The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1949-05-12

While the article in question featured Kinds Juni
College at Raymond Jackson, the same general lnIt
nation applies also to another excellent JUNIOR college OF
Junior college at Goodman right here
Holmes county-supported and maintained by citizens
Holmes county, of the most progressive counties IN
Magnolia state.
# the article which was captoned Colleges for ALP al
ook up three pages of reading matter and the nice
Illustrated color pictures taken on the campus at the Hin
Institution.
It is almost an axiom among American
educators that Mississippi is at the bottom of the
educational ladder In most categories it is. But in
one vital educational field Mississippi leads the
Mississippi" says Dr. Jesse Bogue secre-
tary of the American Association of Junior Colleges,
"has the only real statewide system of community
colleges in America
Some United States educators may rub their
eyes in disbelief. But there stands the fact Only in
Mississippi is the state divided into zones, with
community college in each zone.
Belatedy, weather. states now are
falling into line. New Yorks Governor Dewey, act
ing on the recommendations of a commission head
ed by Owen D. Young, is proposing to the legisla-
ture statewide system of community colleges In
the governors budget is 81 million item to start
the administrative machinery. In Michigan, Penn
syvania, Florida and Illinois statewide systems
under way.
California and Texas, however, are nearly in
sight Of Missssippi's achievement In public-sup-
ported community colleges, in fact California leads
with 81 and Texas is runner-up with a. But there
are still large areas of both states without COM
Counting both public and private institu-
tions the United States total stands at 651 junior
colleges, with more than 10000 students Yet as
recently as 1881, there were only 1876 with only
$4,000 students. In sheer growth, United States
higher education has nothing like it,
What is community college? Basically it is
the freshman and sophomore years of coIege-at
drasticaly cut rates.
Tuition is very low sometimes trifling In
California it is free. Where students live ON cam
pus-that is in dormtores like those at any four
year coege-and eat in a common dining ROOM the
cost OF board and room is Enthusiastically cheap In
Mississippi it is about $6.25 week. total costs do
not exceed $225 for the whole year.
Value Received: Community college pra-
duates make good records. One typical survey made
in the South in 1914 disclosed that 46 per cent of
the number OF community college students who
transferred to regular four-year colleges made
higher marks than the average for students there
already; az per cent equaled the average: only ~
per cent fell below the average
:, Basic advantages Of community colleges are
obvious eoS "le
Being free, costing little thew receive
thousands OF students who cannot afford the esti
mated 81 900 year necessary for all EXPENSES in
the Ivy League" colleges - =,
Iney provide both academic and vocational
ualnhg. IN ADDITION, they offer terminal course
Two years OF general college level education for
those not going on to senior college
Finally, and most important of ALL commun;-
y colleges are designed to serve their local ARGOS
Iney keep boys and girls in their native hshitat
framing them for their adult life within the ceo
graphical orbit in which they were born and re.reJ
ociety = Clubs ;. persona