Letter from Commissioner of Education Earl McGrath to the Editor, United Nations World

LETTER* March 16, 1950 Mi SS Laura Vitray UN Editor United Nations World 319 East 44th Street New York 17, New York Dear Miss Vitray: Your article in the March issue of United Nations world, "The Chilaren's Army of the United Nations", emphasizes the import- ance of bringing to the children of the world a real understanding of what the UN can mean to them. We in the United States recognize that the end of traditional isolationalism involves new responsibil- ities for education. Membership in the United Nations and in scores of specialized international agencies requires a new awareness of world problems. With sensational headlines flaunting crises in world affairs, American education must train for clear thinking on complex issues, and provide accurate information as the basis for sound public decision. The United States Office of Education welcomed the request of the Department of State that it take the lead in implementing, on behalf of the United States, the resolution unanimously adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations asking all member govern- ments to encourage teaching about the United Nations in the schools and institutes of higher learning in their countries. American edu- cators are deeply interested in the problem of how best to carry on such teaching at all levels. They have been experimenting in the development of new methods and techniques so that citizens of tomorrow may know and understand these new instruments of international coopera- tion. The decentralized structure of American education, while it makes impossible any simple statement of uniform policy, gives wide scope for local initiative and experimentation in such new fields of study. Having neither the responsibility nor the power to impose a nation-wide educational program, the Office of Education acts as a clearing house of information concerning State and local activities, and a source of suggestions, advice and materials. During the past year over 5,000 American teachers, students and leaders of civic groups requested information as to sources of materials on other nations, assistance in developing international projects, reports on effective programs in operation in American schools, or guidance in establishing contacts with foreign schools for the purpose of carrying on correspondence, or exchanging arts and crafts, or books and professional publications. * By Earl J. McGrath, U. S. Commissioner of Education, Federal Security Agency, Washington, D. C. Published in part in United Nations World Magazine, April 1950, Vol. 4, No. 4.