Education: Brains across the Sea

“The very word education is one of some ill repute in Congressional halls,” observed one Congressional delegate to San Francisco. This was the reason that provision for an international office of education, originally agreed upon by the Big Four, was talked out of the United Nations charter. The Congressmen at the conference were afraid their colleagues back in Washington might consider it a cultural boondoggle, veto the whole charter because of it.

Last week both House and Senate put the timid delegates to shame. Unanimously they adopted resolutions urging U.S. participation in a permanent “international educational and cultural organization.” Reassured, the U.S. delegation promptly took steps to restore the original provision to the charter. If it is shaped to the wishes of its House sponsor, South Dakota’s Karl Mundt, the international organization will 1) help re-establish education in devastated countries, 2) advise on the re-education of the enemy, 3) promote exchange of students, teachers, materials, methods, 4) avoid propaganda and direct control of schools.