N. E. A. at Columbus

N. E. A. at Columbus

The population of Columbus, Ohio last week swelled temporarily from 286,000 to 298,000 by the National Education Association's 68th annual convention, best attended meeting in N. E. A. history. Old and new were the pedagogical problems and practices discussed and resolved upon.

Radio Television. Dr. William Chandler Bagley of Columbia Teachers College felt that radio and television "may work profound changes in education that will enable the best of teachers to reach all pupils of the country in their school rooms." Those pedagogs who are not fitted for broadcasting work need not fear unemployment thought Dr. Bagley, for they will still be necessary as disciplinarians. Of the danger of radio monopolies, warned Chairman Ira Ellsworth Robinson of the Federal Radio Commission: "The doctrine of free speech must be preserved. The use of the air for all and not merely for a few must be protected. The average man has the natural right to speak over the air as well as listen to others."

Liquor, Nicotine. Every year the N. E. A. wholeheartedly endorses Prohibition. This year an amendment was added recommending the dissemination of Prohibition propaganda in the classroom. But the suggestion of Philosopher John Dewey that the association go on record either for or against classroom discussion of current political topics--among them, the Tariff--was pigeonholed pending "exhaustive consideration." A resolution was passed condemning "the fraudulent advertising of certain manufacturers in their effort to foster cigaret smoking," and commending for school use "selected periodicals which do not carry tobacco advertising."

Internationalism was considered a good thing by one & all. Director Paul L. Dengler of the Austro-American Institute of Education opined: "A new rhythm of life is being initiated. The up and down of this rhythm does not mean man against man any more, but man against the universe. . . . Even America could not rest untouched if in the case of war it were to resolve to withdraw from world affairs and form a blessed island." Chairman Augustus Orloff Thomas of the Foreign Relations Committee of the N. E. A. suggested that the German indemnities due the U. S. ($143,000,000) might be used for international scholarships as were the Boxer indemnities in 1908. Miss Clare Soper of London, international secretary of the New Education Fellowship, thought that "the international attitude is a matter of contagion, not of teaching. The teacher must have some degree of world-consciousness. . . ."

Adult Education. So that a child's cultural development shall not be limited to the classroom and "to lessen the number of the individuals who die mentally and spiritually at the time in their lives when they should be the most productive,'' Lewis R. Alderman of the U. S. Bureau of Education agitated for more night schools for grownups. "Today," said he, "there are from 15,000,000 to 20,000,000 adults in the country functionally illiterate. . . . Tests in the World War showed that fully one-fourth of the men examined could not read a newspaper or write a letter."

Uncle Sam's Wife. Of the part of women teachers in U. S. education, said Representative Ruth Bryan Owen of Florida: "It has always been women who have trained boys and girls for service. . . . Home and school have always been the places where the true side of political service has been taught. . . . It would do no harm if Uncle Sam had a wife."

One-Hour Week. The present 50-hour week formerly was 100 hours. Each year the working week is reduced by one half-hour. Editor Joy Elmer Morgan of the Journal of the National Education Association predicted that by 1960 there would be but five four-hour workdays, some day a one-hour working week.

Elected president of the N. E. A. was Willis Anderson Sutton, since 1921 superintendent of the Atlanta, Ga. public schools. Because he believes that "bad boys are ill boys," Atlanta now has the best rating for school health superintendence of any U. S. city of its size.

Plantation raised, immutably a Georgian, like all Atlantans he is proud of the prowess of Golfer Robert Tyre Jones Jr., prouder still that he once persuaded Golfer Jones to continue studying Latin at Technical High School. The legend: Golfer Jones, 14, refused to recite his Latin lessons, was invited to "talk it over" with Teacher Sutton. After discussing golf for 15 min., said Golfer Jones: "My father tells me that if I go to school I've got to take the full course, including Latin."

Teacher Sutton: "Well, if your father has such a notion I guess I had better talk to him. I rather hate to though, for he must be an unreasonable sort."

Golfer Jones: "What do you mean?"

Teacher Sutton: "The fact that he's a grown man and that he doesn't know as much as you, a 14-year-old boy, about what you ought to be studying makes me rather dread talking to him."

Golfer Jones: "I'll take the Latin."

Outlining the aims of his N. E. A. administration, President Sutton said he would try to popularize the taxation which supports public schools, would "seek to show education to business people in the light of an investment, not a cost. . . . The level of economic gain in any country is the level of intelligence. Education and culture create the demands that business and industry satisfy."

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