Milford chronicle., 1958-02-07
ISN'T 1T TIME TO RE-EXAMINE
OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS?


Debate over American education, with
special emphasis on the high schools, has
been running hot and heavy for several
years. Practically everyone seems to believe
that something is seriously wrong-but, ma
turally, there are wide differences as to what
lhould be done. Proposed solutions run a
wide gamut-better pay for teachers; still
more elaborate school plants and facilities
federal aid major changes in curricula; spe-
cial schools or classes for exceptionally
bright students, and so on.
Since the Sputniks fiared off into outer
space, the controversy has intensified. Sec
retary of Health, Education and Welfare
Folsom has told us that only one out of ev-
cry three or four recent high school gradu-
ates has been exposed to even year of
chemistry or physics, or mathematics be-
yond simple algebra. Russian secondary
school graduates, on the other hand, have
taken five years of physics, four of chemis-
try, and big doses of mathematics. So the
question is: What's wrong, and what can
be done to remedy matters?
The Wall Street Journal sent its report
ers to talk to school officials, teachers, and
others throughout the country. AS was to
be expected, many of those queried stressed
the need for better teachers and better
schools. But the answer did not stop there.
AS the Journal puts it: 9. the teachers
themselves are worried mainly about the
students-their lack of interest in science
and math, their hesitancy to take couses in
these fields"
A New York physics teacher said: "The
majority of youngsters today prefer to take
the softest classes they can find," and added
that his school only had about half as many
physics students now as 10 years ago. A
San Francisco educator said much the same
thing: :" our big problem isn't shortage
of teachers or facilities, but shortage of
serious students with the aptitude and in
terest to get the most out of their work"
How can such situation exist in our
enormously expensive school establishment?
In answer a Detroit teacher told the Jour-
nal: "The elective system has reached the
point where students can choose almost any
thing they want" So they choose easy
courses instead of tough courses, and get
the same credit. On top of that there are
all manner of academic frills which divert
students from academic work-driver train
ing classes, cooking classes, citizenship
classes, etc. And school administrators, toe,
have been misled by the frillS with the re-
suit, according to the journal, that school
funds have been diverted g. from basic
academic needs to athletic programs, social
events or other 'non-essentials.
What all this adds up to is belief, held
by many informed people, that money alone
is not the solution to this country's science
is no doubt that more money is needed in
many cases both to attract better teachers
and to improve school facilities. There is an
urgent need to re-examine and re-assess our
school systems, particularly in regard to sci
ence teaching. That is going on now, the
Journal reports, in numbers of places-and
there's little doubt there'll be more and more
of it.
GUNS SHATTERED WITH BUTTER
The old saying about having our cake and
eating it too has taken on a new and deep
significance.
There is no doubt whatsoever that mill
tary spending is due for big jump-per-
haps much bigger than the President indi-
Gated in his budget message. And, along with
this, there is considerable doubt whether
non-defense spending will be materially re-
duced in any direction.
Those who want the government to ever
lasting take on more and more responsible
tiles, at everlastingly increasing costs, are
mobilizing now. A last ditch fight will be
made to get maximum appropriations for
welfare, grants to states, SocialiZed power
projects, greater farm subsidies, pork-bar-
rels as usual, and all manner of handouts
If this fight is successful, the nation will
face two choices. One is higher taxes on top
of already staggering taxes. The other is
uelCll lllldHClilS dliu a ShCdpCillhS VI
the dollar-that is, more initiation.
This isn't question of whether we shall
have guns or butter. 1t is question of whe-
-ther vast gobs of political butter will be
shattered onto the guns. Economic under
mining of this country would serve the So
viets as surely as military undermining
Never did Congress, an Administration OF
the people face palmer facts. Will they rec
ognize them and act accordingly or will they
s continue on the road to bankruptcy via in
fation?