Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-31
URGES BOYS TO REMAIN
At SCHOOL AND COLLEGE
Virginia Council of Defense Rccom-
mends Wise Educational Policy
in Time of War.
ADVISED AS PATRIOTIC ACT
Or. r. r. CIaNton, Federal Commits
sion. Issues Appeal TO Induce Pu-
pills TO Continue Glasses at Next
Session.

In the tace of multitudinous demands
Tor attention to food production. in
dustriai efficiency and other matcria!
problems tho Virginia Council of De-
fcnsc is cndeavoring 20 insure the
carrying ont by the people OF tho state
Of a wise educational policy. There
IS = serious danger. according 10 Col
"nci w. II. Hunlcy, executive secretary
OF the council that mistaken patriot
ism viii lead Young men between
eighteen and twcr;y one years old 20
enter military service at once, instead
Of continuing in school, fitting them
selves for the maNimunl use to the ma
ton when they are needed. Parents.
as we'll As sons. are liable to make
the mistake.
The Council Of Defense has received
from pr =. Z. CLAYTON. United states
Commissioner OF Education. an appeal
to try to induce pupils TO continue
school next session as a patriotic duty.
DR.. ClaNton points out that there are
IN the high schools OF tho United states
this year more than 100000 boys and
girls. and somewhat more than 2oo,o00
OF them will graduate this month and
next In an ordinary year 10000 or
more of these would. next fan. enter
college normal school or technical
school TO be prepared for such service
to society state and Nation as can
be rendered only by those who have
received education beyond that which
the high schools can give. lie says:
Many college presidents and others
fear that on account of our entrance
into tho war few boys and girls viii
enter college next fall and that tho
total college attendance Will be very
small. The number ought. however,
to be much larger than usual.
ATTENDANCE Al COLLEGE
WON'T LOWER PItODTCTION.
The more mature young men are.
the moro serViccablc they are in tho
army. The selcctivc draft will take
only those between twenty-one and
thirty IN the total OF 60. 900. 600 people
OF productive age in the United States
The 35o.noO students IN colleges and
normal schools and technical and voca
tional schools Of high grade constitute
only about onc-half OF Per cent. More
than half of these live ir cities and
cannot he employed IN agricultural
production except as lew OF them
find work on the farms during tn"
summer. Their going to college will
not lower the productive capacity or
thc country as a whole in any appre-
ciahie degree
THE college, normal school and tech
meal schools Will AL he open with
uudiminishcd income from public funds
and cndowmcnts. and the expense of
ilCir maintenance VIII continue. II IL
cutie probable that many of the older
students Will not return next fall. and
the higher classes viii he smaller than
usual The graduates from the high
schools should see 10 il that the lower
Glasses make up for this deficiency
This appeal is made on the basis
~ patriotic duty If the war should
hc long, the country will need all. the
trained men and women il can get
more than il has now. There will be
men ia abundance TO fight in the
trenches, but there will I've a dcarth OF
officers. engineers and men OF scicn-
tinc knowledge and skill in all the
industries, in transportation and in
many other places where skill and
daring arc just as necessary for sue
cess as in the trenches. The first call
OF the allies is for 1000 engineers and
skilled men 10 repair the railroads OF
France and England: and other Lhou-
sands will he needed. Russia Will prob
= bly, want thousands OF men TO repair
and build her railroads. The increase
in transportation and the tax on our
own roads will call for large numbers
of mon OF the same kind New indus
trial plants, shipyards and our armies
abroad Will call for highly trained men
beyond all possible supply unless our
colleges and tcGlCical schools remain
OMEN and incrca Sc. helr' attendance and
output.