Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-08
1oMoRRoW's SCIENTISTS l~ps~hsl
Talented Pupils Seen
Handicapped in U.S..
BY HAYNES JOHNSON

~ AAGoNAOAts Al
there an intellectual aristoc-
racy in American"
The director Of the George
town University Observatory
paused. and then answered the
question himself
of course there Is. And our
bright students should be
treated as such. Now, II you
say this I suppose some people
Will say you're anti-democratic
Look at 1t this way: When
you build q building there al
ways are men who lay the
bricks; and there's always q
man who acts as foreman.
Why Not Master Scholars
I'VE have master carpenters
and master mechanics. Why
can't We have q master scholar9
WhyP"
What Father Heyden was
saying is q point often made
by college science teachers in
the Washington area.
1t illustrates an attitude,
they feel. on the part of par
ents and students which con-
tributes to keeping talented
students out of scientific ca
reerS at a time when scientists
are desperately needed.
President Eisenhower said
recently that the most critical
problem" facing the American
people is the lead which Russia
has in the training of scientists
and engineers.
The spectacular proof OF
Russian scientific proficiency
as demonstrated by the launch
ing OF Sputnik I and II-haS
brought demands for a re-
examination Of the educational
system which Is producing
American scientists.
Many Factors Involved
A survey by The Star OF COL
lege and high school teachers
administrators and students
shows that a re-examination is
indeed. needed.
The problem Is sociological
rs well as economic: II is indi-
vidual as well as general.
Involved are such things a
the training the high school
and elementary teachers re-
ceive. the work-load a teacher
must carry and overcrowdec
school conditions.
But-perhaps most important
and most difficult to pinpoint-
is the attitude OF the general
public toward an intellectual
career.
These are not problems which
have arisen Just because Russia
beat the United States into
outer space. Educators have
raised these points for as LONG
as 10 years-hut SUFFICIENT ac-
ton has not been Forthcoming
II is time. say area scientists
for us to wake up. The college
people here raise specific points
and recommendations.
DR.. Leo Schubert. chairman
OF the chemistry department al
American University and also
chairman Of the Committee or
Encouragement Of Science Tai.
ent Of the Washington AGA
denny Of Sciences. has this Il
say on the subject:
We should upgrade the DO.
sition Of the scientist in oul
society by creating different
attitudes toward the intellec,
tual.
This can be DONE" he adds
You. know. 1t used to be tina
a member Of the Armed Forces
was considered as somewha
like second-class citizens. Tha
Is not so today.
Now. TV and radio and tn,
movies portray the scientist a
a lunkhead and the hero
the lieutenant"
Comic Strip Attitude
DR.. Karl HerZfeld. head Of tn
physics department OF Cathola
University. says:
There is a strong tendenc,
on the part Of high school stu
dents and parents to look upol
the scientist as a sinister mai
creating terrible weapons o
destruction. This is a conf
strip attitude. But 1t Is a widel
held attitude"
College science and mathe
MATES teachers surveyed b
The Star agreed on thes
points:
/. Salaries should be in
creased. The universities I'M
that they are losing many o
their brightest students an
teachers-to the Government
or private industry.
2. Community attitude
toward the scientist should b
changed. The "egghead." the
point out. is a person suspec
in American society.
g. More time and none
should be made available 70
basic research-the type OF re
search which. as President Fl
senhower said recently, "un
locks the secrets Of nature an
prepares the way for such gres
breakthroughs as atomic rs
sion. electronics and antibio
tics"
4. The training OF high schot
and elementary science an
mathematics teachers should
improved. Emphasis should
placed on subject matter rs
ther than on teaching tech
niuues.
5. More funds are needed fc
scholarships. This. the collee
professors feel. is especial
needed at the post-Ph.D. leve
6. Gifted children should
encouraged and stimulated. To
often. 1t is felt. these childre
are bored and discouraged.
The aAiin0a V.WA(agea~a ntl