Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-11-16
COLLEGE COURSE
FOR THE SOLDIER
PLAN BEING DEVELOPED THAT
WILL GIVE ENLISTED MAN
HIGHER EDUCATION.
EFFECTIVE IN FALL OF 1921
Many Institutions Already Have Of
fered Scholarships or Promised Re-
duction of Tuition Fees-EnroIIment
Only After Discharge From Service.
BY JAMES P. HORNADAY.

thorough college education will soon
be open 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
| ment, with the cooperation of numer-
| Gus educational institutions, for il com
| plete training in all academic and In
many technical courses.
! BY the autumn of 1921 it will be
| possible for more than 100 qualified
soldiers TO lay aside their uniforms
and enroll as students in as many col
leges throughout the country While
| thiS project is an entirely new de-
! parture for the military establish
/ ment, it is the result of 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 civil life.
The present educational and v0ca-
| tfOnal program of the army, which has
been in operation for more than a
year, includes elementary and second
airy subjects, and it is now possible
for the soldier to obtain the equiva-
lent of a high school education The
arrangement which has been made by
the War department and various edu-
cational Institutions throughout the
country will enable soldiers to con-
tinue their education with minimum
of expense to themselves.
Many Colleges Offer Help.
While the project is still in a formu-
lative stage, a sufficient number of
colleges have offered scholarships TO
insure full opportunity for every sol
dier who desires these educational ad-
yantages. From thirty-eight institu-
tiOns have come assurances that tut
tiOn and other assistance will be given
students; fifty-twO colleges have sig
nitied their ability to grant tuition or
q reduction in fees, while seventy
four institutions still have the matter
under advisement and several others
declare that they will make every eff
fort to further the war departments
plan.
The scholarship question was first
brought to the attention of the coun-
try's educators through a letter adj
dressed to the presidents of the lead
ing Institutions by the secretary of
war. who said in part:
"The War department is at present
engaged in putting into effect care
fully f.pnci1nra1 ,N1o intnnHnH RI inn
prove the army, make it more attrac-
tive to young men and demonstrate
that it is q vital and natural part of
the social organism of the nation. We
are endeavOring to convince these
young men that in serving in the army
they are not only performing a pa
triotic duty, but are acquiring a train
ing in n useful trade. receiving the
elements of an education, and are hay
ing their characters developed.
Il wish to make it clear that the
heneficiaries of such scholarships
shall be at liberty to take any course
available at the institution. that they
are TO be entirely free from any
further military control or discipline
in this choice, or in their lives at the
institution"
Outline of Proposed Policy.
The following is the tentative out
line Of the policy to be followed in
connection with the proposed scholar
ships:
I. That elicibleS for scholarships he
confined To men who are nov in the
service or who will he enlisted at fu-
ture date
. That they Will not he enrolled as
students in any institutions until after
their discharge from the service.
3. That all applicants for scholar
ships shall be recommended before dis
charge and that the length Of enlist
ment shall have no effect upon a mans
eligibility
t. That a standard system of testing
he formulated. which will he general
throughout the service and acceptable
To all institutions offering scholar
| ships. This system TO be developed
| after consideration of the various
| standards required for institutions
/ Offering the scholarships.
Reducing the Public Debt
Recently there has been marked
Improvement in the public debt sit
uation. On the basis of the daily
| treasury statements, the gross debt
of the United States on August
81. 1919. was slightly over $26500. OOO.-
600. of which nearly $4,000, 100000 rep
resented loan and tax certificates ma
turing within the year. On Septem-
Der so, 1920. the gross debt was S24
OS7 100000. a reduction of over 81
5OO.OO0U00. while the floating debt was
S2.347, 100000 or approximately ST..
| 600 100000 less than on August 81,
1919.
| These reductions were effected chief
" by the application Of the proceeds
of taxation and salvage and We're made
possible 10 some extent by the reduc
tionS OF treasury balances effected as
result of reduced expenditures and
the retirement Of large amounts q!