needs, and to furnish information and advice for its constant advancement." We heartily indorse the education bill now before Congress (S. 291 and H. R. 5000). This bill does not permit of any interference with the complete autonomy of the States in the administration and control of their schools but it goes provide for the more efficient participation of the Federal Government by coordinating its present educational activities and by extending the scope of its scientific investigations. This bill further provides by its creation of a department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet for that recognition and service which the importance of public education merits and the advancement of education requires. We, therefore, urge upon the committees to which this bill has been referred that they report it for the consideration of the representatives of the people. We also respectfully urge that Members of Congress consider this bill in terms of its provisions for meeting the Nation's most fundamental need [Resolution, Department of Superintendence, Dallas, Tex. March 3, 1927] The development of our American program of education is dependent upon the contribution made by the several States and localities which make up the Nation. The Federal Government has long accepted the responsibility for conducting inquiries and disseminating information in support of the programs which are controlled and administered locally. We believe that further progress in education throughout the nation is dependent upon scientific inquiry, which should be conducted by the National Government, and the results of which should be made available to all who work in education. We believe that this most important function can be best carried out by the establishment of a department of education, with a secretary in the President's Cabinet. We pledge our aggressive support to the Curtis-Reed bill, which is now before Congress, and which provides for the establishment of a department of education and for the more adequate support of scientific research in education under the direction of a secretary of education. [Resolution passed by the 1926 session of the Arkansas Education Association] We urge the Congressmen and Senators to vote for the Curtis-Reed bill. CURTIS-REED BILL Whereas the Curtis-Reed bill now pending in Congress provides for the creation of a department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet; and Whereas this bill interferes in no way with the administration of education in the States and is otherwise free from objectionable features hitherto found in proposed legislation of this character; and Whereas the creation of a department of education as provided in the CurtisReed bill dignifies the cause of education and extends to it the recognition it deserves; Therefore, be it Resolved, First, that the Alabama Education Association representing more than 12,000 public-school teachers of the State indorses the Curtis-Reed bill; Second. That a copy of this resolution be forwarded by the secretary of the association to each Member of the Alabama delegation in Congress, with the request that he vote for this bill and otherwise use his influence to secure its passage. [Resolution adopted by the Arizona State Education Association at Phoenix, Ariz., December, 1927] Resolved, That we reaffirm our belief that education may best be fostered by the establishment of a department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet, and, therefore, pledge our active support to the Curtis-Reed bill, providing for the establishment of a department of education and for the more adequate support of scientific research in education. [Resolution adopted by the Colorado Education Association, 1927] Resolved, That the Federal Government, which has long accepted responsibility for conducting inquiries and disseminating information, enlarge the scope of its scientific inquiry with respect to education and increase its support of this undertaking. That this most important function of the National Government can be best carried out by the establishment of a department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet. We fully appreciate President Coolidge's interest in education, but recommend that the proposed Cabinet member head the department of education alone, rather than of education and welfare. [Resolution adopted by the Florida Education Association at Tampa, Fla., December 30, 1927] Whereas the education bill now before Congress, providing for a department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet, has been indorsed by the National Education Association; and Whereas this measure does not appear to endanger the rights of the States to control their own educational affairs: Be it Resolved, That this association, through its executive secretary, request the Florida delegation in Congress to support said education bill if, in their opinion, it does not interfere with the rights of the States to organize and administer their own school systems in their own way. [Resolution adopted by the Georgia Education Association at Atlanta, Ga., on April 14, 1928] Resolved, That the Georgia Education Association reindorses the efforts of the National Education Association and other leaders of education to have a secretary of education in the President's Cabinet and urge our Senators and Congressmen to support the bill providing for such. [Resolution adopted by the Illinois State Teach ers' Association at Springfield, Ill., in December, 1927] Resolved, That the Federal Government, which has long accepted responsibility for conducting inquiries and