The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-07-15
Foreign Students Welcome to America


ization of the future by opening wide the doors
of her colleges and universities to students from
all over the world? Can Germany reestablish
her educational prestige and draw students to
her, first from the Near East, and later from
other countries against whom she fought in the
war? Is America to assume the educational
leadership to which her new responsibilities call
her?
These are questions asked by the bureau of
education, department of the interior, in a special
article in School Life, an official publication of
the bureau.
In letter to college and university officers
in this country the commissioner of education
writes:
1.-The higher educational institutions of west
ern Europe have been Frustrated by the war.
Large numbers of the leading scientists and of
the younger men whose scientific careers were
just beginning have been killed. Because the in
tellectua resources of the United States have not
been similarly draned-the western nations
looking to the United States to assume the res
possibilities of leadership in education and in
science. That the colleges and universities Of
the United States appreciate these responsible
ties and are endeavorng to meet them is evil
denced by the various movements that have been
undertaken to promote closer educational rela-
lions between this country and the western allies.
Apparently Germany expects to regain the
influence which she formerly exerted over for
eign nations by means of her universities, tech
nical schools and scientific Institutes. This Of
flee is informed that efforts have already been
made by German educational institutions to re-
cover their clientele Of foreign Students especial
y from the countries in the near East adjacent
to or contiguous to Germany. There u.s. of course,
no immediate prospect that she could make sue
cessful appeal to the students of Great Britain,
France, or Italy. Students and young scientists
in Czecho-Slovaka, Jugo-Slavia, Russia, Rou-
mania, and western Asia are much more likely to
be drawn to German universities and to tech
meal schools. Germany is near and they know it.
The cost of living is lower than in Of the re-
moter countries, especially the United States.
Nevertheless, it is believed that students from
these countries would gladly come to the United
States if they were familiar with it's educational
opportunities, and particularly if they could be
assured of sufficient means to complete their
education. Evidently, it is desirable that the
tide of students from these countries should be
turned this way rather than to Germany. More
over the countries themselves need assistance
To render this is part of the responsibility invov
ed in our new position of leadership.
"The state department suggests and this Of
flee cordially ndorses it's suggestion, that the col
lege officers of the country give this problem
their attention. If they generally disposed tc
encourage the coming Of students from these
countries by means of scholarships or specia
provisions for self help, their offerings can be
reported to the bureau of education transmitted
to the state department, and through the agents
OF that department brought to the attention Of
educational authorities in the lands mentioned
In this connection the bureau of education is
!, revising the bulletin on Opportunities for For
eign Students at Colleges and Universities in the
United States and is planning the preparation Of
a very much briefer statement that can be trans
lated into the languages of certain of these coun
tries and distributed through the agents of tn,
state department.