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stant movement of our people from one part of the Nation to another. This is true of all races and has been particularly noticeable with reference to illiterate and poorly trained people. Southerners have moved in large numbers to the West, the Middle West, and the East. These people will either become good law-abiding citizens in their new homes or will become problems. In either instance, as voters, they will help select the officials of these areas.

Health education with correction of defects in early life will produce a more virile people. Health education must receive more emphasis than formerly, particularly in those areas which have not been financially able to provide competent instructors and satisfactory courses of instruction. The annual economic loss to our Nation due to diseases which could have been prevented is a factor which can be no longer ignored.

Universal education with equal opportunities for all is a unique contribution as far as the American way of life is concerned. No other nation in the world has produced a system of free schools like ours. The masses of our people now going to high school secure not only general education but training in skills which will enable them to attain economic security and happiness and success in life. The difference between the outlook on life of the American farm boy and the peasant in Europe is not due to a difference in the nature of work which each performs but to the difference in their attitudes toward their responsibilities as citizens. That type of education which produced the social classes in Europe has never found a place in America. Education generally has never been satisfactorily supported throughout the Nation. There should be a sound broad support of State and local funds to provide for community control as well as community differences in educational needs. It is our studied opinion that the school districts of the Nation should support themselves so far as they are able to do so but that impoverished districts wherever located should have additional aid, provided that such assistance can be given without Federal domination of or interference with local control to any degree whatsoever.

Senator SMITH. You statement, Mr. Young, presents the views of the American Legion, as I understand it?

Mr. YOUNG. Yes, sir. This was prepared by the American Legion Legislative Committee.

Senator SMITH. Thank you very much, Mr. Young. Are there any questions? If not, our next witness is Dr. Samuel McC. Cavert, General Secretary of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America.

STATEMENT OF SAMUEL McC. CAVERT, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE FEDERAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN AMERICA, NEW YORK, N. Y.

Dr. CAVERT. Mr. Chairman, I am going to help your time schedule by compressing my prepared statement into about 7 minutes. The official position of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America is set forth in a statement adopted by its executive committee on January 28, 1947. In accordance with the regular practice of the council it does not endorse any specific bill. It does, however, set forth certain pertinent principles which it is convinced are generally

held by the overwhelming majority of its constituency, which consists of 25 national denominations with a combined membership of about 27,000,000 persons. The statement of the council is as follows:

The executive committee of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America feels deep concern over the emergency in public education in the United States. Depletion in the ranks of teachers, incident upon their turning to more remunerative occupations, and continued lack of resources for the equalization of educational opportunity throughout the Nation place our public schools in urgent need.

To allow educational standards to deteriorate is to invite social disaster. We therefore urge the appropriation of sufficient Federal funds in subsidy to prevent a lowering of standards in the teaching profession, and to remove, at least in substantial measure, the educational handicaps under which many children and youths suffer because of the relatively low economic level of the communities in which they reside. We urge such appropriations on condition:

A. That no Federal funds shall be made available to States to be used in such a way as to discriminate against any minority racial group.

B. That the administration of Federal funds made available to States shall be safeguarded against the imposition of Federal control in matters of educational policy and,

C. That Federal funds shall be used only for such schools as the constitution or statutes of the several States make eligible for State support.

We affirm our continued adherence to the American principle of separation of church and state, and to the principle that public funds should not be used for sectarian purposes.

That is the end of the official statement. This resolution reflects two concerns with regard to Federal aid to education.

First, we believe that the present crisis in education requires the granting of Federal funds in aid to some of the States. We hold that the failure of education in any part of the country or for any group is a threat to democracy and a loss to the Nation as a whole. We therefore favor Federal aid to education through the States, to insure a greater equalization of educational opportunities, but on condition that its administration be under proper safeguards against Federal control of educational policy in the States.

Second, we are concerned that Federal aid under the proposed legislation should not be given in such a way as to impair the public school system or to infringe upon our constitutional and traditional principle that public funds should not be used for sectarian institutions or purposes. We share with adherents of other religious groups the concern that secular education is not enough, and that religious education is essential for sound democracy. However, we do not admit that an increase in sectarian schools as an alternative to the public schools is the best or only solution of the difficulty. We believe that our American democracy would be impaired by increasing the fragmentation of education, and that State support for sectarian schools would promote too great a cultural segregation.

