Evening star., 1941-05-03
Few Colleges Request
Draft Deferments
For Their Students
Education Conference
Hears Of British Plans
To RevitoIize Schools

Very few colleges have requested
occupational draft deferment for
their students even in the profess
sional fields essential to defense,
Francis j. Brown, executive secre-
tary of the Military Affairs Sub
committee of the National Commit
tee on Education and Defense, today
told delegates to the annual meet
ing of the American Council on
Education at the Mayf1ower Hotel.
This, together with the fact that
most local draft boards have de-
ferred students until the end of the
present academic year. has compli-
Gated national study of draft
board decisions on classification of
college students, he said.
Prof Brown said the study was
begun in December and is still in
progress, with reports received from
290 colleges and universities.
The two-day sessions of the coun-
Gil were to close this afternoon
with three speakers. Selective Serv-
ice Director Clarence Dykstra was
to have spoken. but was i'll and
unable to participate.
Prof. Brown recounted numerous
consultations of the subcommittee
with national selective service head
quarters and reported that many
orders governing classification of
students sent by headquarters to
local draft boards, Stemmed from
these conferences. The Subcom-
mittee is also working to develop
a program of education in the Army
and Navy, he added.
British Woman SNeaks.
Work of British women in de-
fense was recounted by Beulah M
Amidon, educational editor of Sur
vey Graphic. together with the less
spectacular work of women in this
country. But, she pointed out, Brit
ish women are working in a wal
effort while this country's is pro-
duction effort.
Up to this point, she said, rela-
lively few women are engaged in
essentially defense industries. Fol
the most part, she declared, women
are filling the places vacated by
men to enter defense industries.
Luther H. Gulick, director Of the
Institute of Public Administration
reported on efforts to increase hemi-
sphere good neighbor policy. A
problem on both sides. he said. i.
correcting distorted pictures each
has of the other through informa-
ton cleaned haphazardly. He citec
the change in the attitude of this
country in connection with the pur'
chase of Argentine beef as an ex.
ample of change of attitude which
would have been thought impossible
10 years ago.
Britain Replans Education.
In thesmidst of war, Great Britain
is laying plans for revitalizing he
educational system against the tim
when peace again comes to the isles
it was reported last night by Noe
F. Hall, British Minister.
He spoke on program with DI
Henry w. Holmes, chairman of tn
council and head of the Universit,
Committee on Educational Relation
of Harvard University, at the coun
ellis annual banquet at the May
flower Hotel.
Holding that much will depent
upon tn skill and wisdom will
which Bfitain's university teaching
staff can be reabsorbed after tn
war, Mr.. Hall pointed out that mel
who have been away from thei
books and their research for month
and maybe years will need equip
ment and leisure for ''re-education-
leisure for thought and for re
f1ection."
Sees Marked Changes.
The Minister said there was on
direction in particular in which tn
effects of war are going to have
marked influence upon the British
universities of the future. Mucl
thought he said, is being given to tn
pattern of what the British cal
post-primary education-that is, tn
education of those between the age
If IL and 18, which is the educationa
zone from which the universit
populations are recruited.
Such plans. he said, are based ol
the expectation that there will b
profound changes in Britain's eco
nomic and social structure. Bein
studied, he said, is system tha
will require higher degree of pre-
selection at an earlier stage anon
the school population of those VIII
intend 10 follow professional an
university careers.
Education is failure in the demo
cratic sense, DR.. Holmes told tn,
dinner meeting, unless schools
colleges and professional institu
fionr %arather rvift. fartnvinn x<rpAs