Evening star., 1939-08-12
Letters to the Editor
Urges Free" College
For the District.


For the District.
To the Editor Of The Star:
AS stated in the report Of the Presi-
dents Advisory Committee on Educa-
ton:
The inequalities of educational oppor-
tunities that characterize the educat tional
system today constitutes a challenge to
American craftsmanship Yet, in their
haste for adjournment, Congress has in
cluded among the many neglected ma
tlonal and local problems the Thomas
Federal aid to education BILL" and the
local higher education problem.
Public responsibility for higher educa-
ton has long been accepted throughout
the country. There are public colleges
IN every State in the Union. The 10
States with population less than the Dis
trlcts have unsupported universities
Although most of these States are poorer
than the District, they manage to main
tain student aid programs and various
forms OF higher education normal
schools, Junior colleges, technical schools,
etc. in addition to their universities.
Many cities have free colleges, although
the population of most of these is below
the Districts. Even the United States
Territories are supplied with Govern
ment-supported universities. In most of
these localities public and private schools
exist side by side. But in the District all
we have are dual teachers colleges, one
OF which is housed in condemned build
ing, and 20 private institutions whose
fees are too high to allow all who want
more education to get it.
This deficiency in the local school sys-
tenn Is not due to lack of need for free
higher education, for well over so per cent
OF the local high school graduates do not
continue their formal education. Since
the local school system gives specific
training for relatively few occupations.
the need for something more Is all too
apparent
Supporting the American Student
Unlon-Washington Youth Council drive
for more adequate free local higher edu-
cation are many of the Nations outstand-
ing leaders in education, including DR..
j. w. Studebaker, United States commits
sioner OF education; DR.. F.. w. Reeves,
chairman Presidents Advisory Commit
tee on Education and director of the
American Youth Commission, and DR..
H. P. Rainey, recently resigned director
OF the American Youth Commission, and
others. All have said that steps should
be taken to meet this problem. Although
they vary in their suggestions as to how
the local school system should be ex-
tended, they all agree that the first step
is competent survey of the local edu-
cational setup so that recommendations
can be made to meet local higher edu-
cation needs.
Many educational surveys have been
made in the past by various agencies The
Government agency making such sur
veys is the United States Ofice of Educa-
ton. This agency, headed by DR.. Stude-
baker, can make the survey only upon
request from the proper officials In
this case it means one or three possibili-
ties: A congressional resolution, the
District OF Columbia Commissioners, and
the Board Of Education, which, although
already urged to make the necessary re-
quest. has failed to act. It will neces-
state the great force of mass public
opinion to get both the survey and the
college, If such is recommended by the
survey, since we cannot vote on 1t
ourselves.
We of Washington, the Capital City
Of the worlds foremost democracy, must
see that the next step Is taken toward
adequate educational facilities in the
District of Columbia.
August 8. DOROTHY BICK.
Strict Enforcement of All
Safety Rules Approved.
10 the Editor Of The Star:
Apropos Of letters recently appearing