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STATEMENT * In his office at the University of Chicago (where he has been professor of education since October 1948), Dr. Earl J. McGrath, newly nominated U. S. Commissioner of Education, talked frankly about his plans with the editor of The Nation's Schools. "I am definitely in favor of Federal aid for schools, he said, "and, in general, I approve S. 246, but I want to emphasize that whatever the government does to subsidize education and in what- ever form, we should make every effort to protect local control. We want the least Federal control consistent with the proper use of funds.' Let Congress Decide Dr. McGrath said he will not take a personal stand on the question as to whether Congress should permit Federal funds, directly or indirectly, to be allocated to nonpublic schools; as for example, for pupfl transports tion or for the purchase of textbooks. "How the money should be distributed is a matter for Congress to determine and for the courts to rule upon, " he said. "If I hadn't thought that the Office of Education would be & dynamic situation offering opportunity for considerable leadership, I wouldn't be interested in this job. I'm not a collector of statistics. I want some facts for thinking, but I want to work beyond facts. I think that the Òffice can be made into la very serviceable agency at all levels of education, with emphasis on timeliness and service. By Earl J. MéGrath in Chicago, Illinois, on March 10, 1949, to editor of The Nation's Schools, upon his nomination E.S U. S. Commissioner of Education.