NATIONAL UNIVERSITY. COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, Mr. FESS. Mr. Chairman, when Mr. Springer, the secretary of the N. E. A., appeared before our committee at one of its hearings on this bill you asked him whether the members of the N. E. A., who had unanimously indorsed the university proposition, represented the public schools of the country or whether most of them might be regarded as representing higher education such as given in universities. At that time I requested him to ascertain the sentiment of the membership with that point in view. He accordingly framed a circular letter to be sent to the membership taken at random. The letter is as follows: NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Ann Arbor, Mich., March 21, 1914. FELLOW TEACHER: At a public hearing conducted by the Committee on Education of the House of Representatives at Washington on the evening of February 28, on a bill introduced by Congressman Fess, from Ohio, to create a national university at Washington, I appeared as secretary of the National Education Association to indicate to the committee the various actions which had been taken by the association concerning a national university, including a reference to the papers presented on the subject at the Chicago meeting in 1912. The bill provides that the management shall be vested in a board of trustees to consist of the United States Commissioner of Education and 12 others appointed by the President of the United States. There shall also be an advisory council of one from each State. The board of trustees shall submit all general rules and plans to the advisory council for consideration, and in case of an unfavorable report it requires a two-thirds vote of the trustees to reenact same. The board of trustees must take formal action on all matters submitted to them by the advisory council. The bill further provides that the various governmental museums, libraries, bureaus, observatories, and departments of experimental research shall be open for the use of students, without interference with the real function of such establishments. During the hearing I was asked as to the personnel of the organizationwhether it represented all types of educational thought. Of course, I answered the question in the affirmative. This was followed by another query as to why the persons who had appeared at the hearing were practically all university men, and whether the movement was not in reality a movement of university men entirely. I could only answer this question by calling attention to the fact that the majority of our membership were associated with secondary and elementary schools as distinguished from higher institutions of learning, and that the policy of the association had been to question resolutions which were offered from time to time. I pointed out the fact that the resolutions on the national university had been adopted without questions having been raised from the floor, and this would indicate that the movement was favored by those who were interested in other forms of education than university work. I have selected a list of active members, not including any from universities, colleges, and normal schools, to whom I am addressing this circular letter. I should be pleased to receive from you an expression as to the desirability, from an educational standpoint, of the establishment at Washington of a national university exclusively devoted to research work and only open to post-graduate students. Please express your opinion on this matter at once, either for or against, and return the same to me in order that the answers may be tabulated and filed with the committee before the hearings are over. Yours, truly, D. W. SPRINGER, Secretary. The secretary up to date has returned to me answers which I desire to submit to the committee. These answers are submitted just as they were received. I ask that they be made a part of the record. (The answers are as follows:) NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Hon. S. D. FESS, Member of Congress, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: Following a query propounded to me at the Washington hearing as to the various lines of educational activity represented in the membership of our association, I have had the active members from 11 States tabulated, with the following percentage results: Superintendents of city systems and high-school principals. Per cent. 44 16 15 Officers and teachers in universities, colleges, and normal schools, combined_ Bookmen, editors, officials of departments of education, National and State, retired teachers, and others who could not be otherwise classified__ Institutional members (libraries, colleges, normal and public schools). 14 11 I think this same percentage would hold throughout the entire membership. I am inclosing a copy of a letter which we are sending out to a list of active members of the association. I am not acquainted with the views of any of the persons addressed, and whatever expression of opinion they may return will, I think, fairly represent the attitude of our members who are engaged in publicschool work. I shall be glad to furnish you with a tabulation of the replies as soon as received. I note by the paper that the Secretary of the Interior feels that the money should be spent on the common schools rather than on a national university. In my judgment, an appropriation of $10,000,000 provided for the public schools of this country would not be productive of as much educational results as would be an appropriation of a half million for the establishment of a higher institution of learning devoted exclusively to research work. Yours, truly, D. W. SPRINGER, Secretary. CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, DEAR SIR: I am in favor of a national university for research work, open only to graduates. DEAR SIR: I acknowledge receipt of your inquiry of March 21 concerning my views upon the question of a national university at Washington. The establishment of such a university for research purposes is eminently desirable. The board of trustees nominated by the President should be con firmed by the United States Senate. The advisory board of one representative from each State should be clearly defined and should have ample supervisory and directing power. Such a national university could do fine service if adequately supported and put to work upon practical as well as upon theoretical questions. Yours, respectfully, J. E. SWEARINGEN, State Superintendent of Education. Mr. D. W. SPRINGER, Ann Arbor, Mich. PUBLIC SCHOOLS, COCHISE COUNTY, DEAR MR. SPRINGER: In reply to yours of March 21, will say I am heartily in favor of a national university at Washington. It seems to me that it is too bad to allow the rich stock of historic and scientific material in the several departments of the Government to be used so comparatively little, while if a national university were organized and located at Washington this great stock of material would become immediately available for the use of the university. I think the plan as upheld by President James is an excellent one, and this country is large enough and big enough to adopt the plan and make