OVERSEAS FLYING CLASSROOM

[Music] [Music] [Music] across the Atlantic the peoples of Europe are emerging from the wreckage of one of the most devastating Wars the world has ever known in the five years since the eay postwar recovery has moved steadily forward there is food in the market places and the ptical bread lines are becoming Memories the bomb Rubble is being cleared away and men are building for a peace they hope will endure how has American Aid helped in this recovery of Europe what are the problems ahead how is the food and are there homes for all and what do the people of Europe think of Americans these are some of the questions that we in America are asking today seeking the answer to these and many other questions about postwar recovery in Europe 65 Americans from 41 States in Washington DC arrived by domestic Airlines at New York to Embark upon a Pioneer Venture in international understanding the world's first overseas flying classroom sponsored by Michigan State College leaders in public education from the states represented predominated in the group which was to visit 11 European countries by air during the next 6 weeks all present and accounted for 65 Americans as typical as apple pie and all Eiger for the adventure ahead All Aboard please this was the first ocean Crossing for most of the party and the first longdistance plane flight for some 3500 horsepower in each of the four Motors Waits patiently for the captain's command to Roar into life afternoon Shadows lengthen across the airport as the Strat Cruiser taxis out for the takeoff dinner tonight will be served over the Atlantic the biggest city in the world is a toy town below speaking of dinner here is food to tempt an Epicure no wonder everyone aboard the big plane suddenly acquires a tremendous appetite a sunset from 5 miles above the Atlantic is something to dream about as you settle down for the night on your way to Paris and here it is Europe France Paris with the S sparkling in the morning sun a beautiful day a wonderful trip an auspicious start for the flying classroom it hardly seems possible that Paris is only an overnight trip from New York as their plane taxis to the Air Terminal the flying classroom recalls another flight from America the flight of Lindberg the lone igles only a brief 23 years before today's welcoming committee for a Transocean flight is strictly routine airport police who courteously direct passengers in French the airport Hostess who explains the directions in English it's spring and trees along the boulevards of Europe have put on their fresh coats of green in April Paris Skies Are bluest the clouds at their whitest for the opening of another tourist season of course the flying classroom saw the Eiffel Tower and the Majestic Cathedral at Notre Dame a classic fortunately spared by the war during the next 6 weeks the group saw much of Western Europe that is seen by the Casual tourists the Coliseum at Rome St Peter's Cathedral Wrong by by thousands of religious pilgrims celebrating holy year the picturesque cities of busy Switzerland tucked away among the Towering Al and the bomb cities of Germany terrible monuments to the futility and destruction Modern War they saw Copenhagen sparkling Fountain of gaan depicting one of the incidents of Scandinavian mythology in which a ruling Queen transformed her brothers into oxen they found the mermaid reclining upon a rock at the entrance to copenhagen's Harbor and photographed the colorful King's Guard at the entrance to the Royal Palace they saw ancient Danish castles surrounded by Massive stone walls and guarded by Deep Moes and watched the inevitable fisherman casting his Nets into the turbulent Waters in the H of stockolm from their vage point to top convenient Mountain they looked down upon the busy Harbor scene at Oslo Fort and a few days later they walked beside the canals of Holland it was Tulip Time in Holland and the fields were splashes of gorgeous color beneath the Blue Sky they looked for windmills too and they found some thoughtfully maintained by the Thrifty people of this tidy land an International Fair was in full swing in thriving Brussels adding to the color and excitement of Belgium's Industrial capital in England a few minutes away by air there was historic Buckingham Palace they watched the pageantry of The Changing of the Guard and then motored the lovely English Countryside to see Windsor Castle the summer home of England's royal families but the flying classroom was interested in more than Europe's traditional tourist attractions they wanted to have a look behind the scenes to see how the people are living how they are making a living how they are governed and to find out what has been accomplished by the billions of dollars expended through the Marshall Plan they found willing cooperation from American Embassy officials and among the Americans administering the EA in Europe in fact ECA headquarters was a Port of Call in all of the Marshall Plan countries visited from these conferences with ECA administrators members of the flying classroom obtained a concise perspective of the nation's economy armed with charts graphs statistics and reports they could trace the general pattern of post war recovery and understand better the problems yet to be solved they visited industries cooperatives and nationalized factories they talked with Factory Executives and with workmen in the shops they visited farms and Rural Villages and talked with herdsmen along the highways they attended special showings of documentary films depicting the industries and the life of the people conferences were a daily routine even in a roof Garden at top a Cooperative Factory special trips were arranged by boat by bus and by automobile to see Europeans at work and at play they attended political meetings in Mayday celebrations and heard communist aors attacking the Democratic way of life and branding the martial plan as dollar imperialism they met with government leaders such as Chancellor Adar of Western Germany the opposition point of view came from conferences with representatives of minority parties and of special group interests listening to questioning observing a picture of post-war Europe was formed in the minds of each of the 65 Americans and when in London the flying classroom looked back upon the countries visited these pictures of Europe today merged into one sharply outlined in this composite picture