No Slice for Teachers

When pedagogs from all over the land gathered last week at Columbia University for a conference such as Teachers College is forever holding, they were nearly unanimous about one thing. On the U. S. platter are three billions for public works. How about a slice for Education? Dean William Fletcher Russell asked for "a fair share," at once, in any form. Professor George Drayton Strayer asked for a billion. Six State Commissioners of Education gloomily chorused about retrenchments, pay cuts and shut-down schools in Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee, Washington, Massachusetts and Maine. Two of them pleaded piteously for Federal aid.

But the Columbia conferees were gently discouraged by one man who could do so with authority. He was Dr. George Frederick Zook, the amiable, poker-faced new U. S. Commissioner of Education. There is, said he in effect, nothing on the platter for pedagogy. Perhaps some money for new school buildings. But nothing in the way of grants for what teachers need most: salaries. Dr. Zook went on to soothe the pedagogs, counsel them thus:

"People look at a report of the spending on education and say, 'Here, cut it down.' It is up to us to show them that the money has been spent economically. We must have education get the approval it has had all these long years, and carry the burden ourselves rather than criticize those who oppose the spending.

"In regard to our actions, I believe personally that we compare favorably with the ordinary public officer. I very much doubt whether any public official can show where he has spent money to better advantage.

"What we must now do is to get something sufficiently constructive to sell education to the American public and help the citizens under the new economic conditions."

No Snuff for Bryan

William Jennings Bryan University has made no nation-wide news since it was chartered three years ago to operate in Dayton, Tenn., scene of the Great Commoner's last battle and death. Then, with $1,000,000 in donations and hopes of an eventual $5,000,000 endowment, the University started out in the sombre brick high school building in which John Thomas Scopes once taught Evolution. It has since built dormitories and an administration hall. Bryan admitted students of any religion or sect but its faculty and officers were caused to sign an eight-point credo of such stout Fundamentalism as to make even the Apostles' Creed seem liberal. Bryan put on its letterhead: "An Institution which Recognizes Revelation and Accepts the Supernatural." Last week Bryan demonstrated it would not falter. Henceforth matriculants will be obliged to pledge themselves as follows:

"In applying for admission to William Jennings Bryan University, I am fully aware that the drinking of liquor of any alcoholic content whatsoever is not tolerated by the Institution. I hereby pledge myself to abstain totally from such indulgence in any degree, while a student in the University. ... I further pledge myself neither to smoke nor use tobacco or snuff in [the buildings] of the University; and should I indulge in the use of tobacco at all, I agree to confine myself to its use at the times and in the places designated. ... If a young woman, I pledge myself not to use tobacco in any form, while a student. ... I understand that disregard of this will carry the penalty of dismissal from the University."

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