The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-07-21

MT. Fitzgerald said that many veterans have already returned from the various battle-fronts of the world. but that few Of them have taken advantage of the higher education program. One factor which deters the veterans from take ing advantage of the higher educa. tion programs offered at different colleges and institutions he said. Is their desire to take the opportunity of the present period of high wages in areas of ready employment.
 More than a million individuals have been discharged from the armed forces and Q small percentage of them at least are now in colleges and universities. Some employed in war industries are in need of re. training and education. since war employment has shifted to the exc tent of leaving low employment in a number Of areas. especially sev. eral of the larger urban commullt. ties.
 The many uncertainties that wlll affect the individuals choice in his immediate p0st-war years. make it necessary for institutions to plan with comparatively little factual basis for such planning. The same unpredictable factors will influence the plans of civilians discharged from war production and services. Some generalizations can be made however"
 The three frequent causes of dis- charge Of veterans from the armed services are psychoneurosis. over. age and physical disability.
 Time will be m important fac. tor to the returning veterans. They will be critical of the leisurely attic tude often characteristic of pre-war college life. Regardless of the exact phrascology of the legislation pro- yiding for their education. they will feel the urge to finish their train. ing in the least possible time. Accei- eration will in all probability be forced upon institutions by this new time sense of its students"
 TO a very considerable degree also. these individuals will probably be much influenced by the fact that their training in the armed forces has been specifically functional. It may be, as some suggest. that the veteran will react against the con- tinuance of such specific training and will wish to fill in the gaps of literal education. A few may be consciously aware of this need but the great majority will desire func- ttOnal, technical and professional training and many of them will wish to do 1t on a paTt-tiine basis while employed. No egh0rtati0n will turn their interest to liberal fields. yet these same individuals will by their numbers alone. be the dominating group to determine Ela- tl0nal and world policies during the next quarter of a century or more. Here is the most serious challenge ever given to those interested in lib- eral education. Some way must be found to make the knowledge of hiss tory of government and of social welfare of final importance to those who will shape the destiny Of this nations future"
 Another factor even less tang ible e the need Of providing some means whereby the Individual may retain something Of the status af- forded hin in military life. The greater majority who return to tp- stltutiong of higher education Wtll be those who have been nop-eoFl- n.lssi0ned and commissioned Offic- CTS. To most Of them, because Of their youth, this status has been a new experience and one they have Jeslously guarded and highly pTized, Civilian life. fortunately. offers no parallel, get ip this loss of status gtil be some Of the most serious problems of personal and social adjustment, Not only Will FetuFps Ing veterans be older in years than students coming directly from blgb- school, but almost without exception their military experience will have made them prec0ci0usly mature, Much Of what they find ID college Wtll seem juvenile, They will also lbe more critical Of the subjects rec nnlred and the methods used in tp- 6tFueti0p f0T they will have had ep expeFienee Of realistic values agalnst which they wlll appratse their work tp the institution, They will sergv 0llsly ask Q question often heard an0llg typical nDdeE-gTaduates but seldom taken ip earnest, s0f what value is this 10 mel" Vague geners aliEatlon wtll not De . sufficient elp. sgeg to tllelg problem
 Many institutions are nov sets tins uD special provisions for e0ups selling egd guldanGe, Veterans can obtain training which will be Of benefit to theNselves and also help the war effort 0p the best aeeupas ti0Dal Level Qf taRiv indlvidlal allalv jgleati0ns, This 0f course, applies to the veterans IlOw Tetnrniag from Ala nI1an AnnnaAa MlIanna a.aiaannaiaan l.a