Evening star., 1946-03-11
Letters to The Star
Extramural College Courses
Proposed in EmerSency

Extramural College Courses
Proposed in Emergency
To the Editor Of The Star:
Two major obstacles block the path
OF progress Of those who suddenly were
shunted from their normally planned
lives into the armed forces and into
other war activities. Fortunately, both
obstacles are recognized. One is the
difhculty Of economic readjustments to
industrial production, particularly Of
housing. The other is the crisis, al
ready reached, through inability of
our educational institutions in the
higher and professional fields to ac-
commodate all those who wish for,
need, and are entitled to this edu-
cation.
Certainly, no one questions the right
Of those who have served in the armed
forces to continue their education. Yet
when they apply at the colleges and
universities they find these institutions
already oyercrowded and so limited
both in physical capacity and in teach
ing personnel as to cause students
months Of delay before entering. Al
ready, there is vast potential en-
rollment Of students for whom no def
mite or approximate assurance of ad-
mission can be given before September
or even next January. Most colleges
admit that when fall arrives the con-
gestion will be infinitely greater than
at present. June means an increased
number Of preparatory-s gradu-
ates seeking to enter and there has
not yet been reached the peak Of de-
mand from those being released from
the armed forces.
To the young man who already has
given two or three years to the fighting
of the war, time is of the essence. He
least well can afford to wait. 1t must
not be forgotten that. in our economic
situation today, the productive period
OF life is comparatively short. During
that time the young man must find
his niche in economic productiveness,
marry, establish home, support his
family and dependents and accumu-
late savings for the years during which
he will continue to live after retiring.
Many industries discriminate against
hiring employees Of over approximately
48 years.
Delays Held Discouraging.
Let us consider a young man OF 81
years OF age. just released from serv-
ice. A college course will take q mini
mum Of four years, If he is able to
start Immediately. II he Is delayed
year, it will be ive years. He will then
have reached the age of 26. If he pre-
pares for certain professiors-such as
medicine-his delays might consume as
many as eight years of his life before
he Is at last able to enter the economic
world-a comparatively old man.
Suppose he has six months or a year
to wait before matriculation becomes
possibility: What is he to do with that
time? Will he not lose much of the
momentum of his earlier education? It
seems evident that he will. Can he
fill in that waiting time in industry
and, if so. what? Clearly some plan
is needed which will enable the pros
pective student to utilize the time dur
ing which he must wait and to utilize
it In such q manner as to prevent frus-
tration, to avoid that ghastly feeling
Of futility afIiicting one unable to OBJ.
tain the education he Graves and to
keep him encouraged and hopeful.
1t would seem, therefore, that a plan
ancillary to other expansion Of our edu-
cational facilities must be adopted, at
least temporarily, until the accumu-
lating demand upon the institutions
can be met.
Such plan must have specific fea-
lures. 1t must be designed to lessen
the burden upon the teaching stats Of
our colleges. 1t must obviate to some
extent the pressure on plant facilities
now hopelessly inadequate. It must
bridge the gap and provide continuous
education until educational facilities
reach stabilization.
Education Outside Schools.
An immediate, If temporary, solution
to this pressing problem lies in extra
mural education. There exist in many
communities persons adequately fitted
both by past college training and by
special aptitudes to act as instructors
for limited numbers of students. These
persons should be induced to give in
tensive training on tutorial basis to
waiting students in courses included in
the ultimate curriculum. While oppor-
tunities for certain courses = science
courses requiring laboratory work, for
example-ma in many instances be
lacking, there is no reason why courses
in English, mathematics, languages.
history, economics and others cannot
be taught outside college walls.
Instructors for these courses could
be found among retired educators, busi-
ness men with suitable academic back
grounds, advanced secondary school
teachers. and among those who per-
formed educational duties during the
war and probably among the veterans
themselves. The patriotic minded
should be glad to help in the present
emergency. Qualifications of these
prospective instructors would need in
vestigation, Of course, and the students
under them would need direction and
supervision by the colleges they hope
to attend. These students should be
permitted to take all tests and exam
nations given in their respective courses
by these colleges. In other words, the
plan SHOULD be followed in such way