FR Chapter II EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OF THE EDUCATION, AND WELFARE ROM 1939 to 1948 reorganization plans were adopted which grouped under one administration those agencies of the Federal Government whose purposes were to promote social and economic security, educational opportunity, and good health for the citizens of the Nation. Several former agencies, including the Social Security Board, United States Employment Service, Office of Education, United States Public Health Service, Food and Drug Administration, Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Freedmen's Hospital, and Federal functions of the American Printing House for the Blind, Howard University, Gallaudet College, and a few others, were combined in the Federal Security Agency. In the further evolution of these areas of Federal responsibility, the President, on March 12, 1953, transmitted to Congress his plan to give Department status to the Federal Security Agency. His message declared: The purpose of this plan is to improve the administration of the vital health, education, and social-security functions now. . . carried on in the Federal Security Agency by giving them Departmental rank. Such action is demanded by the importance and magnitude of these functions, which affect the well-being of millions of our citizens. There should be an unremitting effort to improve those health, education, and social security programs which have proved their value. . . . But good intentions are not enough; all such programs depend for their success upon efficient, responsible administration. . . . Now the establishment of a new Department provided for in Plan No. 1 of 1953 will give the needed additional assurance that these matters will receive the full consideration they deserve in the whole operation of the Government. Congress responded to this proposal through the approval of Public Law 13 by which it also approved House Joint Resolution 223 which stipulated that Reorganization Plan No. 1 of March 12, 1953 "shall take effect 10 days after the date of the enactment of this joint resolution, and its approval by the President." Many of the educational programs of the Federal Government are administered by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, as shown in table 1. Several programs are described in this chapter. Summaries of expenditures for these programs for the 1954-55 school year are included in tables 2, 3, 4, and 7. THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION Advancement of the cause of education was one of the purposes expressed by Congress in providing for the establishment and operation of the Office by its enactment in 1867. The Office of Education has fulfilled this purpose through the years by (1) publishing educational information and discussion, (2) establishing cooperative relationships with State, county, local, and private educational systems and agencies, (3) engaging in educational research, and (4) providing leadership, consultative, and clearinghouse services related to education in general, and performed through State and national conferences, educational planning, publications, and public addresses. Various acts of Congress and several Executive orders authorized by Congress have broadened the functions of the Office of Education through the years. From time to time, operating programs have been added to the earlier informative and consultative functions. A substantial proportion of the Office personnel is employed in these operating programs. OPERATING PROGRAMS Activities of the Office were extended to include a greater emphasis on higher education when public laws were enacted providing for the allocation of funds to the colleges of agriculture and mechanic arts. Functions of the Federal Board of Vocational Education created in 1917 were assigned to the Commissioner of Education in 1933. These, together with subsequent acts of Congress authorizing the Office of Education to allocate Federal funds to the States and Territories for vocational education, have widened the performance area of the Office through its relationships with colleges, trade, and other vocational schools. These programs are discussed in detail in this chapter. Also, during the 1930's, Congress approved a considerable amount of legislation related to educational programs and to welfare of the people for the depression period. These laws introduced additional functions into the Office of Education related to relief programs including Civilian Conservation Corps; Public Forum Project; Projects for Research in Universities; Emergency Educational Radio Pro grams; Local School Units Project; National Youth Administration; Works Progress Administration program of school construction; Federal Emergency Relief Administration funds for emergency educational programs, student aid, rural school extension, literacy classes, adult education and nursery schools; and Public Works Administration projects in schoolhouse construction. These projects operated for relatively short periods and were discontinued as economic conditions improved. A further expansion of the duties of the Office developed in the 1940's from the emergency wartime educational programs. During these years the Office was also invited to assist other Federal agencies in a consultative capacity. Following World War II, the Surplus Property Utilization Program was established and assistance to federally affected school districts developed into a very substantial program. Participation of the Office of Education in these services are other examples of broadened functions. As background for understanding the present status of the Office of Education, it might be stated that the act of 1867 established the Office and designated its primary functions. Subsequent congressional acts and Executive orders have created service functions and strengthened the informative and consultative functions contemplated by the original legislation. OFFICE ADMINISTRATION Funds appropriated to the Office of Education are expended for many educational purposes, some of which are: collecting educational statistics, conducting research, printing reports, administration, consultation, addressing meetings of professional educators, distributing educational funds, and other activities which help with the improvement of education. Appropriations made to the Office of Education for administering its various programs for the past 10 years are listed in table 8. The rise in appropriations from 1950 to 1952 were due primarily to the programs of assistance to education in federally affected areas. As for all Federal operating expenditures, a portion of the increase over the past 10 years is due to 4 increases in the Federal salary schedule approved by Congress. Funds reported in table 8 do not include amounts for administration transferred from other departments of the Government for special programs, and they do not include amounts distributed to the States as aid to education. Appropriations were used for purposes approved by Congress, including research, service, and the administration of grants for educational purposes. Table 8.-FEDERAL FUNDS APPROPRIATED FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION: 1946-47 TO 1955-56 The fundamental purpose of the Morrill Act was to insure the development in each State of at least one college adapted to the educational needs of those engaged in agriculture and in industry. This act was signed by President Lincoln in 1862. Institutions established or designated to receive the Federal assistance provided by the Morrill Act are generally known as land-grant colleges and universities. The act authorized grants to the States of 30,000 acres of land, or the equivalent in scrip, for each Representative and each Senator. State legislatures were expected to provide sites and essential buildings and to make additional appropriations for necessary operating expenses. A provision of the act requires that monies derived from the sale of the land in each State shall constitute a perpetual and irreducible fund, the income from which is for the support of its land-grant colleges and universities. Additional appropriations.-After several land-grant colleges had been in operation for a number of years, with encouragement and assistance from the Federal Government, the States found it difficult to support them adequately. Consequently, in 1890 a new law, the Second Morrill Act, was enacted which provided for annual grants of Federal funds for the land-grant colleges and universities. The 1890 law provided for an initial appropriation of $15,000 for each State or Territory, with an increase of $1,000 each year over the preceding year for 10 years, after which the annual appropriation was to be $25,000. The Federal Government again came to the assistance of the land-grant colleges and universities in 1907 through the Nelson Amendment to the act making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the 1907-08 school year. This amendment authorized an appropriation of $5,000 in addition to the $25,000 for each State and Territory, with an increase of $5,000 each year over the preceding year for a period of 4 years, after which the annual amount under the amendment would continue to be $25,000. |