I conclude with an editorial in the current issue of the Federal Council bulletin interpreting the council's position, with special reference to its concern for the public school system of our country. This editorial says in part:

Our democracy is our most cherished heritage from earlier generations of Americans. It is a form of government, a set of freedoms and a corresponding set of responsibilities, but most basically it is a type and pattern of community life. One of the bases, and at the same time one of the products, of this pattern of life is the public school. We therefore defend it against unfair attacks and criticize anything that tends to impair it. Certainly, those who would change it fundamentally carry the burden of proof in any discussion of it.

We believe that this system needs Federal financial aid at this time of crisis, in order that it may be strengthened in those States where it is now dangerously weak. Such Federal aid must not involve control of policy, which is left to the States by constitutional provision, but in connection with the current proposal to grant Federal aid it is now insisted in some quarters that a general policy be established of including aid to parochial schools. If this were to be done, we should not only depart from the traditional American policy that public funds should not be given for sectarian purposes, but we would also impair our public schools and our democratic community life. To provide Federal funds for parochial schools would be to encourage segregated educational systems, and thereby threaten our democracy by fragmentizing our culture.

Senator SMITH. Does that conclude your statement, Dr. Cavert? Dr. CAVERT. Yes, sir.

Senator SMITH. Are there any questions by the committee? If not, we thank you very much, doctor. We appreciate your coopera

tion.

(Dr. Cavert's brief is as follows:)

STATEMENT OF DR. SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT AT HEARING ON FEDERAL AID TO EDUCATION, SUBCOMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC WELFARE, APRIL 28, 1947

I appear in behalf of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America, of which I am the general secretary, to express the point of view held by the council with reference to Federal aid to education.

The official position of the council is set forth in a statement adopted by its executive committee on January 28, 1947. In accordance with the established practice of the council, it does not endorse any specific bill. It does, however, set forth certain clear-cut principles which it is convinced are generally held by the overwhelming majority of its constituency, which consists of 25 national denominations with a combined membership of 27,000,000 persons. The statement of the council is as follows:

"The executive committee of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America feels deep concern over the emergency in public education in the United States. Depletion in the ranks of teachers incident upon their turning to more remunerative occupations and continued lack of resources for the equalization of educational opportunity throughout the Nation place our public schools in urgent need. To allow educational standards to deteriorate is to invite social disaster. "We, therefore, urge the appropriation of sufficient Federal funds in subsidy to prevent a lowering of standards in the teaching profession and to remove, at least in substantial measure, the educational handicap under which many children and youth suffer because of the relatively low economic level of the communities in which they reside. We urge such appropriations on condition (a) that no Federal funds shall be made available to States to be used in such a way as to discriminate against any minority racial group; (b) that the administration of Federal funds made available to States shall be safeguarded against the imposition of Federal control in matters of educational policy; and (c) that Federal funds shall be used only for such schools as the constitutions or statutes of the several States make eligible for State support.

"We affirm our continued adherence to the American principle of the separation of church and state, and to the principle that public funds should not be used for sectarian purposes.'

This resolution reflects two concerns of Protestants generally with regard to Federal aid to education:

(1) They believe that the present crisis in education requires the granting of Federal funds in aid to some of the States. They realize that the failure of education in any part of the country or for any group is a threat to democracy and a loss to the Nation as a whole. They, therefore, favor Federal aid to education through the States to insure a greater equalization of educational opportunities, but on condition that its administration be under proper safeguards against Federal control of educational policy in the States.

(2) They are concerned that Federal aid under proposed legislation should not be given is such a way as to impair the public school system or to infringe upon our constitutional and traditional principle that public funds should not be used

for sectarian institutions or purposes. Many protestants share with adherents of other religious groups a concern that secular education is not enough and that religious education is essential for sound democracy. However, they do not admit that an increase in sectarian schools as alternatives to public schools is the best or only solution of the difficulty.

Protestants generally believe that our American democracy would be impaired by an increasing fragmentation of education and that State support for sectarian schools would promote cultural segregation. The granting of public funds to private institutions would weaken the support of the public schools and deepen a cultural schism which would tend to be hurtful to our democracy.

As typical of the prevailing point of view in protestant circles I quote the following statement by Bishop G. Bromley Oxnam, recently president of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America:

"Public support for parochial schools would divide the community into sectarian educational systems and destroy the unity essential as democracy faces the totalitarian threat of freedom.

"If parents have the natural right to determine the education of their children, a privilege this Nation gladly gives, it follows that parents who refuse the benefits of these splendid educational opportunities * should pay for such private education as they insist upon.

*

"Otherwise, the Communist father and mother who may demand a Marxian education for their children may also call for private schools and logically ask for public support. Public funds should be used for public education."

