Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-26
DR.. Mathesor1 Resents S1urs on Colleges
TRAINED MEN NEEDED IN DIXIE
Tech Head Declares There
Always Is Place in Business
for College Graduates.

Demand for college trained men
throughout the South is greater than
the supply by a tremendous ratio. de-
clared DIR. K. G. Matheson, president
of Georgia Tech. before he left Atlanta
for a brief visit to Culver, Ind, prepar
atory to the opening of the regular ses-
sion of his school.
The declaration was made when his
attention was called to a statement
made by DR.. Orison SWEET Marden, Of
New York. before the Southern Cali
fornia university that the entire pres
ent day system of college education is
wrong and that the colleges Of today
do not fit men for the battle OF life.
Dr. Marden said:
THE average college graduate goes
out in the world carrying under ms
arm his diploma as an insurance pollcX
against failure. Instead of being htted
to fight mans battle in man
world, ne is q Weakling. Colleges year
~ turn out graduates who are heipless
citizens-men who, despite their edu-
cation. fit into SIS a week inches Tor
wears before they are advanced-in-
stead of producing men who are fitted
upon graduation to do real work ano
hold responsible positions
Scores of Appeals For Men,
This shows how manifestly unfair
this statement is" and Dr. Matheson
turned to his desk and drew out a
drawer labeled positions for sradu-
ates' A score of letters were con-
tanned in the package.
These are applications from business
and industrial firms and institutions
said tie Tech president, asking me to
send them men to fill positions Of re-
sponsibiity. These applications here
were left after every graduate of Tech
of this year had been provided with a
place didn't have enough men to fill
this demand.
Il take it that the same is true of
practically every Southern school and
largely true OF the Northern institu-
tons.
THE South is making tremendous
progress from an industrial point of
view. and these industries are looking
for trained, college equipped leaders.
The figures will prove that, despite the
comparatively few men in this section
who receive college educations. there
are far more college men at the head of
these industries than men who did not
receive college training.
Leaders in Public Life.
"The same is true of the leaders in
public life also. l don't necessarily
mean the politicians. but a great per-
centage of the political leaders are col
lege men. Law, medicine and all the
kindred professions are being led by
gra duates of institutions of higher edu-
cation.
Now. | must say that the old system
of education along purely classical lines
has it's dra wbacks. When young man
has completed four years in high school
and four years in college and goes out
in the world he ought to be equipped
with something more definite than is
given him by the old System. l do not
decry it's value.
The foundation it gives is absolute
ly necessary for success in any profess
sion. The point | make. that while this
foundation is being obtained the stu
dent should be getting it with def
mite aim. I am glad to see that this is
being done in most of our Southern uni
versities.
Il believe that the time is coming
when classical and technical education
will march hand in hand. 1t is doing II
to a degree now. When this system is
perfected there can be no harping on
the uselessness Of college education
such as the statement of DR.. Marden."