The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-01-23

dIi W ulSIEI ttltlCdtlOu lk9Iy
will come up for debate in Con-
gress this week. with better than
average chances of sl,ccess-at
least in the Senate.
The administration bill, which
last year won committee APP
prOyal in the Senate. avoids
such tOiichy subjects as racial
Indignation and religious over
tones Furthermore. it carries q
note Of high purpose ii seeking
to rescue lost talent" by seek
ing out students in genuine need.
But despite these and other at
fractions for the scholarships,
the bill contains features which
warrant serious study by those
who are concerned over the
spending Of tax funds. no matter
how worthy the purpose.
A few "stop. look and listen"
signs have been erected by a spe-
cial advisory committee Of the
College Scholarship Service.
which itself is an activity Of the
sizeable and ever growing Col
lege Entrance Examination
Board. The advisory committee
is all for a federal scholarship
program (Which will distress
those who hate to see Uncle
Sam get any deeper into educa-
tom. But at the same time,
the committee does raise a few
warnings.
For example, there is this
business of having each scholar
ship accompanied by a "cost-of-
education" grant Of $3.50 annual
~ to the college which a scholar
ship winner attends. True. the
grant serves as recognition of
the fact that college education
costs more than the students is
able to pay for it. But conceiv-
ably such a grant could persuade
cine colleges to cater predorn-
nantly to the scholarhip holders.
in preference to students who
would bring no "dowry' upon
admission.
Then, too. if awards are to
be made cup to 81 900 a year.
solely on the basis Of need, and
without regard to costs of The
college attended, there is the
possibility that some COMMUNE
ty colleges may cash in on the
deal. Some of these institutions
serve only the youngsters. in
their immediate committing area
indeed, that is their mission i,
and thereby hold costs down to
a bare minimum. It would there
fore be possible for both the
schools and the students to gain
scholarships funds in excess Of
the actual costs of their college
education.
In the total picture, however,
such situations would be greatly
outwelghed, by those in which
the federal scholarships, even at
the 81 900 maximum, would have
to be supplemented with FUNDS
from other sources. Thus, the
scholarship holder at a hgh-cost
college would need a consider
ably larger supplement than
those who choose-and are adj
mitteG follower priced schools.
The Advisory Committee has
suggestion of its own on this
point: That the scholarships
might be made to cover the costs
of tuition, fees. and books-plus
$500. This plan, the committee
feels, would prevent channeling
all the students into medium-or
low-cost schools.
Another point which needs dis
cuSsion and analysis in Congress
is the possible impact of the
proposed scholarship program
on existing programs of grants
and loans. If Uncle Sam hands
out $4,000 college scholarships a
year, as is contemplated ulti-
mately under the administration
bill. this is bound to have an
effect on the loan program OF
the National Defense Education
Act. Who wants to borrow money
when he might get an equal
amount for free?
Obviously, some careful hand
ling will be required if the funds
in both categories are to fulfill
their real purpose-whlch is to
make college education avail
able to youngsters who other
wise would not get one.
One notable feature Of the pro-
prosed Senate bill is the provi.
sion which would allow the scho-
larship winner to select his oWr
college. That seemingly would
avoid the religious angle, al
though the question might be
asked how federal funds could
be disbursed directly to denonl.