Letter from United States Commissioner of Education Earl James McGrath to Walter D. Cocking

LETTER* October 2, 1951 Mr. Walter D. Cocking Chairman, Board of Editors American School Publishing Corp. New York 16, New York Dear Mr. Cocking: My heartiest congratulations on your decision to devote an entire issue of THE SCHOOL EXECUTIVE to the subject of "Citizen Participation in the Schools. " One of the most encouraging develop- ments of the past few years has been the tremendous growth of citizen interest in matters of education, and the organization of that interest to make action effective. Today, in addition to our parent-teacher associations, there are some 1500 specially organized citizens' groups throughout the country, each working on local educational problems. On a nation- wide scale, we have the recently formed National Citizens Commission for the Public Schools which is doing a magnificent job in bringing public attention to some of the more pressing problems that beset our schools. All these groups are functioning in the true democratic tradition of citizen responsibility for matters which concern the common welfare. Already, the results are beginning to show. In many, many communities the drive to build more needed classroom facilities and to increase teachers' salaries can be traced directly to the activities of these groups. And dozens of other positive accomplishments can be chalked up to their credit. More than ever, in this period of international crisis, we must look to our citizens to help strengthen and develop the entire structure of our public school system. The closer association they can establish with the local school authorities-=and with the teachers and pupils-- the better education we can give our children. Democracy, its strength and purpose, is precisely what the combined efforts of our citizens choose to make it. There is no surer way of directing its course than through the education of our young people. Sincerely yours, /s/ Earl J. McGrath /t/ Earl J. McGrath U.S. Commissioner of Education *By Earl J. McGrath, U.S. Commissioner of Education, Federal Security Agency, Washington, D.C., published. in January 1952 issue of THE SCHOOL EXECUTIVE, page 39.