of postwar Europe is the Annoying threat of Communism the people of Western Europe live in the shadow of Russia and it is here where we must continue to concentrate our efforts against this Menace of the 11 countries visited Italy appears to be the most vulnerable to the inroads of Communism widespread unemployment the abject Poverty of the people of southern Italy and communist dominated labor organizations in the northern industrial cities are serious problems to solve America's Marshall Plan has played an important role in helping stem the tide of Communism in Europe communism feeds on empty stomachs and fut U ility and the first assistance through Marshall Plan dollars provided food and clothing and hope for the future when this emergency was met the next step was to help Europe help itself along the road to recovery Marshall Plan funds helped prime the pump of post-war European industrial recovery in the period of stagnation following the war there were factories and workers but no materials Marshall Plan dollars helped Supply the raw material was necessary to start the wheels of Industry turning for the production of sorely needed Goods European agriculture was at a low E of production after the war there was need to rebuild herds to restore the fertility of fields to increase the production of food but feed for livestock fertilizer for the fields and even seeds were lacking Marshall Plan funds prime the pump for European Agriculture and food production has increased increased Beyond pre-war levels in many of the countries the recovery programs outlined to members of the flying classroom in the countries of Western Europe are based upon the concept of decreasing Marshall Plan Aid each year ending in 1952 it appears probable that most of these nations will by that time have achieved pre-war or better than pre-war production and trade that currency will be stabilized and inflation checked that most of the war damage will have been repaired and the that a decent standard of living will have been attained the problem of trade between Europe and America will remain however and this problem cannot be solved by European efforts alone to see for themselves how the people of postwar Europe are living members of the flying classroom visited public marketplaces in the cities and towns along the way they found food handled a bit differently than in the United States the food situation in Europe is no longer critical thanks to the efforts of the Europeans themselves with the assistance of the Marshall Plan the average person in Western Europe is consuming 2,800 calories of food a day compared to 2,900 calories before the war in Italy the daily diet is less than 2,000 calories in the United States the average is 3,200 over 50% more the Italian worker spends three4 or more of his wages for just enough food clothing and shelter to exist an hour's work will buy only one quarter as much food in Italy about 1/3 as much in Germany and France and about 3/4 as much in Great Britain and the Scandinavian countries as it will in the United States the housing problem of Western Europe is most acute in Germany and Italy where many families are living in caves and ruins and where the construction of housing units is proceeding slowly the heavily bombed cities of Germany for example have approximately one half of their pre-war population and refugees from these cities are still scattered among the rural Villages and Farms government financed housing projects are making some Headway in solving the acute housing problems of Western Europe in Norway these homes were financed by government funds and are rented to workers regardless of its quality housing in Western Europe is inexpensive because of government subsidies and because of regid rent control laws rents range from $3 to $10 a month for family units in most of the countries Sweden's good fortune in escaping the ravage of war is reflected in the beautiful apartment buildings such as these along the inland waterways of Stockholm Switzerland another European country that remained at peace is ahead of its neighbors in housing individual home ownership is popular in this land of individual Freedom as it is in the United States a recent War has left its scars upon the health of the people of Europe and and although these scars are healing they still exist the years in which there were shortages of food poor sanitation inadequate housing and a lack of Medical Care are not written off in a few Summers so governments of Western Europe are taking an active interest in the health of their people and steps are being taken to remedy the bad effects of the War years good food and wholesome living the foundation of all health programs are reflected in the healthy appearance of the young folk of Sweden Denmark and Switzerland countries which had adequate supplies of food during the war the national health programs of Western Europe differ with each country but are largely operated on a Cooperative basis financed in part by the People by industry and by the government services include medical dental nursing and hospital care there are housing units for the Aged and for pensioners and day nurseries for children whose mothers must work Holland's health program is an example of the way one country solved its health problems in terms of its own needs as Dr Banning head of Holland's National Health Service explained to this flying classroom group The Dutch health program is based upon the theory of private Enterprise the people participating helped pay for the services they receive by direct contributions although the amounts contributed may be small all Dr Banning declared that these contributions have a morale building as well as Financial value in Britain where so-called socialized medicine has been provided by the government there is considerable controversy regarding the administration of the program there is evidence that England's present program was developed too hastily that professional personnel and equipment is inadequate for the job to be done and that the cost has added too much of a burden to the heavily taxed people of Britain there is criticism from patients and doctors that the quality of Medical Care is poorer and that there is too much delay in providing certain health services such as eyeglasses and tonsil operations the majority of doctors and leaders of both parties agree however that some form of National