TO AMEND AN ACT ENTITLED "AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SIXTY-SIXTH CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION. SIMEON D. FESS, Ohio, Chairman. HORACE M. TOWNER, lowa. WILLIAM J. SEARS, Florida. SHERMAN E. BURROUGHS, New Hampshire. JEROME F. DONOVAN, New York. EDWARD J. KING, Illinois. DANIEL A. REED, New York. WILLIAM L. NELSON, Missouri. E. B. VOSBURGH, Clerk. FEDERAL AID FOR HOME ECONOMICS. COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, Friday, February 4, 1921. The committee met at 8 o'clock p. m., Hon. Simeon D. Fess (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will please come to order. The Chair will make a statement in regard to the proposed legislation. When the law that is known as the Smith-Hughes Act was considered, the item of home economics was originally left out of the bill as it was reported by the vocational commission appointed by the President. When the committee came to consider the bill it was represented to the committee of the House especially that home economics was of such value that it ought to be placed, or, at least, there ought to be some recognition of it, in the bill. We had omitted commercial education and other activities that we thought were pretty well cared for by the States. Home economics was one of them, and upon the representation of a group of women who knew the situation pretty well the committee amended the bill. Thereafter they reported it to the House and wrote a limitation on the use of the funds for home economics, thus recognizing home economics as a proper subject of Federal legislation or Federal aid, but they limited it to 20 per cent that was used or to be used for industrial education. Since the law was put into operation there have come to us representations from many sources that the committee's action was not only justified in recognizing home economics, but we had not gone far enough, and they asked for a new bill to be introduced making home economics on a parity with, first, agricultural education, and, second, industrial education. It was thought unwise to introduce a new bill. It was thought better to introduce an amendment to the original Smith-Hughes Act and allow the additional amount for that purpose. When we came to consider the bill, members of the committee said that they would like to have evidence that this claim was justified and wanted to have hearings. Consequently, to-night is set to hear those who know about the needs of this particular field in education, and in order to conserve our time, as it is near the close of a very busy session of Congress, we had to hold the hearing in the evening. Also it was thought best to try to get the information tonight, if possible, and not go over to a second evening. Therefore, I have asked the Federal Board representatives to name some one who knows who are here to be heard and to give me a list of these persons, and also about the time that is to be allotted. In order for us to get all that want to be heard before the committee it will be necessary for us to limit this time if you have not already decided how much time is to be allotted to each. (The bill is here printed in the record in full, as follows:) [H. R. 12078, Sixty-sixth Congress, second session.] A BILL To amend an act entitled "An act to provide for the promotion of vocational education; to provide for cooperation with the States in the promotion of such educa tion in agriculture and the trades and industries; to provide for cooperation with the States in the preparation of teachers of vocational subjects; and to appropriate money and regulate its expenditures," approved February 23, 1917. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the act entitled "An act to provide for the promotion of vocational education; to provide for cooperation with the States in the promotion of such education in agriculture and the trades and industries; to provide for cooperation with the States in the preparation of teachers of vocational subjects; and to appropriate money and regulate its expenditure," approved February 23, 1917, be, and the same is hereby, amended by adding thereto the following sections: "SEC. 19. That for the purpose of cooperating with the States in paying the salaries of teachers, supervisors, or directors of home economics subjects, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the use of the States, subject to the provisions of this section, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1921, the sum of $500,000 and annually thereafter for nine years an amount for each year equal to the amount appropriated for the year preceding increased by $250,000, and for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1931, and annually thereafter, the sum of $3,000,000; such appropriations to be in lieu of the appropriations for cooperation with the States in the payment of the salaries of teachers of home economics subjects provided by section 3, and to be allotted and paid to the States in the same manner and upon the same terms and conditions, except as herein otherwise prescribed, as the funds provided by said section 3; the acceptance by any State of the benefits of the vocational education act, approved February 23, 1917, being deemed an acceptance of the benefits of the appropriations for home economics authorized by this section and entitling such State, upon compliance with the terms and conditions prescribed hereby, to its allotment of the appropriations herein authorized: Provided, however, That the appropriations provided by said section 3 shall hereafter be available solely for the purpose of cooperating with the States in payment of salaries of teachers of trade and industrial subjects, except that if for any reason it is impossible for any State to meet the conditions prescribed for the use of its allotment of the appropriations for home economics authorized by this section such State may continue to use its allotment of the appropriations contained in section 3 for home economics education as heretofore, subject to the conditions thereby prescribed. That the appropriations hereby authorized shall be allotted to the States in the proportion which their population bears to the total population of the United States, not including outlying possessions, according to the preceding United States census: Provided, That the allotment of funds to any State shall be not less than a minimum of $5,000 for any fiscal year prior to and including the fiscal year ending June 30, 1926, nor less than $10,000 for any fiscal year thereafter. And there is hereby authorized to be appropriated annually the sum of $50,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, which shall be used for the purpose of providing the minimum allotment to the States provided for in this section. That of the moneys authorized to be appropriated as provided by this section 5 per centum may be deducted and used for the purpose of making or cooperating in making studies and reports to aid the States in the organization and conduct of home economics education, such studies and reports to include home-making pursuits, economies in the home in the provision of food, clothing, and shelter and the organization of home economics material to assist in the Americanization program, and for administrative expenses incident to performing the duties imposed by this act, including salaries of such employees in the District of Columbia or elsewhere as the board may deem necessary; actual traveling and other necessary expenses incurred by the members of the board and its employees under its orders, including attendance at meetings of educational associations and other organizations; rent and equipment of quarters in the District of Columbia and elsewhere; purchase of books of reference, law books, and periodicals; typewriters, and exchange thereof; miscellaneous supplies; postage on foreign mail; and all other necessary expenses. |