Statement by Commissioner of Education Earl McGrath, Federal Financial Assistance for Education of Physically Handicapped Children
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OCR Page 1 of 9Federal Financial Assistance
Education of Physically Hand icapped Children
Statement by Earl J. McGrath, U.S. Commissioner of Education,
Federal Security Agency, to the Subcommittee of the Senate
Committee on Labor and Public Welfare
Tuesday, May 16, 1950
In America, we are committed to the principle that our society can
survize flcurish and grow only as all of the talents of all of cur people are
utilized to the maximum. We believe that there must be equality of opportunity
for each individual to develop his abilities to the fullest. Morecver, we be-
lieve that only a scciety which takes advantage of the fully developed abilities
of its members can prosper.
The primary means for achieving this goal of equality cf opportunity is
education. For it is in our schools that the individual talents and capabilitics
of all of tomerrow's citizens can be discovered and nurtured. In a demccracy,
the opportunity for education shculd mean education suited to the needs of every
individual; otherwise, the term itself is a misnomer. Tc expect a child with
defective vision to read from the same books and in the same way that other
children do would be unreascnable. To expect a child who is hard-ef-hearing
to hear and to respond to ordinary instructions in the classrocm would be fclly.
To expect a crippled child to get abcut in the school without special equipment
would be unrealistic. There is no way of providing an educational program for
all children except by providing it for every individual child in accordance
with his needs.
I am here today to talk about one large group of children whose educational
needs are not being met on an individual bacis-the physically handicapped.
First, I should like to say something about their number, their needs, and the
éducational services they should have. Second, I should like to discuss reasons
why financial assistance from the Federal Government to the States is important
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