Evening star., 1943-04-16
Dr.. Byrd Hits Back at Critics
Of Maryland u. War Training
Declares Machine Shop Installed by NYA
Is Used to Train Teachers, Workers

DR.. H. c. Byrd. president of the
struck back at critics on the use of
vital machinery in a National Youth
Administration machine shop on
the College Park campus.
Calling the attack unfair, mas
much as critics had singled out
Maryland University for their target
although there are several other
shops in Baltimore and other places
in the State, DR.. Byrd said the shop,
properly equipped. filled two great
needs.
These, he said, we're: % Neces-
sity for carrying on broad shop
training in various departments of
engineering, in which the enrolment
of students has grown from about
100 to TAO. with practically no in
crease in shop space and equipment.
20 Demand made on the university
to train teachers of industrial arts
for the high schools.
War Industry Training.
Other lines in which the university
was asked to serve the Federal Gov
ernment, he continued, we're:
Training of foremen. supervisors
and inspectors in rapidly expanding
war industries.
Training men and women in the
engineering science and manage
ment courses sponsored by the Fed
eral Government.
Training in mechanical skills as
part of general training pro-
gram for all university students.
Training of subcollege students in
mechanical skills for work in war
industry.
DR.. Byrd said he did not feel that
he should be accused of wanting
to keep teaching equipment worth
approximately $4,000, which he had
tried so hard to get to fill serious
university needs. He traced the
university's steps in acquiring the
machinery. relating how the NYA
allocated it to Maryland after first
considering the establishment of a
shop at Salisbury, Md. Farmers in
the vicinity of this town. the state
ment continued, did not want the
shop, contending it would attract
more labor from the farms. Dr. Byrd
said he considered the machinerys
transfer to College Park an ideal
solution to the problem.
Survey Made Before.
Taking up statement that WPB
would make an investigation and
list materials in the Maryland shop
that might serve a more useful pur-
pose elsewhere, DR.. Byrd said he
understood such a survey had been
made once before, but that he would
welcome another and that any piece
OF machinery that could better serve
Government interests elsewhere
would be turned over gladly.
We have given to the Govern
ment, for the duration of the war.
some of our best teachers and re-
search men, he said. And if we
are willing to give the Government
the services of our best men, we
certainly would not hesitate to give
the Government the use of a piece
of machinery
DR.. Byrd admitted some mistakes
probably had been made and that
the university had encountered
some difficulties in getting its entire
program into full operation. One
mistake, charged to NYA, was that
of paying So per month to all STU
dents taking the course instead of
paying only those who could estab-
lish need.
He denied the course is entirely
compulsory or that it was being
given to deter NYA from removing
the equipment from the campus.
Students who could show good cause
for not taking the course were ex-
cused, he said, and that the course
had been planned in such a way as
not to supplant any required course
In any students curriculum.
Girls were taking the course, DR..
Byrd said, at the request of the
War ManpoWer Commission, which
wanted trained women to take the
place of men in positions as in
Spectors and supervisors and in gen.
eral work in industry.
Charges that some students were
making simple" things such as beer
mugs, ash trays, etc, were not
denied, nor did the university head
claim all students are working on
production orders, although it
has filled one and is currently en-
gagged in filling a second. Dr.. BYRD
pointed out that only reasonably
proficient students can be en-
trusted on production orders
and those working on simple things
were adhering to the first element
In successful teaching-to begin with
what the student knows and can do
and then progress gradually to more
difficult tasks.
Admits Sheet Metal Use.
Sheet metal. vital war material,
Is being used in the shop, he ad-
mitted, for how could the students
be taught without some of this
metal?"