Evening star., 1957-12-31

na0 special olFecLOtt OF uIlltA
last year TO foster and improve
the teaching OF science and
mathematics. Funds could be
used To- expand or establish
State units to consult with
local schools on curriculum,
methods. materials. and other
points in a general expansion
and improvement Of teaching
lin science and mathematics.
3. College and university
teachers.
One OF the most serious sim
gle problems confronting Amer
ican education today Is the
shortage Of adequately trained
college and university teachers.
Yet today. the output and
quality OF new college teach
ers by the Nations graduate
schools is far below what is
needed, and as enrollments in
crease. this gap will widen.
The program would help meet
the urgent problem in this focal
area Of education by providing
1000 graduate level fellow
ships the first year. and $500 q
year for each Of the following
three years. to encourage more
able college students TO con-
tinue into graduate study and
prepare for college teaching ca
reers. AS In the scholarship un-
dertaking. the fellowship pro-
gram would be a four-year pro-
gram and would be phased out
on an annually reduced basis.
Fellowships would be awarded
on the basis Of recommended
tions by colleges and universe
ties.
Could Aid Salary Problem
Further, graduate schools
could receive direct Federal
grants OF UP to 900 a year
to help meet the cost Of expand
ing their capacity. In each such
case the school itself. not the
State. would match the Federal
grant on q $3.50 basis. These
funds could be used for sala-
ries. library materials. or equip
lment.
4. Foreign languages:
American education is also
deficient in the teaching Of for
eign languages. so important IL
understanding today's world
In 1928 almost half Of our high
/, school students were studying
a foreign language. In 1855,
only about one Of five Of all
high school students was TAX
ing q course in foreign Ian
guage.
The proposed program would
help finance the establishment
and operation Of training GEN.
ters in languages which are
critically important today but
which have traditionally re-
ceived little or no attention in
this country. These would in
clude. for example. languages
OF emerging nations in Asia
Africa. and the Near East. The
centers. under the auspices OF
educational institutions, would
train teachers. Government
personnel. and others in these
Languages.
The program would also In
clude Federal financial assis-
tance for the establishment and
operation Of summer institutes
and other sessions at which
teachers Of foreign languages
In schools and colleges could
receive training in improved
teaching methods.
Not Duplicating Program
This Is a program to help
meet the urgent demands OF
education as 1t affects oui
national security. II recognizes
the rapid increase in impor.
tance OF science and Technology
In modern life and the i'm.
portance Of these fields Il
national security.
In addition to this program
we understand that the Ma.
tional Science Foundation will
seek substantially increased ap-
preparations to enable 1t TO ex.
pand Is existing program oI
support for education and
training In the sciences. The
departments program has beer
carefully designed so as to com.
plement. not duplicate, the
program Of the National Science