Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-06
PARTIAL TEXT

OF President hennedyS COM
rgencement address today at
San Diego State College:
This is a proud moment
proud for me as a recipient Of
this honorary degree proud
for those of you who have
earned your degrees with hard
labor-proud for your families
and communities who also
labored hard for this achieve
ment. Only a small portion of
the worlds population can
share and understand that
pride. In fact, only a small
portion Of our own population
have completed four years of
college. -.
You are the fortunate ones,
the educated. the elite. the only
aristocracy our system permits.
But / am not here merely to
congratulate you. I am
here to remind you Of your
responsibilities - and particu-
larry your responsibility toward
education, toward those who
should follow in your footsteps.
It is time the whole
Nation faced up more frankly
to the answers to three basic
questions: First, whether every
American child has an equal
chance for q good education;
second, whether. the quality Of
American education is adequate
to our current needs. and third.
whether the educational system
we have today can meet the
demands Of tomorrow.
Facts About Opportunity
First, does every American
child today have a fair educa-
tional opportunity? Let me cite
a few facts:
/. In this fortunate State Of
California, the average current
expenditure for a boy or girl
in the public schools Is $5l5.
But in the State of Mississippi
it is $3.50. The average salary
for classroom teachers in Cali
fornia is $7.050-while it is
only $3.50 in Mississippi.
2. Nearly three-quarters Of
the young white population Of
our Nation have graduated
from high school-but only
about two-fifths of our nom
white population have finished.
8. In one American State,
over SO per cent Of the public
school buildings are over 40
years old. In another, only
4 per cent are that old.
Such facts make it clear
that American children today
do not yet enjoy equal educa-
tional opportunities, for two
primary reasons: One is eco
nomic and the other is racial.
II our Nation is to meet the
goal Of giving every American
child a fair educational break,
we must move swiftly ahead in
both areas. We must put more
resources into the undernour-
ished sectors of our education
system. And We must lecog-
nize that segregation in edu-
cation-and I mean the de
facto segregation Of the North
as well as the proclaimed segre-
CATION of the South-brings
with it serious handicaps to a
large percentage of our Ma
tons population.
System Of Equality
Our goal must be an educa-
tional system in the spirit of
the Declaration Of Independ-
ence-a system in which all
are created equal-a system in
which every child, whether born
a bankers son in a Long Island
mansion. or a Negro share
troopers son in an Alabama
cotton field. has every oppor-
tunity for an education that
his abilities and character de-
serve.
Our current educational pro-
grams do not meet our cur
rent needs. We need q major
effort to eradicate adult illit-
eracy-for the man who can
not read a "help wanted" ad
or write a letter is beaten be-
fore he starts. We need to i'm
prove our programs OF technical
and vocational education, both
in school and after school We
need to combat the drop-out
problem.
Finally, we need to strengthen
the freedom Of research, in
quiry and Judgment which Is
the glory of our civilization.
Our schools must present our
children with all the facts
about their world and their
heritage-not Just those which
support a single viewpoint or
party line. For education is
the instrument Of freedom, and
indoctrination the weapon Of
tyranny - and the difference
between education and indoc-
trination best sums up the diff
ference between ourselves and
our adversaries abroad. -.
We must take rapid meas
ures to enlarge our educational
facilities. TO extend our pro-
grams Of fellowships, TO improve
our teacher training and our
Libraries and our laboratories
and TO work In every way To
keep our education abreast OF
our population growth.
Education. historically and
necessarily, is the responsibility
Of the State and the local COM
munity. Those who are willing
to make the necessary in
vestment-in approving bond
Issues, In building modern IA
cilities, in paying salaries suffi-
cient TO attract and retain
NaIAZA-A