Evening star., 1917-09-16

are very active at present trying to
impress upon tho
Edncation people of the coun-
-, try. and especially
ana tne war. the educators. that
this Is no time to let education lag,
war or no war.
None of the great universities con-
templates suspending its work, nor would
1t be wise to do SO. For the
duration of the war and some time
thereafter there will be an unprec-
edented need for men expert1y train
ed in every technical field. One OF
the severest handicaps the country
could experience would be a shortage
of doctors. or of chemical, electrical.
or mining engineers. once our active
participation in the war is we'll under
way.
In regard to physicians and surgeons
this fact has already been recognized.
Medical students have been urged by
the hospitals to remain at their studies
and under no conditions to enlist in
the medical or other branches of the
service until their courses are COM
pleted Then, when they will be ur-
places in the Medical Corps as fully
trained doctors.
No less important is the work of the
engineering schools, which should. the
officials insist. not be allowed TO be
come disorga nized. Modern warfare is
so largely matter of expertS-eXperts
in transportation. industry and organi-
zation-that a depletion Of technical en-
gineering forces would be comparable
corps. The building of aircraft. of
ships. the planning of camps. trenches.
mines and roads. the organization of
rail transportation for troop and sup
ply movements. all demand an army
of technically trained men. And after
the war is over the allied countries
are counting upon American aid. Our
own industrial development. moreover,
will be handicapped if our technical
forces are not constantly fed. \ break
down in the engineering education of
the country at this time would be
loss of one of the most essential in
struments of industrial welfare and
efficiency.
The educational experts point out
that for the same reasons as those
outlined the elementary and high
schools of the country must be kept
going even more effectively than in
times of peace. 1t is the part of wis
dom to prepare ourselves for long
struggle and If the higher technical
ranks of the country are to he main
tanned at their full strength. the
schools. which are the feeders of the
technical colleges. must be kept at the
top notch of efficiency.
Again. it is suggested that. with the
of thousands of men from
clerical. minor administrative and rou-
tine positions. women must be trained
to take their places. In the next three
years the graduates of our high
schools will have unusually arduous
as well as unprecedented tasks on their
hands. If there is the slightest let-up
in educational standards we shall find
ourselves in few years with a civilian
army of incompetents.
Instead. therefore. of reducing the
curriculum. officials of the bureau of
education are urging that every effort
should be made to bring the educa-
tional machinery to a greater degree
of effectiveness, and, so far as possible
industry There should be
increased time given to physical sci
ence and industrial organization. it is
believed Especially viii the education
of girls have to he modified to fit them
for the variety of new occupations in
which their servies will be in acute
demand There will have to he an
expansion in business courses, in meth
DDS of industrial organization. factory
and financial management. With
million men withdrawn from the in
dustrial ranks of the country. the en-
trance of women into industry Will be
increased.