"UNIFORMLY MEETS THEIR OBLIGATIONS"

HOOVER COMPLIMENTS NATION'S 800,000 EDUCATORS & SCHOOL TEACHERS

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On February 25, 1926, Secretary of Commerce Herbert C. Hoover* addressed the general session of the Department of Superintendence of the National Education Association here in the Nation's Capital.

Mr. Hoover described the nation's 800,000 educators and school teachers as "utterly inconspicuous in a sensation loving country" and "seldom figure in a sensational headline."

The Secretary continued...

"I think that so vast an army of people so uniformly meets its obligations, so effectively does its job, so decently behaves itself...implies a wealth of character."

JFK+50 NOTE

According to Robert Peters, a teacher "instructs" following a structured curriculum focusing on subject mastery while an educator "facilitates holistic growth intellectual, emotional & social often acting as a mentor."  Peters says you can be a teacher & not an educator, an educator & not a teacher, or you can be both.

In my 40 years in the classroom, I was more of an educator in my first 11 years (middle school) & more of a teacher in my last 29 years (high school).  I did have a number of student teachers/interns at the secondary level, so mentoring was a component of that.

*Herbert Clark Hoover (1874-1964) was born in West Branch, Iowa & earned his B.S. at Stanford University.  HCH served as Director of the U.S. Food Administration 1917-18, Sec of Commerce 1921-28, POTUS 1929-1933.

SOURCE

"Exemplary Lives of Teachers In U.S. Lauded By Hoover," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., February 25, 1926, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"The Difference Between a Teacher and an Educator," by Robert Peters, March 20, 2017, Medium, www.medium.com/

William McCracken, Secretary Hoover, & Walter Drake

U.S. Department of Commerce

1926

www.hooverassociation.org/

"THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE FROM LEI-ADORNED DELEGATES"

N.E.A. ENDORSES CABINET LEVEL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On February 23, 1926, the National Education Association* unanimously endorsed the Curtis-Reed bill creating a cabinet level Department of Education.

The endorsement was greeted by "thunderous applause" from the NEA delegates meeting here in the Nation's Capital.

The delegates, according to The Evening Star, were wearing "orange garland leis of Hawaii around their necks."

Hearings will be held this week "by the congressional committees considering the bill."

JFK+50 NOTE

The Department of Education originated in 1980 with the support of President Jimmy Carter.  In March 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order aiming to close the Department of Education "to the maximum extent possible under the law."

*National Education Association (founded in 1857 as the National Teachers Association) today is the largest labor union in the USA.  NEA represents public school teachers & support personnel.

SOURCE

"N.E.A. Backs Bill For Education Department In Cabinet," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., February 23, 1926, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

NEA Headquarters

1201 16th Street

Photo by AgnosticPreachersKid (2020)

CC BY-SA 4.0

Washington, D.C.

"THE MOST FRUITFUL SOURCE OF POVERTY, VICE & CRIME"

COOLIDGE STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION & CONDEMNS IGNORANCE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On Independence Day, July 4, 1924, President Calvin Coolidge spoke at the closing session of the National Education Association Convention here in the Nation's Capital.

The President, according to the Evening Star, advocated compulsory education if necessary "controlled and supported under the guidance of the federal government."

Mr. Coolidge reminded teachers that his administration has proposed a department of education and relief to be presided over by an officer of the President's cabinet.

The President praised the teaching profession declaring that they are "entitled to the honor of a grateful people."

In Mr. Coolidge's view, education is important because "ignorance is the most fruitful source of poverty, vice and crime."

SOURCE

"President Urges War On Ignorance In N.E.A. Address," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., July 4, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
 

 

 

Calvin Coolidge, 5924

National Photo Company

Library of Congress

"I WILL SIGN INTO LAW THIS NATION'S FIRST FEDERAL AID TO EDUCATION ACT"

JFK'S MESSAGE ON EDUCATION READ AT NEA CONVENTION

Atlantic City, New Jersey (JFK+50) On June 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy's message to the members of the National Education Association meeting here in Atlantic City was read by Frank Thompson, Jr.* United States representative from New Jersey.

The President's message included these words...

"I have every reason to believe that...I will sign into law before the summer is out this Nation's first Federal Aid to Education program."

The message went on to say that money alone would not be enough.  JFK wrote that...

"Our goal must be an educational system that will permit the maximum development of the talents of every American boy and girl."

The President believed those that bear the greatest responsibility for the education of America's youth are the teachers.  He wrote...

"No amount of state and local support can succeed without your daily efforts to improve the minds of our children." 

*Frank Thompson, Jr. (1918-1989) was born in Trenton, N.J. & educated at Wake Forest University.  FTJ served as representative of NJ's 4th district from 1955 to 1980.  He was convicted of bribery & conspiracy in the Abscam case in 1980 & served two years in prison.

SOURCE

"Message to the Members of the National Education Association Meeting in Atlantic City," June 25, 1961, Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States:  John F. Kennedy, January 20 to December 31, 1961, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1962.

NEA Headquarters (2010)

1201 16th St

Washington, D.C.

Photo by AgnoticPreachers Kid