The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-02-02
WOULD RECOMMEND
HIGHER ENTRANCE
STANDARDS FOR COLLEGES

Columbia, Jan. 31.-The first effort
toward raising the entrance standards
of the South Carolina colleges to a
1918 aaH basis was taken last night
when the Joint convention of the
high sches, superintendents and COL
lege presidents of the state adopted
reselutis. recommending the adop-
ton Of bhis standard in all colleges
represented in the state association
of college presidents. This recon-
ms.adatiea will transmitted to the
several colleges for adoption.
The adoption of this recommends
ton which would require all students
asking unconditional entrance to
show \ record of Is high school units
and Of Is units for conditional en-
trance is expected to stimulate. the
efforts toward the establishment of
four year high schools, since a di-
ploma from such an institution would
be almost imperative to the student
asking entrance without examination.
Such an entrance standard would also
result in the re-rating of the colleges
of the state, placing them on the par
with the other educational institu-
tions of the country. The recommen-
cation also carries clause suggest
ing the establishment of the higher
entrance requirements by September,
1921. Some objection to thus rails
ing the standard was voiced by college
presidents and high school men on
the ground that it would also tend to
widen the breach now existing be-
tween the small rural school and the
colleges to such an extent that gradu-
ates of the schools could not enter
the colleges under any circumstances
being unable to meet the minimum
entrance requirements of 13 high
school units. This, however, it was
pointed out might easily be settled
ty the establishment of consolidated
high schools supplementing the work
of the usual rural schools which
would then confne themselves solely
to the grammar school studies. A
movement toward this end is now be-
ing pushed by the state board Of edu-
cation and the action of the colleges
in raising their entrance require
ments is expected to give added impe-
tus to the movement with the result
that the high schools by September.
1921, the date set for the change,
nay be prepared to meet the new
conditions
Cosamit.ee Makes Report.
This Recommendation was adopted
as an amendment to the report of a
joint committee appointed at the
Thanksgiving meeting of the State
Teachers association to make study
Of joint problems confronting the
colleges and secondary schools of the
state. This committee is composed
of: DR.. D. N. Douglass, of the Pres,
byterian college, DR.. w. S. Currell of
the university; W. H. Hand of the
Columbia city schools, S. H. Edmunds
Of Sumter city schools, ]. A. Stod-
dard, state high school inspector and
J. E. Swearingen, state superintend-
ent of education. The remainder of
the committees recommendations
were adopted in toto, including the
plan for the organization of new
association of colleges and secondary
schools, for the state to perpetuate
the cooperative efforts initiated in ,
this joint meeting. A uniform grad
ing system was also included in the
recommendations as was a plan for
the publication of more complete
records Of students entering college.
The joint association is to be known
as the Association of Colleges and
Secondary Schools of South Carolina
and will have at least one regular
meeting each year. The two >organi-
cations, the Association of College
Presidents and the department of su-
perintendence of the State Teachers
association will continue their exist