Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-12
KEEP COLLEGES OPEN,
PRESIDENT SWAIN SAYS
Head Of Swarthmore Urges Ne
cessity of Maintaining Educa-
tion During War
sCHooLs ARE. NEEDED
Preparation Must Be Made for Recon
struction After Great
Conflict

President Joseph Swain, Of swarthmor'
College. is right in line with otner leadinl
educators OF the state in advocating th'
necessity OF keeping open the schools ano
colleges Of the nation during the war
'rwhatever else students may do In the
service Of their country during the sum
rner" he said, they will be serving theli
country IL they will do all IN their power
20 bring young men and women, especially
those under twenty-one. TO face squarely the
Importance 70 themselves and their country
Of obtaining a college education IN oroer
that they may best serve during the war
and in the trying period of reconstruction
following the war. For every college stu
dent who goes out from college walls there
should be another 10 take his or her place
President Swain also called attention to
the following speech, which he made re-
Gently to students Of Swarthmore College on
the same subject:
"on May there met in Washington
perhaps the largest gathering Of represen-
tatives Of the colleges Of the United states
IN our history. There were present repre-
sentatives from all parts Of the country
from California TO Maine and washington
70 Louisiana. They were called together
by Doctor Godfrey, appointed by President
Wilson as a member of the Advisory Coun-
Gil of National Defense. Among their state
ments Of principles this large body unani-
mousy agreed upon the Following reso'u-
ton:
1--WE therefore believe, first, that all
young men below the age of liability TO the
eelective draft and those not recommended
for special service who can avail themselves
Of the opportunities offered by our colleges
should be urged to do so In order that they
may be able to render the most effective
service both during the full period of the
war and in the trying times which VIII toi'
low its close
THE faculty of Swarthmore College has
unanimously approved Of this action IL is
believed that the unprecedented death in
Europe Of college men makes especial re-
aponsibility rest upon the United states,
20 far as possible, not to decrease but to
increase, the number of students in our in
stitutions of higher learning.
"A little more than a week ago represen-
tatives of twenty-one colleges in Pennsylva-
mia also unanimously agreed TO the resolu-
tion passed at the Washington meeting re-
ferred to above. In further emphasis Of
this ideal they agreed to the following state-
ment:
"Tn view of the serious need in the near
future for men broadly educated, capable
OF solving the great problems, we believe
that students in our colleges Of liberal arts
and sciences should continue where possible
young men who can avail themselves Of the
opportunities offered by our colleges should
be urged TO enter.
I'VE believe further that in consdera-
tion Of the Importance OF applied science
IN the present war, students pursuing tech
nical courses such as medicine, chemistry,
agriculture and engineering are rendering
or are TO render through the continuance
OF their training a service equally valua-
BILE as those they might offer If they were
% enroll in military or naval service
Secretary Baker was present at the
WagbinRfOn
things he said:
Boys anxious TO serve but too young
or possessing disabilities can perhaps do
best staying on in the institutions in which
they are enrolled
United States Commissioner of Educa-
ton was a member Of the Washington meet
Ing and he expressed himself very strongly
that instead Of being fewer there should
bo more high school graduates this year
entering the colleges"