Evening star., 1935-11-10
BY CARL w. ZIEGLER,

1NHE American small college Is
face to face with very per-
picking questions today. Fore
\ sighted administrators. faculty
members, alumni and trustees are
carefully pondering the future evo-
luton of their institutions in view
Of the problems which at present are
facing them.
On the one hand the Junior college
idea Is gaining in prominence from
one end of the country to the other.
From a score or more of institutions
of this type. mostly in California, Is
wears ago, the number has increased
to almost 600 in 1885. with very few
States unrepresented by at least one
organization of this nature. On the
other hand, the university is gradually
extending it's methods of instruction.
its ideas of specialization, its emphasis
on research and scholarship into the
upper divisions of the present four
wear college. Naturally the question
arises as to what it to be the next
development of our evolving educa-
tional system in the United States to
meet tnlS SlludIlOH.
Probably with our national prefer
ence for individual freedom and ini-
tiative in the realm of formal educa-
ton as in other endeavors in our ma
tional life, no uniform notifications
will take place. Predictions in this
field are just as dangerous and may
prove Just as false as prophecies in
the economic realm. Nevertheless,
certain tendencies are noticeable in
the college world which seem likely
to bring about certain results.
Some Traditional Schools Unchanged.
Probably a minority of our institu-
tions such as exist in few localities
in New England and elsewhere will
retain the traditional four years OF
general cultural training, registering
their unchanged belief against any
great specialization or vocational
preparation during this period. Into
their halls will enter the sons and
daughters of well-to-do parents, finan-
cially so situated as to be able to bear
the expense of providing one to three
thousand dollars a year for main
tanning their children away from
home for four years After their grad
uation these students will either find
an opportunity to enter into some
business situation or will continue
their further education in profess
sional graduate institution. In such
colleges will probably be enrolled also
a small group of exceptionally en-
RI ind int
VIII IN liberal scholarships will be pro-
vided covering not only tuition, but
room and board SO that the recipients
WI be able to enter into not only
scholastic, but also social and athletic
activities without the necessity of
riSking health and a broad develop
ment of personality through the ne
cessity of spending a great amount of
time in earning their expenses.
1t seems quite likely that such in
stitutions will become highly selec-
tive, composed largely of young men
and women of genuine ability from
wealthy homes, as well as an un-
usually brilliant group whose expenses
will be financed largely by wisely
administered endowments provided for
that porpose
The atmosphere, the traditions of
these colleges will be apt to approach
more and more those of the famous
public schools of England or oxford
University. To possess a degree from
such institutions will place dis
tlnctive stamp upon the graduates
which will generally be merited.
Small Colleges Will Not Follow.
But most small colleges will not
follow the example of those institu-
tions. Their traditions, the sources
of thei, student enrolment, their
State and community affiliations and
obligations, their financial conditions
will not permit a similar develop
ment.
A few of these will undoubtedly
drop out of the picture entirely as the
inadequacy of their equipment and
finances force their disappearance.
Others will wisely become voluntarily
two-year Junior colleges, adapting
themselves to their resources and
meeting the needs of their communi-
ties in far more satisfactory manner
than if they attempted to carry on
more elaborate offerings in education.
State universities will necessarily
continue to function in providing the
next step in public system of edu-
cation beyond what local communities
are able to offer. AS the Junior college
becomes an integrated portion of all
city and county units of administra-
ton. these State institutions will be
likely, however, to minimize and fin
ally to eliminate from their own Or
ganization what are now known as
freshman and sophomore classes.
But the average small private COL
leges, hundreds in number, face the
necessity of formulating their policies
very definitely. They must study care
fully their programs of activities for
the future if they are to survive and
still retain distinct identities as well
1ntegrated institutions. The very
gradual decrease of enrollments in
their first two years in most of them
seems inevitable as junior colleges be-
come increasingly numerous.
Parents and young persons from the
homes of the moderately well-to-do or
from homes where there is little sur