Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-02

dollar we spend on educating
American boys and girls will
be returned-with interest-in
terms Of their increased pro-
ductivity: and fourthr( that If
we decide to skimp on education,
every dollar we save will prob
ably be lost twice over in terms
of things like the costs Of juve-
nile delinquency, boys unable to
meet the standards for military
service. the unavailability OF
scientists and engineers, and in
creased relief rolls.
PROPOSAL NO. 8: GRANTS
FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
It Is estimated that each year
at least 100000 Of our ablest
high school students stop their
formal education for primarily
economic reasons. The record
is also clear that there is today
a serious shortage Of young men
and women adequately trained
in certain fields, such as teach
ing. science and engineering.
I think we should seriously
consider, and probably explore
at least on an experimental
basis, some of the proposals that
have been made to meet these
problems.
One Of these proposals which
seems to me to command itself
is for the establishment of q
limited number Of federally sup
ported undergraduate scholar
ships or loans to students who
want to go to college, are quail
fled to make good use Of a COL
lege education, and win other
wise be denied this opportunity.
I think we should also con-
slider the granting of fellowships,
on q basis Of merit and need, to
specially qualified students who
are prepared to commit them
selves to service in teaching OF
in other fields Of particularly
acute shortage.
I realize that these proposals
present many problems and i'm
lplications which must be care
fully and full explored.
One Of these is the desirability
Of SO administering this program
as not to affect the balance be-
tween public and private insti-
buttons. 1t has been urged, in
this connection, that any pro-
gram Of scholarship or fellow
ship grants which may work
more to the benefit Of private
than OF public colleges and uni
versities should be balanced BY
grants to States for aid to higher
Education in public institutions
The point Is an important one
and, whether in the suggested
form or some other, should bt
taken into account.
II a loan, rather than q schol.
arship and fellowship. program
appears advisable, then ! should
think that arrangements woulC
be worked out for making these
loans through local banks, with
appropriate Government pro-
lection.
The problems Of determining
need and qualification would
have to be met.
Any scholarship program Of
this kind would have to be care.
fully drawn and restricted to
prevent abuses by the unworthy
and also to prevent any displace-
ment Of the private philanthropy
which has been and will continue
to be indispensable to the de-
velopment Of our colleges and
universities.
To avoid the political and ad-
ministrative complications that
such a program might entail, II
might be well to place. its adj
ministration outside the Federal
Government. Just as has been
done with the eminently success
full Fulbright program Of awards
to scholars for study abroad.
Both to avoid excessive costs
and to permit adequate tryout
of the operation Of such q sys-
tenn I would recommend, as I
have indicated, that 1t be UNDER
taken originally on an expert
mental basis. But I can not urge
too strongly that something Of
this perhaps bold character will
be required II we are going to
meet the problem Of high costs
Of higher education on the one
hand and serious shortages of
adequately trained young men
and women on the other.
PROPOSAL NO. 4: EXPANSION
OF EXCHANGE PROGRAMS
I think we should continue
and expand the exchange pro-