Speech #660326055

H. P. 7. which creates a Federal departmsent 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 opportumities. In the remnoval of illiteracy. in Americanilzation of imnnmigrants. 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 coordination among the States. and to promote national welfare. efficiency. and unity. and � Whereas the threatened collapse of our schools. which influenced the action of the last convention. is still more inminent now. through the forcing out of our best teachers by the thousands by sheer economic pressure. and through the refusal of young men and wonmen of ability and independent spirit to prepare themselves for a calling which does not olfer a selfrespecting living. and Whereas the ultinmate national need is for educated manhood and wonianhood. a need which will become more urgent in the period we are entering. and "Whereas.the recent past lhs forerd upon Us a realization of the necessity of inore effective physical education. of the removal of illiteracy. and of the Americanization of immigrants . and LX192 "Whereas In the fields of vocational and agricultural education. the value of the stimulus to the States of Federal appropriations available to a State on its meeting specified standards. and on the appropriation by that State of equal amounts. has been proved by experience: Therefore be It Resolved. That this thirtyninth convention of the American Federation of Labor. in conformit with the recommendation of the preceding convention. indorse the educational bill. H.