Speech #660050314

Stillman. of the American Federation of Teach.ers. Whereas in accordance with the Instructions of the last convention. the executive council of the American Federation of Labor. working with the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association. has cooperated in the preparation and introduction of the educational bill. 11. R. 7. which creates a Federal department of education and appropriates $100.000.000 to be apportioned among the States to aid in the payment of more adequate teachers salaries in the equalization of educational opportunities. in the removal o illiteracy. in Americanization of immigrants. in physical education. and in the preparation of competent teachers. and Whereas the present period of reconstruction is revealing even more clearly than the preceding period of the war the need for a national educational policy to secure coordinatic.. among the States. and to promote national welfare. efficiency. and unity. and Whereas the threatened collapse of our .chools. which influenced the action of the last convention. is still more imumiaent now. through the forcing out of our best teachers by the thousands by sheer economic pressure. and through the refusal of young men and women of ability and independent spirit to prepare themselves for a calling which does not offer a selfrespecting living. and Whereas the ultimate national need is for :.ducated manhood and womanhood. a need which will become moe urgent in the period we are entering . and Whereas the recent past has forced upon us a realization of the necessity of more effective physical education. of the removal of illiteracy. and of the Americanization of immigrants . and Whereas in the fields of vocational and agriultural educailon. the value of the stimulus to the States if Federal appropriations available to a State on its meeting specified standards. and on the appropriation by that State of equal amounte. las been proved by experience. therefore. be it Resolved. That this thirtyninth convention of the American Federation of Labor. in conformity with the recommendation of the preceding convention. indorse the educational bill. It.