A PROGRAM FOR AMERICAN YOUTH
Aaron & Maloff, Rubin
Federal Aid to Education: A Program for American Youth By Aaron and Rubin Maloff V'NAY * THE SENATE, 58 to | „J ^.Wte^-WOOmOOO to equal^r^' ize, educational opportunities. ,It was an...
...To insure state cooperation, full federal aid will be granted only to those states which spend at least a specified minimum percentage of thei* income <2*4% for the first four years, and 2% or $120 per...
...control education...
...of the Thomas bill represents a long, step in the right direction: it aims at equalizing educational opportunities for the poor and minority: groups...
...and by mandating a proportionate' share - of federal funds for Southern Negroes, It wiUTeyentually...
...For.twenty years federal aid bill* were Introduced and killed...
...the threat to church-state separation inherent in public aid to religious schools...
...This "merely post-, pones a developing battle between "Church and lay groups which Will be fought in the courts and* state legislatures, .Since religious lobbies are in a better position to exert pressure in the states than in Congress, the Thomas bill may pr0ve to be the opening wedge for aid to parochial schools, ii- > ¦ >' But even this has failed to win Catholic s^ipjfott-—further concessions were demanded* Accordingly, the 'Senate voted $3^,000,000 in federal funds to finance health services, for both pa-' rochial and public schools...
...The strings attached to federal educational grants have resulted in some control over specified areas...
...more than did the other concession: Father McManus of the National Catholic Welfare' Conference" has recently requested a proportionate share' of allocated funds for parochial schools...
...Prospects for S. ,240, .the 1940 CThomas) version of the federal aid bill, are good...
...OPPONENTS OF S.246 FEAR that federal aid Will usurp a traditional state function, although Section 2 of the bill specifically asserts the absolute right of the state to...
...FEATURE of the Thomas bill involves the problem of whether federal aid is to be extended to religious, non-public schools...
...bill containing anti-Jim Crow riders...
...Now it remains to be seen whether liberals will continue this strategy of appeasement or stand firm against further encroachments upon fundamental principles...
...Inevitably, the question of segregation in education has become' Interwoven .with the federal aid bill...
...and with health services extendod to parochial sohool children...
...Aaron and.Rubin Maloff teach in New York C«xy schools, sod have written for the Nation and various publications in the field of education, Rubin Maloff Is also a legislative representative of Teachers Guild Local 2. AFL...
...Southern states will thus properly enjoy a larger proportion of federal funds, although the $5...
...The Church contends that support must be rendered for the education of all children, It does not seek a subsidy, but regards aid to public schools alone as discriminatory, placing a double burden on citizens who send their children to non-public schools--' The provision in the Thomas bill regarding aid to religious schools throws the problem back to the states, by providing that states which appropriate their own funds to support parochial schools may expend federal funds, for the same purposes...
...majority, with characteristic irresponsibility,.killed it...
...More significant, liberals regard sectarian schools as a challenge to the, American principle of separation of church and state...
...This move satisfied Catholic pressures no...
...the support of public schools...
...But there is need for basic amendments:' the appropriation* must be increased and the equalization floor reduced;, part of the appropriation must bo earmarked for teachers' salaries...
...Colored teachers receive half the salary of whites...
...Unconvinced, opponents continue to maintain that, since control follows the dollar, the end-result will -be federal domination and the creation of a uniform, regimented educational system...
...The policy of federal aid to education was inaugurated' with the passage of the Ordinance of 1785, when land was* set aside for...
...Nearly, 70% of Southern illiterates are Negroes...
...It was an Impressive testimonial to the principle of federal aid to 'education: after a' thorough and thoughtful debate, 3& Democrats and 22 Republicans" joined forces to strike down proposed amendments in order to assure passage of the compromise measure...
...lead to a realization of- educational opportunity within as well as among the states...
...Throe million...
...THE THIRD VITAL QUESTION is that of the dual system maintained in the South to segregate colored from white children...
...i • • • THE SECOND DEBATABLE...
