⚓ Welcome to Tidal Echoes

Series: “Youth Speaks Its Mind” (A republication of our hometown newspaper, The Suffolk County News, from 65 years ago)

Our history isn't just a timeline; it's a series of waves that shape who we are today. In this series, we revisit the bold voices of Sayville’s past. Today, we listen to Albert Cowie as he argues against federal aid to education in 1961.

Originally published in The Suffolk County News on November 9th, 1961. Transcribed for the Sayville Alumni Association.

Federal Aid to Education

By Albert Cowie, Sayville High School

Federal aid to education will inevitably lead to federal control of schools. The federal government has the right to direct and regulate what it supports and sponsors. This has been the case with such arrears of social and political life as river basin development, interstate commerce and communication, agricultural policy, and labor-management relations, which have come under the jurisdiction of federal agencies. We would be very foolish indeed, to believe that federal control could be avoided in the case of federal aid to education.

In fact, in all of the supposed precedents of federal 'assistance to education, from such legislation as the Morrill act of 1862 to the present, the federal government as a condition for making the grants, has specified what subjects were to be taught. Not only would a large scale federal aid program mean the specification of certain curricular programs by the federal government but the recommendation of certain teaching methods and the selection and dismissal of personnel.

I believe that these are matters which we should decide on the local level. Federal aid programs to education will surely result in the encroachment of federal agencies into the running of our schools.

⚓ Cast Your Thoughts

How do these words from 1961 land today? Reflecting on Albert Cowie's insights:

• albert mentions the "morrill act of 1862" as a precedent—do you remember learning about the history of school funding in your sayville classes?
• he expresses a strong preference for decisions made on the "local level"—was this a common sentiment in sayville during the early 60s?
• looking at our schools today, do you feel that his warnings about the "encroachment of federal agencies" have come to pass?