An editorial in the current issue of the Federal Council Bulletin interprets the council's position with special reference to its concern for the public school system of our country. This editorial says:

"We believe in America. We are enthusiastic about America, not so much because of her standard of living, her great technical achievements, and her power as because of her democracy. We are so jealous of this democracy that we not only defend it against attacks but we also criticize anything that tends to impair it from within. We constantly try to improve it.

"This democracy is our most cherished heritage from earlier generations of Americans. It is a form of government, a set of freedoms, and a corresponding set of responsibilities; but most basically it is a type and pattern of community life. One of the bases, and at the same time one of the products of this pattern of life is the public school. We therefore defend it against unfair attacks and criticize anything that tends to impair it. Certainly those who would change it fundamentally carry the burden of proof in any discussion of it.

"We believe that this system needs Federal financial aid at this time of crisis in order that it may be strengthened in those States where it is now dangerously weak. Such Federal aid must not involve control of policy, which is left to the States by constitutional provision.

"But in connection with the current proposal to grant Federal aid, it is now insisted in some quarters that a general policy be established of including aid to parochial schools. If this were to be done, we should not only depart from the traditional American policy that public funds should not be given for sectarian purposes but we should also impair our public schools and our democratic community life. To provide Federal funds for parochial schools would be to encourage segregated educational systems and thereby threaten our democracy by fragmentizing our culture.

"Protestants generally take the position that religious education is basic to all education and essential to good citizenship. They would join with Roman Catholics and Jews in the effort to correct the present secularism of much of our public education. They do not support any alternative proposals that would weaken our public educational system.”

In summary, I urge that in the administration of Federal aid for education the following considerations be carefully borne in mind:

(1) That Federal funds be allocated in a way which avoids discrimination against any racial group.

(2) That the use of Federal funds be safeguarded against the imposition of Federal control in educational policy.

(3) That Federal funds be made available only to such schools as the constitutions or statutes of the several States make eligible for State support.

The primary concern of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America is for the strengthening of our public school system. I therefore urge that the Congress of the United States provide sufficient appropriation of Federal

funds to prevent a further lowering of standards in the teaching profession and to remove some of the educational handicaps under which great numbers of children suffer by reason of the relatively low economic level of their communities.

The next witness on our list is Mrs. Joseph Willen, chairman of the National Committee on Education and Social Action, National Council of Jewish Women.

STATEMENT OF MRS. JOSEPH WILLEN, CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND SOCIAL ACTION, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN, INC., NEW YORK, N. Y.

Mrs. WILLEN. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, the National Council of Jewish Women has a membership of 65,000 in 300 sections in some 40 States. The council has favored the principle of Federal aid to education for the past 20 years. We believe that it has been proved conclusively that the States are unable to maintain an adequate public-school system through their own educational appropriations. As parents, we have become increasingly aware of the fact that our children are not receiving the best possible education. Capable teachers and school administrators have been leaving the teaching fields in order to take jobs at higher salaries. State and local budgets have not been able to meet the increased costs of education. The results have been crowded classrooms, untrained teachers, and inadequate facilities.

We

We need not prove our point by lengthy lists of statistics. The facts about educational conditions in certain areas of our country have been sufficiently publicized to alarm the entire Nation. cannot hope to train our children to accept the responsibilities of democratic world citizenship unless we give them a solid educational foundation as a basis for their further intellectual and social growth.

The child from Alabama may have the same intellectual capacities and potentialities as the child from New Jersey, yet one is hampered from the very beginning of his school career by inadequate facilities and untrained teachers, while the other can enjoy the benefits of an efficient and well-equipped school system. If these inequalities continue to exist, we shall find that we are forcing a large group of our people into "second-class citizenship."

The substandard educational levels of the less wealthy States must be raised if our children are ever to attain equality of opportunity, and Federal aid is a prerequisite to help equalize the States' per capita expenditure for education.

As women who are engaged in many lines of community activity, we have the opportunity of seeing how the early training and experience of children molds their attitudes toward society. We have become alarmed at the wave of juvenile crimes, of racial and minority persecutions, of misdirected attempts to assert authority.

As members of the National Council of Jewish Women, we have helped to solve these problems by establishing recreation centers of the National Council of Jewish Women, we have helped to solve these problems by establishing recreation centers and teen-age canteens so as to channel youthful energies into constructive activities. In areas where the school system has been unable to fulfill its responsibilities in providing services for handicapped children because of insufficient funds, sections of the National Council of Jewish Women have set up

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