Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-15
Present and Future
o. Junior College.
NelD I type Of School

Fresno Junior College in California was
the frs; registered junior college in
America.
This action was not surprising in
California; where the crowdimg of the
lower classes in the universities per-
hapS led the State to adopt this method
of tightening the pressure in the fresh :
man and sophomore years by Keeping
students two years longer in the local
siN-year high schools or junior colleges.
In Missouri, however, where the prob
lem IVES more like that of Virginia. the
tendency was rather toward making 4
standard of efficiency for institutions
already existent, and thus IL number OF
Junior colleges were correlated with
the University of Missouri.
VirEinia's Action.
The growth of the junior college idea
in Virginia during the last decade Of
fers striking example OF the Virginia
method of action. After much private
discussion. the adoption of name and
OF Il standard for the Intermediate type
OF school was foStered by the Virginia
Association of Colleges and Schools for
Girls. No specific name was urged.
however. and the somewhat heSitant
suggestion of the association made the
prompt and positive action of the state
board all the more bold and admirable.
This action consisted in offering Il
Junior college teachers certificate to
graduates of institutions approved by
the State board as Offering the proper
. Junior college courses. Thus the eX-
, animation and registration of the
Junior colleges was placed definitely in
the hands OF the State board. where it
naturally belongs.
The Southern Association
a paper on The Function of the
Junior College" was read before the
Conference for Education in the South,
and a similar paper before a section
meeting OF the National Education AS
sociation. 1t remained, however, for
the Southern Association OF Colleges
and Preparatory Schools to give definite
and final recognition to the new type.
This was done last fall at meeting of
the association At the University OF
Virginia.
The advocates Of the Junior college.
IN giving thanks TO the Virginia asso-
cha ton for its interest and to the State
board for its initiative, should not for
get TO return thanks also TO President
Carter Walker, of the Southern assoc
citation, for appointing Il committee of
college. AS result of this report. the
junior college received definite recog
milton through the action of the asso-
citation. and n general standard and
outline OF requirements was adopted.
II is worthy of note that the report of
this committee was unanimous, and
this report. recommending recognition
of the new form, was unanimously
adopted by the Southern association.
Thus Virginia and the South have
given specific approval OF the junio,
college.
Such is brief sketch OF the develop
rlent of the junior college type. In
Virginia this movement has been essen
TALLY struggle for fair recognition on
the part OF subcollege institutions.
Like the Greeks before the walls OF
Troy, the junior college advocates have
conducted a ten-year siege, and have
at l&st gained Ambulance TO the sacred
precincts. Some cynics would change
the hgure and say that the walls OF
the educational Jericho have fallen