Evening star., 1943-04-09
Supply Of Scientific
Workers Exhausted,
Conference Told
George W. Bailey Warns
Postwar Personnel
Meeting Of Problem

The supply of scientifically
trained men in this country virtu-
ally is exhausted and there is
critical shortage of women trained
in physics, chemistry, mathematics
and engineering to replace them.
George w. Bailey of the Office of
Scientific Research and Develop
ment said today.
Addressing the morning session
of the Conference on War and
Postwar Demands for Trained Per-
sonnel at the Mayflower Hotel. Mr.
Bailey said the low enrolment of
women for professional and sub
training could be ascribed in part
to their reluctance to tackle tech
nical subjects, such as mathe-
MATES.
Among the 100000 persons in war
training courses offered by 200 COL
leges throughout the country, he
said, 10000 are women.
Another factor initiating against
increased enrolment is the compe-
tition of unskilled or low skilled Jobs
in defense industries, he pointed out
which pay high wages Immediately
upon employment. To overcome
this he suggested that employers
provide training allowances to tide
women over the period while they
are in training and sacrificing op-
portunities for earning.
Fear Technical Subjects.
Women's lnferiority complex
about their ability to master mathe-
matics and the competition of highly
paid job opportunities in war indus
tries both deter the sex from enter
Ing science training courses now be-
ing given in schools and colleges, he
said.
Mr., Bailey addressed the morning
session of the conference, which is
under auspices of the Institute of
Women's Professional Relations.
Mrs. Jouett Shouse presided.
The greatest obstacle to a more
rapid enrolment of women" Mr..
Bailey said, 'is not so much the lack
of training facilities as the failure of
qualified women to apply. No doubt
one reason is the reluctance of wom-
en- to tackle technical subjects, such
as mathematics.
Deplores Low Teacher Pay.
Miss Charl o. Williams of the Ma
tional Educational Association, en-
phasized the great national need for
teachers, Discussing alleged under
payment of the Nations teachers,
she said
The city of Washington is filled
with hordes of young people just
out Of high school employed in
Government work at sl,44O a year
They do simple clerical or manual
work, The wages of labor have
mounted steadily, yet this year 40
teachers out of every 100 teachers,
or approximately 100000 teachers,
are paid less than $1,000 for the
school year. Nearly eight teachers
out of 100. or $4,000 in all. are paid
less than 5000 year.
1T is interesting to note that
in the District of Columbia a char
woman receives ST 200 a year. They
must indeed look down their noses
at the financial award that, for
100000 teachers, amounts to less
than 1900 year, to say nothing of
the 10000 who receive less than
$500 a year. Is it any wonder that
100 teachers have left the schools
during the 16 months of war"
Upholds School System.
The speaker regarded the school
system as the most important in
stitution which democracy has set
up to build its national character.
She pointed out that during the
present war already the manpower
equivalent of Is divisions has been
lost because these men, although
physically fit, did not have
fourth-grade education. BY the end
of 1913, she continued, approxi-
mately so more divisions will be lost
for the same reason.
That is nearly 100000 who
would be enough to open that Sec
ond front in Europe" she observed.
To prevent the oncoming litter
acy and to build up the health of
American citizenry is a task beyond