Washington the center of learning for our country. Yours, very truly, Mr. D. W. SPRINGER, Ann Arbor, Mich. C. F. PHILBROOK, Superintendent of Schools. WALLA WALLA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MY DEAR MR. SPRINGER: A national university devoted to research work, and open to post-graduate students only, and with the work so organized that the various departments of the Government may be available for study, seems in every way desirable. Certainly every active member of the national association would favor such an institution. Cordially, W. M. KERN, Superintendent. STATE OF MAINE, Mr. D. W. SPRINGER, STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, National Education Association, Ann Arbor, Mich. MY DEAR MR. SPRINGER: I am strongly in favor of the bill introduced by Congressman Fess, of Ohio, creating a national university at Washington which shall be devoted exclusively to research work and open only to post-graduate students. Very truly, yours, PAYSON SMITH. BOARD OF EDUCATION, Saratoga Springs, N. Y., March 27, 1914. MY DEAR MR. SPRINGER: I am most emphatically for a national university at Washington along the lines suggested in your letter. Very truly, THOS. R. KNEIL, Superintendent of Schools. WASHINGTON EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION, MY DEAR MR. SPRINGER: Our State association has gone on record as favoring a national university as you propose, and I am personally in favor of it also and about as you outlined it in your letter of the 21st instant, devoted exclusively to research work. I think this kind of a university would be a fitting and dignified climax to our school system. Very truly, O. C. WHITNEY. NORTH BEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Prof. D. W. SPRINGER, Ann Arbor, Mich. DEAR SIR: In response to yours of the 21st instant relative to the establishment of a purely post graduate-research university at Washington, I wish to say I am heartily in favor of the plan for the very atmosphere of the National Capital offers superior facilities for research. No place in this country can or should offer the mature student such an abundance of facilities for advanced study as Washington. I am glad to say that Congressman Fess was one of my very first teachers in normal work, and I am glad to know he is engaged in this most excellent DEAR SIR: In reply to yours of March 21 concerning the advisability of estab lishing a national university let me say that personally I am very much in favor of such an institution, devoted exclusively to research work, and open only to post-graduate students. It would be one of the greatest steps in advanced education of this generation. Very sincerely, yours, L. A. LOWTHER, Superintendent. CARSON CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Carson City, Nev., March 25, 1914. DEAR MR. SPRINGER: Relatively to the national university at Washington, I vote for such an institution under the proposed safeguards, believing heartily that it would promote soundly the interests of our post-graduate work and bring our Nation up in line with the splendid progress in these lines over in European countries. Respectfully, yours, D. W. SPRINGER, W. J. HUNTING, City Superintendent of Schools, University of Nebraska, 1901. CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Winston-Salem, N. C., March 25, 1914. Secretary National Education Association, Ann Arbor, Mich. MY DEAR SIR: In reply to your circular letter of the 21st, asking for an expression as to the desirability, from an educational standpoint, of the establishment at Washington of the national university, exclusively devoted to research work and open to post-graduate students only, I beg to state that I am most heartily in favor of the above proposition. I shall not burden you by going into detailed discussion of my reasons for this position, as I do not think you so desire. I have been following the discussion of this matter in the papers for a number of years, and while I was at first opposed to it, I have, after more careful consideration, become convinced that it is what we need in this country. Very respectfully, R. H. LATHAM. Mr. D. W. SPRINGER, Ann Arbor, Mich.: LOUISVILLE, KY., March 26, 1914. Very much in favor of the establishment at Washington of a national university exclusively devoted to research work and only open to post-graduate students. ANNA C. ROTH, Girls' High School. MANUAL TRAINING HIGH SCHOOL, Mr. D. W. SPRINGER, Secretary National Education Association, Ann Arbor, Mich. DEAR MR. SPRINGER: Allow me to take this opportunity as a secondary school man to say that the national university, located at Washington, for research work, is, in my opinion, a remarkable educational step in the right direction. It should, of course, be under the direction of the school men of the United States in such a way as to insure proper articulation with schools now existing. The bill, I take it, does this in a very satisfactory manner. Washington City has a great deal of equipment for a university of a high order. This should certainly be correlated and used to this end. Our educational system is so democratic and so fundamental to our system of government as to make a national university of the type here set forth a fitting addition to the institutions of our National Capital. School men, so far as I have interviewed them, have very much the same opinion. DEAR MR. SPRINGER: The idea of a national university appeals to my mind very strongly for the following reasons: The need of a national university has been felt by men who have given the subject thought ever since the time of Washington. Such an institution as planned would make much of the material of the governmental departments more available for teaching purposes. The Bureau of Education and George Washington University with their limited means are attempting to do something along this line, but how much more might be accomplished with a national university working in conjunction with the Bureau of Education. It would afford the best and most practical material for research work, and would train men practically for work in the schools and colleges and for departmental service. It could not help being a benefit to the departments as well. The library facilities could not be surpassed, and the library of the Bureau of Education and the specialists of that bureau would give unexcelled opportunities for men desiring to make the broadest possible study of the field of education preparatory to doing administrative work in the public schools. Yours, truly, Mr. D. W. SPRINGER, Ann Arbor, Mich. CHAS. C. ROOT. BLACKWELL CITY SCHOOLS, Blackwell, Okla., March 24, 1914. DEAR SIR: In reply to your favor of 21st instant I will say that I am heartily in favor of a national university devoted exclusively to research work. We now lack uniformity in educational work. Each State has its system of education entirely independent of every other State, and there are no means of unifying these systems. A national university would stand at the head of our national education in the same manner as the State universities stand at the head of the State systems and would afford a means of unifying the State systems. |