Montgomery County sentinel., 1958-11-06
Letters to the Editor
Let's NOT Perish!

6St bNSb SttSthe
In this age of Sputnik, nuclear
bombs and the intercontinental
missile, many of our thinking peo-
pie are naturally much concerned
at the signs that we are falling be-
hind Russia in developing scien-
fists, engineers and technicianS.
At the same time, population
growth is putting vast strains on
cur educational facilities and our
inadequate corps of teachers, and
with present methods these will
be in scarce supply for many
years to come.
So gloomy is the prospect that
some of our best thinkers are
peSsimistic about our national fu-
ture. They think we are so ob-
sessed with gadgets, TVS and
other consumer luXuries that We
are bound to fail in the race for
survival. These people overlook
that herein may lie our greatest
strength, that remedies for these
shortages are readily at hand, and
that all that must be done is to
point out the way to use our vast
resources, and most important of
all, point out the vital need for
doing this. In short, our only real
problem is motivation of our
people.
The time is short and we should
be at the job, for unless the de-
mocracies and most particularly
the u. s., can maintain leadership
in knowledge and power, all ef-
forts in other fields will be in
vain.
The way to do it is to employ
our consumer luxuries for the job
Of motivating and training our
people. For example, practically
every home in the land has a TV.
Why not bring our science courses
right into the home?
A small start has been made
with a first course in college
physics which is now on video at
6:15 in the morning five days a
week. Students spend half an
hour each morning with a gifted
teacher. Those who wish credit
go to the university FOR lab work
and quizzes on Saturday morning.
This course is designed for people
with work and family response
bilities.
What could be more efficient or
economical2 No additional facili-
ties are needed; no time is wasted
in unnecessary travel; one top
flight teacher can serve thousands
of students. There is no reason
why this technique could not be
apple d to a wide range Of
courses. Universities could multi
ply their enrolment many times,
reserving their classroom faciil-
ties for the m ore specialized
studies. Within 10 years, also,
millions of working people could
receive a basic education in the
sciences while still supporting
their families. Even in hig h
school, by use of closed circuit
T'V, the teacher shortage could
rapidly become thing Of the
past.
This is only one Illustration of
intelligent use Of our skill in con
sumer gadgetry to pull our nation
up by its bootstraps in a very
short period OF time. All that is
needed is to get things started.
Our government should subsidiZe
and encourage such activity in
every possible way. In my expert.
ence, most people respond to a
need with surprising enthusiasm
when once they are fully informed
and the way is shown. The time
is snort, but the resources are
here, and the results could come
quickly. Let us not stand by and
see democracy perish from the
earth or our children burned up
in the holocaust, just because this
great nation is not willing to flex
its muscles and fully utilize its
unique strength and genius
&. Calvert Hines, Jr.