Evening star., 1955-11-22
A War We Must Win

The gravity OF this country'S actual
and prospective shortage of scientific
manpower can scarcely be exaggerated.
The simple fact Is that the Russians
threaten to defeat us In an educational
race that bears directly, and fatefully,
on our long-range national security and
economic well-being. The latest authori-
tative warning on that score has come
from Chairman Lewis L. Strauss of the
Atomic Energy Commission. As he has
put it, I'm five years our lead in the train
ing Of scientists and engineers may be
wiped out, and in ten years we could be
hopelessly outstripped. Unless immediate
steps are taken to correct it, situation,
already dangerous, within less than
decade could become disastrous"
Right now, in terms of available per-
sonnel, the United States is slightly ahead
rapidly dwindling one. A few Of the
statistics cited by Mr.. Strauss are enough
to tell the story. Although our national
population is growing at rate Of close
to Is million every ten years, our colleges
today are annually turning out far fewer
scientific workers than they did as re-
Gently as 1850. In fact, they are turning
out less than one-half the number ur-
gently needed by our defense establish
ment and our constantly expanding in
dustrial economy. Meanwhile, as we have
been allowing this shocking decrease to
take place, the Russians have been
achieving spectacular increase in the
same field. AS result, they will this
year graduate 10000 new scientists and
engineers of all types, compared to our
American total of only 10000.
This situation, which Mr.. Strauss has
rightly described as appalling" is at
tributable to conspiex Of many factors.
But one of the chief roots of the trouble
is poor training in our high schools. Up
wards of SO per cent of those schools have
no classes in physics or chemistry, and
the number Of qualified teachers is woe
fully inadequate. So American youths at
this educational level all too often lack
Sufncient inspiration or preparation to
pursue scientific studies In the higher
institutions of learning. The result is
vicious circle. In Mr.. Strauss words,
fewer and fewer high school courses in
math and science mean fewer and fewer
college students Of science and engineer
ing, and fewer graduates. And fewer
graduates mean fewer persons with either
the inclination or equipment to teach
science and mathematics in the high
schools. Thus, the teacher shortage
grows progressively worse" the more so
because salaries offered instructors are
too low and unattractive.
What Is America to do about all this?
There are no easy answers, but answers
must be found And TO that end, empha-
sizing that the problem calls for great
concerted effort by parents, educators,
industry, professional societies and gov
ernmental groups, Mr.. Strauss has made
two interesting proposals. One, for the
short range, would have all the country's
scientists and engineers volunteer to
teach In our secondary schools for a
certain number Of hours each month.
The second, for the long range, would
seek to increase the number of scientific
students by establishing a minimum of
credits In physics and chemistry as an
essential requirement for admission into
any college. Such measures may prove
to be Impractical In some respects, but
action, not just talk, Is what we must
have now II we are to win what Mr..
Strauss has called "the cold. war of the
classrooms" war we cannot lose with
out creating grave perils for ourselves
as Nation.