Evening star., 1946-10-30
Educators See Need
For VA 10 Restore
Information Office

InIUIHIollUH VIIlIc
Educators. voiced strong reaction
today to the Veterans Administra-
tons abrupt cancellation of the
nationwide Clearing house" system
of furnishing college enrolment in
formation to veterans.
Under the plan, supervised by the
United States Office of Education,
education agencies in every State
were Furnishings up-to-date data on
school vacancies, curricula and
available housing to veterans both
on local and national bases.
The system was yecommended and
put into operation after an IL
agency report on higher educa-
ton was submitted to the President
in May. The report put special
emphasis on the need for such a
plan over period of several years.
Survey to Be Made.
The question of need" however,
was the agency's reason for stop
ping the program last month. ac-
cording to H. v. S. Stirling. Vet
erans' Administration education
chief.
Mr.. Stirling said the action was
taken on recommendation of Vet
erans' Administrator Bradley s
seven-man advisory committee on
education. eFour members of the
committee, he said, met here Sep
tember and advised the plan be
Cancelled until the need for it could
be determined. The activities were
quietly cut off II days later.
The agency will conduct survey
later this year Ito find what vet
erans' needs really are Mr.. Stir
ling said.
Ralph Macdonald, executive Sec
retary of . the National Education
Associations department of higher
education, declared he was certain
he will find this service is badly
needed" 49,.
Council Favors Service.
Thousands of veterans have
found opportunities in schools
through this program where other
wise they would have no chance,
he said.
Francis w. Brown, executive sec
retary of the American Council on
Education, said his group also feels
that the service has accomplished a
great deal and should be retained" >"
IF we don't have something like
this, we will continue to have vet
eran applying at so colleges stimuli
taneously," he said. There must
be some co-ordinating agency in
every State to provide some means
of national exchange"
Commissioner John w. Studebaker
of the Office of Education said the
cancellation came Just as the pro-
gram was well under way"
Reported on Trade Schools.
In addition to colleges. he pointed
out, agencies were reporting on trade
schools and other noncollegiate in
stitutions.
The Office also was ready to es-
tablish a calendar formation" an
other spokesman said, to have every
State report periodically on specific
problems.
DR.. Studebaker also declared he
thought some States will continue
the program independently, but
pointed out that national leader
ship" will be gone. The national
function was particularly impor-
tant, he said, in cases of veterans
who wished to attend schools In
other States.
Veterans Administration was au-
thorized by Congress in August to
grant funds to States for admin
istering such programs, but none
has been granted, Mr.. Stirling said.
Expenses Were Small.
About $4,000 was turned over to
the Office of Education to put the
program into operation. The oftlce
estimated the State agencies would
need between $1,000 and 5000
wear for administrative expenses.
This would involve clerical expense
for the most part, as professional
sources of information are available
at no cost, it was pointed out.
Mr.. Stirling emphasized the Vet
erans' administration Wy no means
wants to criticize the program and
added it may receive full sanction
if his survey finds the need.
Under the clearing house" sys-
tenn, each State agency compiled in
formation on all schools in its
State, disseminated the informa-
ton to colleges, high schools and
veterans advisory centers, and for
warded the composite data to the
ONCE of Education.
The four committee members who
recommended cancellation of the
program until after the survey in
cluded DR.. Robert v. Stewart, vice
president of Purdue University: R.
v. Kent, director of the Essex Coun-
ty Vocational School, Newark, N. j.;
Arthur Andrews, president of Grand
Rapids Junior College, Grand Rap
ids, Mich. and Leonard Carmichael,
president of Tufts College, Medford,