Evening star., 1933-03-26
$92O,OOO,OOO NOW SPENT
BY COLLEGE STUDENTS
How Tremendous Investment in Educa.
ton May Be Made More Valuable,
Is Discussed.

would increase substantially the amount
Of the family taxes-but that important
information Is left back at school,"
There Is, by the way. class dance to
be held within week and a new tux
edo for John would be appreciated.
Johns Conversation at Home.
John may have learned at the uni
versity the same day that new sup
plantive in-ustry would probably get
under way soon because of new discov-
cry in science. 1t is quite possible that
some day. the business in which his
father Is now engaged would therefore
be affected adversely. But the infor-
nation is left where it was discovered
at the university. And had you read
in the newspapers that the star half
back would be in shape for Saturdays
foot ball game?
John may have learned at the uni
versity the same day that conference
and committee meetings were con-
Quoted according to an accepted parlia-
mentary procedure and that matters of
policy were decided by a simple ma
jority vote, while matters dealing with
limiting the expression of opinion were
decided by two-thirds vote. He may
have learned that two motions may be
ION the floor" at the same time, pro-
vided that one Of them is on matter
OF business and the other is on a
matter of expediting the disposition of
the former. But that information is
not explained to father. who has just
been elected to the presidency of State
association land is, unfortunately, a
parliamentary ignoramus). The infor-
nation Is lost to the family. But, If
you want to read something a bit racy,
you might pick up copy of Bocaccio.
The records Of their postgraduate
achievements indicate that college and
university students actually do find
profit personally through attendance at
institutions of higher learning. Only
Jaundiced dyspeptics would deny that.
But the typical Illustrations above indi-
cate no direct benefit to the family.
This student, as the family represent
ative to the congress Of learning. draw
ing as his salary tuition and keep"
bears the same relationship to the
family that courtesy" vice president
would bear at meeting of the board
OF directors. What is poor business
economy in the latter case Is poor edu-
cational economy in the former.
Result of Closer Relationship.
Suppose, now, that with the univer-
sity, the student and the family ioin-
ing hands, the new philosophy regard
ing the family-university relationship
becomes practically applied. What
should be the result?
The student himself will derive a di-
rect and immediate gain over and above
that obtained under the present plan.
BY his reinterpretation. at home. of
the truths discovered during the day.
he will become a firmer believer in
those truths. His vocal Interpretation
of those truths to his family will serve
to attach such a dynamism to the
truths themselves that he will be more
forcibly impelled to action. Ethics will
mean more; politics and government
will mean more; religion will mean
more; his responsibility as citizen of
the community will mean more
In much the same way that a busi-
ness organization will appoint or hir,
an expert to investigate situation
and make recommendations, the fam
lily will encourage its representative"
to accumulate important information
on its pressing problems. The family
may be no more ;mpelled to accept the
recommendations of its representative
in college than the business organiza-
ton is impelled to accept the recon-
mendations of its expert. But a con-
clusion finally reached by the family, as
by the business organization. is likely
to be sounder one. because it will be
based on the most acceptable present.
day information.
Under the application of this new
| philosophy. with students better
equipped. with families better equipped,
society should be better equipped. The
evils inherent in a democracy should
lose much of their potency: the virtues
should be enhanced because truth will
have greater sway. Decisions should be
sounder radical reorganizations less
necessary, because the evolution of q
better society will be easier.