New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-11-12
COLLEGE COURSE
FOR THE SOLDIER
Pt AN BEING DEVELOPED THAT
WILL GIVE ENLISTED MAN
HIGHER EDUCATION.
effective IN FALL OF 1921
Many Institutions Already Have o.
fered Scholarships or Promised Re-
duction Of Tuition Fees-Enroliment
Only After Discharge From Service.
BY JAMES p.

be 0pen To qualified soldiers of the
United States army. From The first
grade To the final collegiate degree, the
way is being paved by the War depart
1neht. with the cooperation of numer-
Gus educational institutions. for Il com
plete trimming in all academic and in
many technical courses.
by the autumn of 1921 it will he
possible for more than 100 qualified
soldiers 10 lay aside their uniforms
ana enroll as students in as many col
iegcs throughout the country. While
TINS project is an entirely new de-
rarture for the military establish
ment, it is the result OF a definitely
conceived plan to make the army an
organization Of the fullest educational
opportunity and to offer soldiers the
same chance for mental Improvement
which they might have in ciyil life.
The present educational and vOca-
tloHal program of the army, which has
been In operation for more than n
year, includes elementary and second
airy subjects, and II is now possible
for the soldier TO obtain the equiva-
lent Of Il high school education. The
arrangement which has been made by
the Wal department and various edu-
c%aiional institutions throughout the
country will enable soldiers TO CON
finue their education with a minimum
of expense to themselves.
Many Colleges Offer Help.
While the project is still In II formu-
latlve stage, n sufficient number OF
colleges have offered scholarships To
insure full opportunity for every sol
dicr who desires these educational ad-
Nantages. From t~hirty-eight institu-
tioils have come ASSURANCES that tut
ton and other assistance will be given
students; fifty-two colleges have sig
niiicd their ability to grant tuition or
n reduction in fees, while seventy
four institutions still have the matter
under adviscment and several others
declare that they will make every Of
fort Ia further the war departments
plan.
The scholarship question was first
brought TO the attention of the coun-
try'S educators through n letter adj
dressed TO the presidents of the lead
ing institutions by the secretary of
war. who said in part:
"fhe War department is Mt present
engaged In putting into effect a care
fully considered plan intended 10 i'm
prove the army, make 1t more attrac-
tive to young men and demonstrate
that 1t is n vital and natural part Of
the social organism OF the nation. We
young men that In serving in the army
they are not only performing n pa
duty, but are acquiring n train
ing In a useful trade, receiving the
elements of an education, and are nav
ing their characters developed.
Il wish 10 make il clear that the
bcneficiaries of such scholarships
be at liberty 10 take any course !
available at the institution. that they
are to be entirely free from any
military control or discipline
this choice. or In their lives at the
institution"
outline Of Proposed Policy.
The following is the tentative out.
Inc of the policy To be followed in {
connection with the proposed scholar
5
|. That eligiblcs for scholarships he /
to men who ARE now in the I
or who will be enlisted az fu- {
ure date. /
.. That they will not be enrolled as {
tudents in any institutions until after
heir discharge from the service. !
3. That all applicants for scholar {
hips shall be recommended before dis c
barge aud that the length Of enlist
shall have no effect upon a mans i
Eligibility. g
4. That n standard system of testing Il
e. formulated. which will he general q
throughout the service and acceptable {,
D all institutions offering scholar h
hips. This system TO he developed o
ftcr consideration Of the various #
iandards required for institutions r.
ffering the scholarships. 4
Reducing the Public Debt. I,
Recently there has been marked u
Improvement in the public debt sit b
alton. on the basis of the daily e
statements. the gross debt n
+ the United States on August OF
/. 1919. was slightly over S26.5O0,OOO,-
NJ. Of which nearly Si.000,OO0.OO0 rep r,
loan and tax certificates ma @,
Iring within the year. On Septem- nj
,r 20, 1920, the gross debt was SPA IL
L. 100000, a reduction of over ST. u;
,0,O00! 600. while the floating debt was "a
,,:3i7 .OOO,OO0, or approximately ST. ~
5000, 900 less than on August 81, "a
~. 81
These reductions were effected chief OF
by the application of the proceeds 81
taxation and salvage and were made III
,ssible 20 some extent by the reduc- or
ms Of treasury balances effected as
result of reduced expenditures and
g retirement of large amounts of IN
an certificates. The treasury expects III