disseminating information concerning the public schools of the Nation, should enlarge the scope of its scientific inquiry with respect to education and increase its support of this undertaking. This most important function of the National Government can best be carried out by the establishment of a department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet. We pledge our aggressive support to the Curtis-Reed bill, which provides for the establishment of a department of education and for the more adequate support of scientific research in education under the direction of a secretary of education. [Resolution adopted by the Indiana State Teachers' Association at Indianapolis, Ind., November, 1927] We commend the work of the National Education Association in its effort to create a Federal education department with an officer in the President's Cabinet. [Resolution adopted by the representative assembly of the Kansas State Teachers' Association, March 12, 1927] We wish to reiterate our firm belief in the necessity of greater unification in the work of the Federal Government in education, in order that the waste of duplicated and scattered effort may be avoided and that education in the United States may receive the recognition to which it is properly entitled. [Resolution of the Kentucky Education Association, Louisville, Ky.] Resolved, That the Kentucky Education Association now in session, with an attendance of 7,000 educators and representing 14,000 teachers in the State, reaffirm our indorsement of the new education bill now before Congress providing for a department of education with a representative in the President's Cabinet of the United States. We further urge our Senators and Representatives to give their indorsement to the bill and do everything possible for its immediate passage in the House and Senate of the United States Congress. [Resolution adopted by the Louisiana Teachers' Association, November, 1925] Resolved, That we indorse the national education bill in its present form, which provides for the creation of a department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet. [Resolutions passed by the Maine Teachers' Association, Bangor, Me., October, 1926] Be it resolved, That we continue our unqualified support of those measures which seek to establish in our National Government a department of education upon the same basis as the other departments of the Federal Government, with a secretary in the President's Cabinet. [Resolution adopted by Minnesota Education Association at Minneapolis, Minn., November 10, 1927] Resolved, That we pledge our aggressive support to the national education bill, which provides for the establishment of a department of education and for the more adequate support of scientific research in education, under the direction of a secretary of education in the President's Cabinet. [Resolution adopted by the Missouri State Teachers' Association at St. Louis, Mo., November 10, 1927] Resolved, That we heartily indorse the proposed legislation providing for the creation of a Federal department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet. [Resolution adopted by New Mexico Educational Association, November, 1927] Resolved, That we indorse the movement to secure the appointment of a secretary of education as a member of the President's Cabinet. [Resolution adopted by the Nebraska State Teachers' Association, November, 1927] We commend President Coolidge for his definite stand on the question of creating a national department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet and reaffirm our belief in this action. [Resolution adopted by the District Institutes of the Nevada Education Association in the fall of 1927] Resolved, That we heartily indorse the education bill creating a department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet; and that a copy of this resolution be sent to our Representatives in Congress-Senators Key Pittman and Tasker L. Oddie, and to Congressman S. S. Ārentz. [Resolution adopted by the North Carolina Education Association, March, 1927] Resolved, That the North Carolina Education Association again indorses the efforts of the National Education Association and other agencies which are seeking to secure the establishment of a Federal department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet. We believe that the adoption of such a policy by the Federal Congress would result in increased efficiency in the public schools through research which would be conducted by this department. We, therefore, commend the serious consideration of this measure to the North Carolina delegation in Congress. [Resolution adopted by the North Dakota Education Association at Fargo, N. Dak., October, 1926] We favor the passage of the so-called national education bill looking to the establishment of a national department of education. [Resolution adopted by the Ohio State Teachers' Association at Columbus, Ohio, in December, 1927] Believing that the schools of our country deserve Federal recognition by a department of education, which would render service to them similar to that offered other great national interests by the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and Labor, we reindorse the Curtis-Reed bill, which provides for a department of education, with a secretary in the President's Cabinet, to carry on investigations of educational problems and to coordinate existing educational activities of the Federal Government, in accordance with the hope, expressed by President Coolidge in his recent message to Congress, that the Government's educational functions may be combined