Statement by Commissioner of Education Earl James McGrath to Benjamin Fine for the Sunday New York Times

STATEMENTW 1. The Federal Government should continue to set aside a substantial part of available scarce metals for school and college construc- tion. As rapidly as conditions permit, the Federal Government should recognize the necessity for construction in communities where school boards and college authorities are awake to the need for replacing or modernizing obsolete structures even though there may not be serious overcrowding. 2. The problems referred to in the recent New York Times series on education can be met adequately only with Federal assistance. The communities having the most children very frequently have the least money per child. To construct new buildings and to provide good instruction for these children is just as important as to make provision for those more favorably situated. Equity and the national interest combine to demand that no child shall be denied his educational birthright. 3. Progress toward equalizing educational opportunities at the college and university level can be made by Federal provision of scholarships and fellowships to needy but able boys and girls. *By Earl James McGrath, U. S. Commissioner of Education, Federal Security Agency, Washington, D. C., telephoned to Benjamin Fine for publication in Sunday New York Times, January 20, 1952.