Statement of United States Commissioner of Education Earl James McGrath Before the House Appropriations Sub-Committee on Labor

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STATEMENT OF EARL J. MeGRATH, COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION BEFORE THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS SUB-COMMITTEE ON LABOR - FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY February 5, 1953 The U. S. Office of Education--the only agency of the Federal Government charged with responsibility for the well-being of the American educational system as a whole--is now in its 86th year. The present appro- priation request is for its 87th. Established by statute in 1867, the Office was founded originally for the purpose of collecting such statistics and facts as shall show the condition and progress of education in the several states and territories, and of diffusing such information respecting the organisation and management of achools and school systema, and methods of teaching, as shall aid the people of the United States in the establishment and maintenance of efficient school systems, and otherwise promote the cause of education through- out the country." Many and diverse additional responsibilities have been assigned to the Office since the original statute of 1867. Among the most important of these would be included (a) administration of land-grant college funds under the Morrill Acts (1890) and subsequent legislation; (b) administration of the program for promotion of vocational education under the Smith-Hughes Act (1917), the George-Barden Act (1946), and related statutes; (c) respon- sibility for several depression-born and war-time emergency educational programs during the 130's and 140'8; (d) administration of the program for financial assistance for school construction, operation, and maintenance in Federally affected areas under Public Laws 815 and 874 (1950) ; and (e) responsibilities for certain educational provisions of the Veterans Read- justment Assistance Act of 1952, Public Law 550.