The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1961-03-02
Letter to the Editor
State Teachers College
FrOstburg, Maryland
February q, 1861
dprS. Parents and

FGDfuaIy Il, 1901
Dear Readers, Parents and
Taxpayers:
was not surprised TO see the ar
ticle Group for Higher Education
Formed which appeared on the
front page of the February 16 is
sue of this paper. l am surprised
however, that committees are
not speaking out opposing the con-
version of Frostburg State Teach
ers College into a branch of the
University of Maryland The one
conclusion | can draw is that the
people of Western Maryland dc
not have the facts behind such a
plan.
The above mentioned group is
circulating a petition recommend
ing as a first phase that FrOstburg
State Teachers College be con
verified into a center of the Univer-
sity of Maryland offering courses
leading to ABB. and BIS. degrees
and to provide high school gradu-
ates of Allegany and Garrett Coun-
ties an easily accessible institution.
First let me say that Frostburg
State Teachers College is, and has
been for years, offering BIS. de-
grees in Elementary Education
and Junior High Education, and
has recently extended its of
ferings to prepare senior high
school teachers. The college
has had tWo-year diversi-
fled liberal arts Junior College pro-
gram and as of next academic
year will graduate students with
four-year liberal arts ABB. degrees
The State Teachers College still
has as its chief purpose the prepa-
ration of teachers for the public
schools of the state. Yet, the pres
ent program includes number of
college students not preparing for
teaching. If the college becomes a
branch of the University of Mary
land there is no guarantee that adj
mission pressures from general
college students would not crowd
out prospective teacher education
applicants. Should the University
of Maryland be in control there
would be no assurance that teach
or education students would con-
tinue to make up the greater por-
ton of the student body. Can the
state Of Maryland afford to lose
prospective teachers with the
growing demand for more teachers?
Just what does this merger
mean?
There are no proposals in the
planned merger to expand the
University, only to absorb the al
ready over crowded campus, and
at later date. ToWson. and Sails
burg State Teachers Colleges. This
would mean immediate cOnstruc-
ton of additional buildings, or few
added students would be accom-
mOdated, or the number of teacher
education students would have to
be decreased.
The college would not increase
its prestige or potential attractive
ness to students if it became a
Iranch of the University of Mary
land 1t is already a fully accredited
college, being accredited by the
Middle States Association of Col
leges and Secondary Schools and
by the National Council for Ac-
creditation of Teacher Education.
Many students are attracted to the
Frostburg campus by the expert
ence of dormitory living 1t is a
privilege to be able to attend col
lege and to participate in dormi-
tory life With Frostburg as a
branch of the University of Mary
land most of these dorm expert
ences would be discontinued. In
stead of becoming IAN easily ac-
cessible institution" it would be-
come a highly inaccessible one.
First, no student living within the
radius of another college would be
allowed TO attend the Frostburg
Branch. Secondly, the majority of
those living in Allegany County
and many OF those living in Garrett
County would become commuters