Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-01
To Stop q Troqic Waste

10 StOp q Tragic waste
Although II is not nearly so big"
or so bold" or so imaginative" as some
people would like. the administrators
nav aid-to-e education program is none
theless impressive--and about as large
in scale as 1t could effectively be in the
key fields 1t is meant to cover on four
year emergency" basis More than
that, 1t is realistic In the sense that 1t
Is well designed to evoke maximum Of
support from Congress.
AS set forth by Secretary Folsom Of
the Health, Education and Welfare De-
partment. the program would entail
total Federal outlay Of about 81 billion,
and local matching funds. While en-
couraging the study of languages and
providing special fellowships for college
graduates interested in becoming teach
ers. it would place primary emphasis on
action to stop the tragic waste Of talent
that takes place each year when some
100000 Of our ableSt young people get
out Of high school and fail to go to
higher institutions Of learning, either
lack desire or incentive.
To cope with this problem, which
Is of great significance In an age when
the Russians are threatening to outstrip
us overwhelmingly In the training Of
scientists and engineers, the proposed
program would do three things: ~ II
would make grants to the States, on a
$3.50 matching basis, TO set up testing
notwithstanding In the later primary
grades-to measure the abilities and
aptitudes Of pupils on through high
school. (2) 1t would make similar grants
to promote improved counSeling and
guidance methods Of sort that would
encourage able youngsters TO work hard
In basic subjects like science and math
and give them a desire to 60 TO college.
And (3l 1t would make available to these
individuals. according to need. about
10000 Federal scholarships q year for
four years. TO be awarded and admin
istered by State commissions.
OF course, 1t may be said Of all this
that It does not seem to amount to very
much when measured against the over
all magnitude OF our national educa-
tional deficiencies Certainly such q
program does not even touch upon the
very real need for major school con-
struction: nor does 1t get down to the
root problem Of restoring Stricter stand
ards TO our high schoolS-standards
stressing the mental disciplines and de-
emphasizing easy elective courses. Yet,
despite these and kindred limitations,
the proposals outlined by Mr.. Folsom
and approved by the President promise
to have an excellent cumulative effect
In terms of outstanding and nurturing
the talent Of large numbers Of the
200 900 who now annually abandon edu-
cation long before they should.
Further, not the least Of the vir-
tues Of the proposed program Is that 1t
stands very good chance Of being
adopted by Congress, whereas a much
more ambitious one might very well be
defeated. This is so because 1t is keyed
to our national security. contains MOTH
ing that can rightly be construed as a
move to fasten Federal control on our
school system, and is capable Of being
considered and voted upon apart from
the emotionally supercharged segrega-
tion-integration issue.
In short, 1t is a program that can
and should succeed at time when the
prevailing political climate-especially
the Southern mood, which has been
aggravated by the trouble in Little Rock
is altogether inhospitable to big"
bold" and imaginative" proposals call
ing for such things as great national
OUTLAWS on school construction. The
advocates Of all-or-nothing Federal aid
to education would do well to remember
this