Show NEWS REM BEHIN E w by PAUL MU MALLON LON released by western newspaper union EDUCATION SHOULD ORGANIZE STRONGLY washington biggest industry by far in the united states is education in plant this nation has invested 1940 figure from the united states office of education combar compared ed with a paltry in plant of the no I 1 commercial industry motor vehicles bodies and parts we have put five times more money into the value of education tion production buildings from kindergarten through college than in our vast and fabulous motors production yet front page readers rarely notice this leading industry and people generally pay little attention to it although they own the stock in it annual operating cost of education is same source covering 1941 42 which is more than half the total of wages paid in in every other industrial area in 1939 yet practically every day you notice strikes and arguments about industrial wages for those we have labor boards little steel formulas and great political agitation and interest in the nations largest industry into which the public actually annually pays there is no comparable interest and no comparable ie results not run by business men there are other significant distinctions the nations largest industry is not run by business men county and city officials opera operate te the bulk of it their taxpayers furnishing for the public schools while the states furnished the federal government and privately controlled schools spent au all figures the federal government furthermore ther more acts vigorously to control control inflation and deflation m in all industries excepting 0 only illy this one the biggest A great watch is kept on the security salaries and management of all businesses except this one the school text book concessions must constitute a tremendous busness business but no commissions nationally watch it postwar planning for industry is a primary occupation now but this one is neglected excepting that more federal funds for building more acbo schools are to be provided the industry is practically in hi washington ashington YV except for a few lobbying organizations seeking appropriations and these are not managed by business men indeed they could not furnish me with the figures above quoted 1 I think it is clearly suggested by the outer evidence that this industry is the least well managed as well as the least attended to wants government control it is time the stockholders in this business started paying more attention to their investment it is ti time in e also that national leaders citizens and even government started lecog izing the vastness of the indus try its financial influence its eco effects as well as the efficiency of its production rather than leaving all this authority and control spread around loosely and not only uncontrolled but unadvised in various uncoordinated hands it Is time also that the workers in that industry the teachers r realize that they are in the largest lar gest industry and more aggressively protect their economic rights and defend their leading political and economic position I 1 certainly do not mean by this that they should join a union and particularly not a union nationally or internationally controlled by workers in lesser industries or their leaders and pay tribute with w ill high initiation fees and dues for the privilege of such leadership which might be far from the best with which they could provide themselves i so I 1 think the teachers should seek the wisest possible direction politically and economically a democratic leadership based on superiority of ab ability clity rather than placing their cause upon the ground of sheer numbers as unions so often do they are not masses but individual personalities capable of finding a joint expression in a way they will enjoy more and which should better serve their particular interests |