under one directing member of the Cabinet. [Resolution adopted by the Oregon State Teachers' Association at Portland, Ore., on December 30, 1926] We pledge ourselves to aid in the establishment of a national department of education. [Resolution adopted by the Pennsylvania State Education Association, Harrisburg, Pa., December, 1927] Resolved, That we again indorse the efforts of the Legislative Commission of the National Education Association to establish a department of education with a Cabinet representative in education in the National Government. The fact that the chairman of this national commission, Dr. William M. Davidson, superintendent of the Pittsburgh schools, is an honored past president of this association ought to make us all the more determined to exert the great influence of this organization to bring about this much to be desired legislation in the Capital of our country. We recommend to the legislative committee of the Pennsylvania State Education Association a very close cooperative working relationship to the national education Legislative Commission. [Resolution adopted by the South Dakota Education Association Aberdeen, S. Dak, November 22, 1927] Resolved, That we indorse the action of the National Education Association asking that the Bureau of Education and all other educational activities of the Federal Government now distributed in several departments be merged in a department of education with a secretary of education at its head who shall be a member of the President's Cabinet. [Resolution adopted by Public School Officers' Association of Tennessee in January, 1928] *** Resolved by the Public School Officers Association of Tennessee in annual meeting assembled, That it indorses the bill now pending in Congress providing for a department of education in the Federal Government and a secretary of education in the President's Cabinet. The association believes that the passage of the bill will give recognition by the Federal Government to the public-school systems of the several States and will contribute to their development. The officers of the association are requested to communicate this resolution to the Senators and Representatives from Tennessee in Congress and to urge their support and vote in favor of this measure. [Resolution passed by the Texas State Teachers' Association, Dallas, Tex.] Resolved, That we indorse the program as outlined by the Department of Superintendence of the National Education Association and that we earnestly hope that they will hold their next meeting in Texas. We believe that efficiency and economy demand that the several agencies of the Federal Government dealing with education be consolidated in a department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet. We believe that this department, operating as a fact-finding and fact-distributing agency, will aid the several States to improve and develop their public schools. We urge our Representatives and Senators in Congress to work for the creating of such a department in accordance with the new education bill sponsored by the National Education Association and other educational and civic bodies. [Resolution adopted by Utah Education Association at Salt Lake City, Utah, October 20, 1927] Resolved, That the Federal Government which has long accepted responsibility for the conducting of inquiries and disseminating information concerning the public schools of the Nation enlarge the scope of its scientific inquiry with respect to education and increase its support of this undertaking. That this most important function of the National Government can be best carried out by the establishment of a department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet. We pledge our aggressive support to the Curtis-Reed bill which provides for the establishment of a department of education and for the more adequate support of scientific research in education under the direction of a secretary of education. [Resolution adopted by the Virginia Education Association at Richmond, Va., November, 1927] Resolved, That the association indorses the establishment of a Federal department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet. [Resolution adopted by the West Virginia State Education Association, November, 1925] We favor the new education bill to be introduced in the Sixty-ninth Congress of the United States which provides for a department of education with a Secretary of education as a member of the President's Cabinet. [Resolution adopted by the Washington Education Association at Longview and Wenatchee, Wash., October 29, 1927] The Washington Education Association reaffirms its interest in and approval of the national education bill which is soon to be reintroduced in Congress, and we pledge our support and assistance to the State and national committees which have been given the directing responsibility of the work. Furthermore, the representative assembly urges upon the members the importance of communicating with our Congressmen offering good reasons why the proposed measure is important to our educational development. [Resolution adopted by the Wisconsin Teachers' Association at Milwaukee, Wis., November 3, 1927] Resolved, That the association indorses the establishment of a Federal department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet. [Resolution adopted by the Wyoming State Teachers' Association at Cheyenne, Wyo., October, 1927] Resolved, That we reaffirm our belief in the desirability of the establishment of a Federal department of education with a secretary in the President's Cabinet as outlined in the Curtis-Reed bill. |