Evening star., 1948-01-19
Board Offers System
For States 10 Create
Community College

Establishment of community col.
leges, which would extend public
school education through the first
two years of college and make con-,
siderable changes In the existing
college setup, is explained in the
third volume Of the Presidents
Commission on Higher Education
which was released today.
Today's volume deals In detail
with the community colleges and
expands, on the following recon-
rnendations:
The appointment OF a State board
of education in each State which
would be responsible for the selec-
ton Of State school officer and
the major policies OF the education
program.
I, .Co-Operation Urged.
Creation OF a cooperating volun-.
tary organization Of colleges and
universities within a State, both
publicly and privately owned.
Passage Of legislation raising the
United States once Of Education
to q higher status, possibly as a
department with cabinet rank or
part of a Department Of Education,
Health and Welfare or a Federal
Board Of Education.
Creation of an interdepartmental
committe with representation from
each department and agency main
tanning educational programs under
the Craftsmanship Of the Commis-
sioner of Education.
Efforts by state boards Of educa-
ton for cooperation among all
levels Of education for the mainte-
nance of .high-quality teaching in
the lower schools, educational and
vocational guidance and adult edu-
cation.
Better Facilities Needed.
The report stated that the most
imperative need Of higher educa-
ton was to increase its facilities
Post high school education must be
brought within the reach, economic
ally and geographically, Of many
more people than at present. The
urgency Of that need is most acute
at the two years just above high
school.
The recommendation for commu-
nifty colleges or Junior colleges was
made, basically, for that reason.
The larger municipalities should
extend the public school program to
include the first two years Of col
lege, the report stated. Systems OF
district community colleges or
branches Of other institutions should
be set up to take care Of territory
not well served by the larger munich
palities.
Private and church schools also
should extend their programs for
students for two more years, the
report said.
While no fixed pattern should
prevail for financial support Of pub
licly controlled community colleges
there should be a large measure ol
State aid, it recommended.
Such program would cause de-
finite adjustments In the programs
Of the existing colleges and univer-
sites, 1t was pointed out.
Colleges Of art and sciences should
in some cases, the report said, main
tain f9r-year or two-year general
and possibly vocational. curriculs
aboge the high school level. III
sonle cases ii would be neoeSsafyatt
maintain four-year general, ant
possibly vocational, curricula which
run through the first and second
Ewould start with the third and
Fourth years Of high school and
years of college.
b Seek Professional Training.
h In other cases, the colleges and
universities should maintain a three
Iyear curricula above the second
year Of college devoted to further
general education and to the item
fsive study of some field of the arts
and sciences with sufficient pro-
fessional preparation to adapt its
use to some occupations such a.
teaching, art or journalism.
The report also recommended
that private schools, which operate
for profit, should be co-ordinated
with the rest Of States educa.
tional program.
Graudate and professional schools
would operate more or less as at
present with the student transfer
ring into them as he reaches the
correct point in his education, the
report stated. ...