...This assurance of an absolute per capita share of allocated federal funds to Negro education represents a clear victory for the liberal forces...
...it allocates $5 for each child from ages 5-17 in average daily attendance and distributes the rest of the money on the basis of need...
...the average classroom for colored Southerners costs $477...
...Hochwalt, a spokesman for the hierarchy, stated that the Church would favor use of federal funds for education only if the assistance were extended to parochial schools and could be accomplished without federal control...
...the basic, measure must specifically prohibit aid' to - non-publlc schools...
...The maintenance, of two separate school systems —religious and, secular—has imposed an additional financial and social burden on the localities...
...In essence, the Thomas measure seeks to provide a minimum educational program for American youth by appropriating $300,000,000 yearly to equalize education in elementary and secondary schools...
...Liberal strategists, while opposed to, the dual school system in principle, know that Southerners will repudiate any...
...The powerful National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers' lobbies are engaged in a major campaign for the enactment of a bill incorporating the federal aid principle...
...but our 160 years' experience with federal aid indicates that control follows the purse only,when this control is written into the law...
...in committee...
...Mississippi, an extreme case, spends $7 on whites for every $1 on Negroes...
...The average white classroom costs $1,100...
...The Thomas bill continues this tradition by forbidding federal dictation in any vital educational area...
...When public lands became •scarce, aid took the form of financial grants...
...In fact, education has continued, to remain substantially a state function...
...Catholic children are educated in parochial schools, and a considerably smaller number, in Lutheran and Jewish schools...
...Senators who had reluctantly accepted previous compromises . balked, resisting this new demand as a' violation of the principle of church-state separation, v...
...At this point, it would seem thai the health services concessions should not have been granted without insisting that no further federal funds bo devoted to non-public education...
...Until .the Civil War, federal grants were tendered without control over the .disposition of funds...
...With the passage, of the Morrill Land Grant Act (1862), this policy was modified to apply to specifically-defined purposes and only when the states fulfilled federally-imposed requirements...
...Fifteen leaders of both parties, led by Thomas and Taft, joined in sponsoring S. 246 in the Senate and similar bi-partisan support is indicated in the House...
...pupil thereafter) on education...
...Disagreement over the merits of the bill' centers around three vital areas: federal control of education...
...the bill's failure to eliminate the dual school system of the South...
...Observers believe that unless federal funds are extended to parochial schools, tiie Thomas bill may suffer the same fate...
...The President plugged it in his State of the Union message as "must" legislation...
...Nine Southern states devote twice as much money to the education of whites as they do to the education of the Negro...
...per pupil allotment—a device tb win support of the wealthy states— will cut heavily into the total expenditure...
...There has been no attempt to dictate curricula, or to decree administration of the program, even when financial aid is offered on the scale of the GI Bill of Rights...
...bill in the Eightieth, Congress but the House Republican...
...As a result, liberals are confronted with the dilemma of gaining aid for our- schools at the possible sacrifice of democratic principles, Without a doubt, proponents of federal aid will have a hard struggle to win* federal assistance for our embattled schools and simultaneously preserve the sanctity of public education...
...Arrayed against federal aid are the NAM, the Chamber of Commerce, a number of religious groups and the states' rightists...
...Catholic groups have, until lately, vigorously opposed federal aid to* education and blocked passage of the measure,- At a recent convention in Atlantic City, Mssr...
...yw\» It is-no exaggeration to say that the educational future of the nation—with all its implications to democracy and security—depends oh the passage of a federal aid . bill, The spirit...
...As a result, they agreed to divorce the Issue of civil rights from that of federal aid, knowing that only thus could urgentlyneeded federal appropriations' be secured...
...The Seiv at<e had, enacted a similar...
...Where segregated schools are maintained, federal funds would have to be distributed to minority schools in proportion to the size of the minority, provided there is no reduction in the amount expended in 1947 for these schools...
...The Thomas bill makes an effort to improve" financing of Negro schools...
...Administration forces, with the aid of friendly Republicans, have the*, necessary strength to insure passage...
Vol. 32 • May 1949 • No. 21
