Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-05
COLLEGE TEACHERS
HEADQUARTERS IN
CAPITAL STARTED
Organization to Protect
Rights and Freedom of Pro-
fessors Comes Here.
EXTENSIVE RESEARCH
PROJECTS UNDER WAY
Recent Reports Deal With Medical
Education and Abuse of Foot
Ball in Some Institutions.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

The American Association of Univer-
sity Professors, national organization,
with approximately 1000 members, has
just moved its headquarters to Wash
ington, and henceforth its activities and
Investigations, including ID major re-
search problems, will be conducted from
this city.
The association has local chapters in
nearly every college In the country and
is particularly concerned with protect
ing the academic freedom of professors
in conflicts with trustees and presi-
dents. Investigations are conducted on
the application of individuals or groups
of professors with the avowed object of
preventing or exposing dogmatic inter-
ference with teachers conduct of his
classes
In addition, special studies now are in
progress along the following lines:
Methods Of appointment and promotion,
relations between general and vocational
education, organization and conduct of
local chapters, desirability of increased
migration and interchange of graduate
students, university ethics, systems for
sabbatical years. cooperation with
Latin American universities to promote
exchange professorships and fellow
ships, freedom of teaching in science,
student health, systems of pensions and
insurance for university teachers. pro-
motion of research in colleges and uni
verSities, the normal amount of teach
ing and research for professors and the
economic condition of the profession.
Strictly Professional Association.
The organization sometimes is refer
red to as ''the college professors union"
but disclaims the title on the ground
that it is purely professional associ-
tion The headquarters Office will be in
charge of Prof. H. w. Tyler of Massa
chusetts Institute of Technology. The
president is Prof. Henry Crew of North
western University.
Among the recent completed studies
of the association was a survey of the
United States, which showed 81 schools
graduating 1000 physicians year, and
with about 10000 students, compared
with $4,000 20 years ago.
There is little doubt, according to this
report, that there has been an over
supply of physicians in this country in
the recent past, but this is likely to re-
verse itself in few years.
THE proportion of physicians to
population is much more significant
than actual numbers" the committee
reported. AT present there is one
practicing physician to about 900 indi-
viduals. The great majority of recent
graduates are locating in communities
have 40 per cent more population per
doctor than we have today, or one ply
sician for approximately 1880 persons.
From that point on to 1865 the situation
will be stabilized.
Last year there were over 10000 ap-
plications for admission to medical
schools and about 5000 vacancies. The
10000 applications were made by only
$500 individuals.
''The day of proprietary medical
schools is over and the present trend
is toward the establishment of medical
schools on a university basis ana
toward an emphasis on the training of
the individual student. The treatment
of many of the specialties is being
transferred to graduate training"
Committee Split Into Three Groups.
This committee now has been split
into three groups to study medical
education. The first will consider pre-
medical school training and the second
the actual instruction given in the
medical colleges themselves. The third
is dealing with the problem OF clinical
medicine and hospital training.
Another study recently completed by
the association deals with the effect or
foot ball on college students. Under
proper control, the report states, col
lege foot ball would be an excellent
thing, but in its present excess it often
injured the work of the colleges.
"rTha ACKNOWLEDGMENT ahOut foot hall
the report says, develops gradually
through the Autumn. AT the start it
is largely confined to Saturdays, but
as the season goes on it affects more
and more of the students time. In
the days preceding the final games 1t
is hysteria.
1T attains its greatest absurdity in
the pep sessions. 1t eliminates In the
madness OF the yelling mob at the game.
Such overexcitement is a bad thing Tor
intellectual balance and morale. the
student standard Of value loses touch
with the fundamental purposes OF col
lege education. The incentive 10 WIN
intellectual distinction is diminished.
Drinking Is Cited.
"Other disadvantages of foot ball are
it's tendency to give occasion for drink
ING. its encouragement of betting and
its ,,rovocation of dishonesty In various
respects. Foot ball too often brings to
the fraternity houses alumni out for
hilarious rejuvenation.
The morale of faculties is seriously
impaired by the present foot ball stu
alton, the report points out, since the
overemphasis on sport, gives the pro-
fessors the idea that their services are
not appreciated.
The association now is engaged in
study of the relations between certain
professors and public utility organiza-
tions, but is waiting for the report of
special investigation being conducted by
the Federal Trade Commission.
With the establishment OF tne
nermanent Office in Washington,
placement service for college teachers
is being inaugurated.
aAN lINTIRn nfEC