Health Service is needed the people of Europe appear to spend more time at home than do Americans the family automobile is practically non-existent and Recreation must be sought close at hand on Pleasant Sundays many families board the street cars with picnic baskets and sports equipment for an outing in the Parks outdoor cafes are popular places to spend the time gardening is a profitable Hobby and community garden plots are frequent in the Suburban areas where there is water near at hand a family is more likely to own a safe booat for recreation than an automobile in many European cities bicycles are more of a traffic Hazard than Automobiles and when Dad sets out for a Sunday morning spin Junior goes along too in the rumble seat pageants celebrations holidays traveling carnivals and similar events play important roles in the recreational life of European families there was evidence that Europeans provide more of their own entertainment than do Americans a lack of modern appliances in the home places more responsibility on the family for the performance of household chores which are simplified by mechanical devices in America in most of Europe for example the mother must shop every day because she does not have refrigeration in the home dramatic evidence of the influence of religion upon the lives of the people people of Europe was demonstrated by the throngs of pilgrims visiting Rome during this holy year the flying classroom was privileged to see Pope Pas and were deeply impressed by the fervor of the thousands who crowded into St Peter's Cathedral a desire for security appears to have influenced both management and labor in European industry there has been more interest in protection than in competition European industry has developed a fondness for cartels huge Comm binds or monopolies in which production profits and markets are tightly regulated the cartel system has been a major factor in limiting the initiative of management and workers in the development of new products and services wages of Europe's industrial workers are considerably less than those received by Americans based either upon comparisons of currency values or in the terms of amount of goods and work will purchase wages of industrial workers averaged from 20 to $25 a week in most of Western Europe a skilled watchmaker in Switzerland makes twice that much food and housing however are cheaper than in America European workers are taxed heavily in comparison to workers in the United States and a larger portion of Europe's taxes are used to finance their social program they have more complete coverage than American workers for unemployment insurance old age pensions accidents and health insurance and government subsidized housing and food but his taxes for these benefits are so great that often the incentive to produce more is stifled because of the increased taxes which would result from any increase in his income one of the problems of European industry today is to make and sell Goods in a dollar market Market which has an abundance of the same type of products at the same or at a lower price the Scandinavian countries for example have abundant resources of Timber for which there is a ready Market in England and the Sterling areas but wood products from Scandinavia face difficult competition in the dollar market of America because we have access to Timber at home or from Canada employment of women workers for factory jobs which in America would normally be done by men was noted in several of the countries visited in one steel mill women were operating huge cranes that handled massive crucibles of molten metal one European Observer listed three factors in explaining why industrial productivity in the United States was from 50 to 90% greater than in Europe in America competition is stressed above security there is better Planning by management and America have developed horsepower techniques under the Marshall Plan production teams of European workers are visiting the United States to see American Industrial knoow in action the art of making fine Pottery as it has been developed in Denmark Holland Belgium England and Finland is expected to continue as a craft most of these luxury type products will be sold in the dollar market in fact Europe's place in the world of trade in which there is competition with highly industrialized nations such as the United States depends to a great extent upon the further development of Industries requiring fine workmanship of many hands no country in Europe has the variety of natural resources that are available to the United States or to Russia Norway for example has an abundance only of water power Timber and fish a human plan is a step toward pooling the resources of Western Europe in an economic Union a goal that even the most optimistic admit will likely take decades to accomplish evidence of the scope of European post-war recovery was found by the flying classroom in some of the industrial Fairs and Exhibits attended Italy's Milan Fair attracted buyers from all nations of the world as did the British trades Fair which was visited by members of the flying classroom while in London overseas buyers particularly those from the dollar countries received a warm welcome at Britain's Trade Fair British manufacturers long for Mass markets such as are enjoyed by American Industries with their 150 million potential customers in 48 states unhampered by tariffs quotas and other trade barriers although Britain's experiments in Social legislation such as their National Health Service have been publicized most in the United States the present lab government of England is basing its case fundamentally upon Full Employment and members of the flying classroom found many britishers who questioned whether their present government could have accomplished either of these goals without help from the Marshall Plan Europe's one horse farming on Tiny Fields was a constant source of Amazement to members of the flying classroom particularly those representatives from the rich Midwest farming sections in Europe land is scarce and labor is abundant maximum food production per acre is of much more importance than the efficient use of Labor according to American Standards Farms are small and in many cases considerable distance from the village in which the farmer lives agricultural production in Europe was 95% of pre-war in 1949 and was even more favorable in 1950 intensive