Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-10

have the Russians pr0vl0eo-ln
education as in defense--the cata-
lytic agent that viii force the
United States to overcome its de-
f1ciencies?
The defeat Of the school con-
struction bill last summer by the
small margin Of five votes in the
House was shortly followed by the
Indignation battle at Little Rock
which embedded in many South
ern minds the belief that Federal
money inevitably involved Federal
Intervention in local education. As
a result. Southern antagonism plus
budgetary considerations indicated
until the recent Soviet achieve
ments-that little Federal support
for education would emerge from
the coming congressional session.
In fact. Chairman Bailey of the
House subcommittee on education
has said he will take no action in
January on the school construc-
ton bill.
But now Senate Democratic
leaders believe that Sputniks and
II have convinced the American
people of the need for better and
increased educational facilities.
These legislators hope The shock
of the Sputniks will counterfeit
the dampening effect on school
legislation of the Little Rock ex-
perience and the budget-first
viewpoint. Senator Mike Mans
field. a member of the hopeful
group, already is planning legis-
lation for a Federal scholarship
program in science and engineer
ing. and pressure for similar legis-
lation is being heard from other
members of Congress.
Disturbing Questions
But even as the outlook for
Federal aid shows signs of bright
ening. educators in and out of
Government are disturbed by
these questions: On the assump-
ton that national security con-
siderations will be dominant, will
federally aided educational pro-
grams be sufficiently broad? Will
the problem be seen in its widest
dimensions or will only science
and engineering receive the help?
Will the issue be recognized as
one that requires attention at
the public school as well as the
college level? And will the Federal
support be directed to the student,
the facilities he needs, and the
teacher?
Their concern is based in part
on the emphasis on science heard
in official statements, including
President Eisenhower speech
Thursday evening. On the other
hand, they find reinsurance in the
fact that James r. Killian, jr., the
Presidents new assistant on scien-
tific matters, said in the May z
issue of Life magazine that was
before the Sputniks, of course:
I'VE must not allow the pres
sure for scientists and engineers
to obscure the need for first-rate
talent in other professional fields.
:. We should not engage in an
academic numbers race with the
Soviets or even with ourselves.
We can win through enterprise,
efficiency. unexcelled quality. fully
modified and motivated intellec-.
tual resources.
In order to encourage a bal
anced approach, with the Nations
whole educational machine in
view, Secretary Folsom of the
Health. Education and Welfare
Department, had this to say re-
Gently:
I'VE must teach more and bet
ter science in our schools and COL
leges, not just to those who plan
a career in science and engineer
ing but to all. And secondly, we
have to educate professional SCI
entists and engineers in such a
way that they have broad con-
cept of the relationship between
their technical interests and their
responsibilities as citizens and
human beings. The man of SCI
ence, or other professional persons.
must be educated to the great
truth that no man or group of
men lives or works alone on this
earth"
Fear isolation
Mr.. Folsom and many educators
fear that immediate scientific
needs may tend to isolate science
from the broad community of
educational interests and ulti-
mately from the whole community
on which it depends for moral
and material support"
Educators assert that too great
concentration on science at the
expense of the humanities will re-
suit in the erosion of the liberal
society which we are trying to de-
fend. Furthermore outstanding
talents must be channeled into
fields which best suit the student.
A recent national survey among
high school students showed that
significant proportion, not
naturally attracted to science and
engineering, would switch from
the humanities if financial bene-
fits we're offered to scientists. Such
development would lead to many
specializing in science-perhaps
on Observation-Disclosures programs
who would benefit more and
who might be of more eventual
use to society if they were to
undertake advanced study in the
humanitieS.
An inquiry conducted year ago
by the American Council on
Education showed that its men,
bers. while strongly approving a
Federal scholarship program. OPP
posed limiting it to specific cur
ricula such as science, engineering.
nursing. teaching. etc. In other
words, educators argue that
quality students--vital for scienti-
flc and other achievement-can
best be produced by allowing free
l. u