The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-28

ana WAACS Will use the 1aclllIleS,
dormitories, laboratories, classrooms
and faculties of 400 or 500 of the
colleges and universities.
But on top of this educational
requirement for uniformed members
OF the armed services, there is a
tremendous demand for specially
trained civilians for the war indus
tries, and ultimately 1t is possible
that more than half of the 1700
U. s. colleges and universities will
have some part Of their faculty
and plant devoted to this work, the
federal government paying the bill.
The demand is for engineers,
teachers, doctors, meteorologists,
accountants, government adminis-
traitors, chemists, electricians and
specialists OF all sorts to take top
jobs, above the level of foremen.
The foremen, the skilled machine
operators and the craftsmen can
be given the necessary training in
trade schools and thousands Of
workmen are being up-graded for
these jobs through the training
within industry short courses Of the
War Manpower Commission and
regular state vocational aid from
the U. s. ONCE of Education.
CAN'T FIND TECHNICIANS
For jobs above the trade and fac
tory level, however, industries are
now beginning to report they can't
find qualified technicians, machine
designers, men for chemical re-
search, electrical engineers with
specialized knowledge of some Of
the new radio equipment, engineers
of all kinds, teachers competent to
give instruction In mathematics and
the sciences. How many Of each
Of these specialized technicians will
be needed by the war industries,
management itself does not know.
But the problem is now being stud
led by a special committee Of edit
Gators, industrialiSts and Army and
Navy officers. DR.. Edward O. Elliott,
president Of Purdue, is chairman.
Two main problems confront this
committee. The first Is to induce
qualified young men and women to
take this training. The ternpta-
ton of all youngsters now in high
school is to quit school and get one
Of these high-pay war jobs i'm
mediately, instead Of completing
high school and going on for an
other year or so Of higher educa-
ton. Also, the youngsters taking
this civilian training will in all
probability have to be mixed In
with the uniformed students Of the
services. Will the students in
civilian clothes feel they are at a
disadvantage?
FINANCIAL AID NECESSARY
The second major problem Is to
provide the civilian students with
adequate financial aid for con-
centrated, year-round courses. With
no spare time In which to work
many students would be financially
unable to take this training. Stu
dent loans would have to be pro-
vided. t5
All such proposals are still ir
the think stage In Washington, and
they have yet to be shaped into
definite plans and submitted to the
Bureau Of the Budget and Congress
for approval. Two government
projects already in force, however
make a start in the direction out
lined. once of Education Is now
spending $50 million a year 1lnanc-
ing technical training Of some 140,-
900 students at time In 200 COL
ieges ard universities. This was
begun in October, 1910, and has
been responsible for placing many
young technicians in war industry
management and scientific jobs.
Also, the War Manpower Com
mission now administers S. mil
lion fund through which loans Of
not more than $500 year or $25
month plus tuition are made tc
needy students.