supply the schools and the school system with the teachers they ought to have we have not only got to have the neighborhood interest but we have also got to have the sanction and the backing of the National Government. Mr. DONOVAN. But the initiative for a greater number of teachers and for greater pay for the teachers has got to be with the State under this bill, has it not? Dr. STRAYER. Yes. Mr. DONOVAN. And will you explain to me how the passage of this bill will make an unwilling State initiate such a movement? Say that an unwilling State has not given proper compensation to teachers, how will this bill make them have a change of heart? Dr. STRAYER. Well, in answer to that I will say that I have participated in a number of State legislative hearings during the past year on the salary question. I know of nothing that would have given as much power in any one of the hearings as the fact that the National Government was interested and was extending some aid and assistance. The CHAIRMAN. If you will permit me to make this suggestion in regard to the vocational bill, which is built on the same plan, I will say that it started out in the same way, but that the States have gradually increased so that they are now doing much more than the Government is doing. Mr. TOWNER. Instead of equalling the amount, they have given 20 times as much, I believe. Dr. STRAYER. I think that is a good answer. Senator SMITH. And I will say that the original agricultural college appropriation from the National Government has been many times doubled by the States, although there was no requirement in that bill to the effect that the States should make a contribution, and the agricultural bill for farm administration, which required the States to duplicate the appropriation, has not only been met by the States, but the appropriations have been more than doubled. The CHAIRMAN. We will next hear, gentlemen of the committee, from Dr. John A. H. Keith, the president of the State normal at Indiana, Pa. STATEMENT OF DR. JOHN A. H. KEITH, PRESIDENT STATE NORMAL, INDIANA, PA. Dr. KEITH. After listening to the arguments in terms of ideals, in terms of reconstruction needs, perhaps it might not be inappropriate to turn for a few minutes to some of the underlying facts. Two or three times to-day the question has come up about facts, and I have been very glad indeed to serve in connection with the National Education Association Commission in digging out a lot of facts that relates to this bill and to the subjects that are bound up with this bill. The CHAIRMAN. May I reinforce your position with the statement that nothing is at such a premium in Congress as facts. Dr. KEITH. I wish to submit a few of the facts to the committee. I have here a table containing statistical data regarding the SmithTowner bill. I do not propose to go through all of this statement. I propose to hand it to the members of this committee and would like to have it incorporated in the record. |