Evening star., 1953-05-17
A Questionable Undertokinq

There is no question about the potentialities
of televsion as an educational medium Educa-
tors generally are agreed that educational TV
eventually will become supplementary instruc-
ton aid in most schools and colleges. There is
a serious question, however, as to the right
approach to educational TV. Should the Gov
ernment enter the televison broadcasting busi-
ness to the extent of building, operating and
programming an Institutional television sta
ton, or should the job be left to private
institutions and organizations? The question
specifically faces Congress as result of Presi-
dent Eisenhower's request for 900 to finance
governmentally owned and operated educa
tional TV station in Washington.
The District Board OF Education, rushing in
where other boards and many educational insti-
tutions are feeling their way had urged this
appropriation of District funds in order to take
advantage of an educational TV channel al
lotted conditionally to this area by the Federal
Communications Commission The commission
wants quick action one way or the other,
as there is great demand for the channel for
commercial purposes. The board won adj
mnistration approval of the request with sur
prising ease considering the economy trend in
other directions.
The President undoubtedly shares the
opinion of many citizens and organizations that
Washington should not pass up this opportunity
to take advantage of the new channel. But
there is no prospect of this happening, even If
the Board of Education should withdraw it's
request to enter the broadcasting field. AS a
matter of fact the board stands pretty much
alone in its determination to build, maintain,
operate and control programs of Metropolitan
Area educational television station. A newly
formed competitive corporation, composed of
various colleges and other educational institu-
tionS in the Washington area Is opposed to
District Board of Education ownership and con-
troll of such an enterprise. This group, known
as the Greater Washington Educational Televi-
sion Association Inc, is planning to file its own
application with the FEC for the right to use
the new channel The school board here has
been invited to join the association, but has
not accepted.
The remarkable thing about the decision of
the board to undertake such pioneering ex-
pertinent is that it already is faced with enough
grave problems-budgetary and otherwise-to
keep it and the school administration busy
for long time to come. Why it should want
to invite more trouble is as yet unexplained
And trouble there would be, judging by the re-
sentiment already being expressed in college
circles over the apparent plan of the District
board to take over and exercise final control
of educational TV programs. Under the cir
cumStances, Congress should take a long and
careful look at this proposal before joining in
the rush to give the District board right of way
in the contest for the educational channel. And
the FEC should grant whatever additional time
is necessary for thorough study of the hastily
conceived plan.
baseball game between two Eastern insti-
tutions of higher learning was called off because
the players had classes that interfered And
yet there are those who deny that un- American
ideologies have infltrated our colleges.