Evening star., 1951-04-01
Draft Deferlnenfs
In College Are Based
|0n Standing or Test
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cluding mathematics and wore
usage. The tests are designed tc
gauge ability to learn. rather thar
academic knowledge alone. They
are set up on the basis of 100 al
the highest possible score, and the
passing level will be set at q
point designed to defer a specific
percentage of the men taking the
exams.
In statement to the press last
might. Gen. Hershey said there are
now about million male, nom
veteran students in college. "But
lit would be impossible at this
time to estimate how many viii
be deferred he declared.
BY providing that either class
standing or the test may be
grounds for deferment, the White
House order met strong objections
from educational leaders of both
large and small colleges to earlier
proposals. Originally, it was pro-
posed that men must qualify on
both standards mot one alone.
AS 1t stands, the draft plan will
assure small schools that certain
percentages of their students will,
be deferred, even if not many are
able to pass the test. While it
will be possible for larger schools
where academic standards may
be extremely high--to retain as
many students as can pass the
tests, rather than be restricted by
percentages of each class.
Could Tighten Program.
Under the language of the White
House order, however, it would be
possible to require later that both
criteria be met for deferment
Presumably. this was included Sc
that If it became necessary late,
to tighten the program, officials
could do SO without getting another
executive order.
The official hope to get White
House clearance within the next
two weeks on details of the defer
ment standards, and then to send
regulations Immediately to draft
boards.
Meanwhile. thousands of college
students already have been or
dered for induction. but their in
duction has been held up until the
end OF the school term. It is ex-
pected that draft officials will take
steps to assure that these men be
given a chance to qualify under
the new program.
Gen. Hershey said the new plan
reflects the views of military lead
ers that since we cannot hope to
match the iron curtain countries
IN manpower. our advantage lies
IN our superiority in scientific and
technical know-how." The draft
chief long has opposed deferments
on the basis of so-called essen
tlal' courses of study alone, con-
tending that it is impossible to
predict whether any undergradu-
ate student will be valuable to the
Nation in later life.
In addition to providing for un-
oergraduate students, the White
House order said men may be-
considered for deferment If thew
are doing satisfactory work ia
schools Of medicine. dentistry
veterinary medicine, osteopathy or
optometry, or If they are full-time
students seeking graduate de-
grees in other schools.
The Educational Testing sery-
Ice was founded three years ago
from a merger of the testing ac-
tivities Of the Carnegie Founda-
ton for the Advancement of
Teaching, the College Entrance
Examination Board and the Amer
ican Council of Education.
The Princeton organization,
which gives more than IL million
tests a year, gives exams for the
military academies and various
Government agencies An official
said that in each case, the tests
are carried out throughout the
country with the aid of edu-
cational institutions.