agricultural production has been carried to extremes that seemed almost unbelievable to Americans in Holland and Belgium for example fruits and vegetables are growing extensively under glass entire Crews of workers thin grapes by hand to increase the size and quality of the Harvest they saw entire Orchards of peaches and cherries under glass and even sampled pre- ripened cherries in May in Italy the total cash income of many Farm families averages only $200 a year on this farm along the road to anzio three generations were living Under One Roof it is feal for young Italian Farmers to even hope that someday they may own their own land work is scarce and when it can be had the pay is so little that all must go for the bare necessities of life fuel for the family he and for cooking comes from prunings of The Vineyards which are carefully gathered and bound into bundles where land is expensive and cultivation is intensive farm animals are few because of the scarcity of feet one solution to meet production on small farms is small animals although these rabbits seem to have been crossed with antelop at the end of a 10-hour day these two men will have sprayed only one or two acres of fruit trees in contrast one man can spray 30 to 40 acres of trees in a day with his American-made automatic power sprayer farm machinery is being made available through the Marshall Plan the prosperity of Switzerland is reflected in the picturesque farms in the mountain valleys Farmers the world around are justly proud of fine livestock and this Swiss farmer is no exception to the rule in Denmark agricultural cooperatives not only provide marketing services but also assist young farmers in purchasing their own Farms through longtime lowest loans although Farm labor is abundant in Denmark Progressive Danish farmers are not overlooking opportunities to utilize mechanical devices to make their Farm operations more efficient most of the butter and cheese from this herd of cattle is destined for England the traditional market for dairy farm products further evidence that communism is losing ground in Europe was found in membership of the various elected parliaments of the countries visited after a gain immediately following the war the Communists have lost votes and members of parliament in those countries government Finance social services and ownership of Public Utilities and railroads prevails in most countries of Western Europe a definite policy of expanding social legislation of which government subsidized housing is an example is included in the platforms of most political parties in Europe trade barriers to Europe's economic Union such as Customs regulations and separate monetary system are encountered at firsthand by members of the flying classroom during their 6 weeks visit they struggled with problems of 11 different currencies and obtained clearance papers from Customs officials for their personal belongings 24 times the need of tax reforms particularly in France and Italy was found to be one of the pressing problems of European governments to ensure economic and political stability Europe's ability to defend herself against such a power as Russia was found to be more symbolic than actual in the face of threatening aggression from the East the defense of Europe is Ming in importance as a problem to be solved by Cooperative action compulsory military training has been a part of the defense programs of European nations for many years these civilian soldiers must keep their shooting eye sharp and target practice is held often with memories of the recent World War still painfully Vivid most of Europe's government leaders favor Cooperative defense programs such as the Atlantic pack Europe's most important people her children were of special interest to members of the flying classroom and many a postman's holiday was taken to visit schools in Italy they found educational standards considerably lower than in the United States education in Italy is compulsory for children from ages 6 to 11 11 only 12% of the children in elementary schools continue their education compared to 65% in the United States a generation of children who have known nothing but war or Devastation and defeat is found in Germany schools here the occupation authorities are endeavoring to uproot the poisonous propaganda of the Nazis and to seow the seeds of democracy most responsible are the younger children to whom the Hitler Youth are but dim figures of a hazy past proud of their new leather breaches these young Germans face a clouded future in a nation divided into two armed camps of east and west Switzerland one of the few nations of the world in which there is no illiteracy is justly proud of its schools Europe's institutions of Higher Learning such as Stockholm's University of upsa continue to attract American Scholars here they find a classical type of education with courses Advanced and rigorous until recently much of Britain's education has been left to private initiative and to the church now public education As We Know It in America is being greatly extended secondary education has been highly selective in Britain with only 10% of children in junior schools being admitted the education Act of 1944 however is designed to make secondary education of some sort compulsory and free after inspecting European schools there was a higher regard for American Education there was evidence of a greater appreciation for the Democratic way of life in America as the group boarded the Homeward Bound plane in London after their 11 Nation flying study of Western Europe memories of Europe's traditional tourist attractions were overshadowed by what they had learned of these nations problems in probing behind the scenes above all they had learned that world trade and understanding among nations is not a one-way Street those who would sell must buy and those who would persuade must first seek to understand members of this first overseas flying classroom voted it the greatest educational experience of their lives and the Hope was expressed that this Pioneer Venture in the use of air travel for organized study of other nations would be duplicated many times in the future the overseas flying classroom was another demonstration of leadership in international understanding further evidence to the free people of the world of American sincerity in furthering understanding and Good Will among people of all Nations [Music]