Statement By Commissioner Of Education Earl McGrath, Can Federal Aid Meet the Demands Of Higher Education In America

CAN FEDERAL AID MEET THE DEMANDS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN AMERICA* No advocate of Federal aid has ever believed that the contributions of the Federal Government should meet all the demands of higher education in America. It is generally agreed that both publicly-and privately- supported institutions, as they have in the past, should continue to rely principally upon their customary sources of income. Those who favor Federal aid believe that Federal funds could make higher education more generally available, first, by outright financial grants to able students and, second, by grants to be used for capital expenditures. Recent surveys have established the fact that an alarming percentage of the ablest high school students do not, because of lack of funds, go on to further study in the colleges. Scholarship aid would bring the benefits of college education to these better minds which are now denied such opportunities. For many years educators have decried the personal loss and inexcusable social waste caused by denying youth the advantages of higher education. The recent satisfying college records of veterans operating under the G. I. Bill of Rights have demonstrated the fact that additional large numbers of students can profit from higher education. A scholarship program would help students, schools, and society. More students would get higher education, schools would get more good students, and society would get a more effective citizenry. Opening statement of Earl J. McGrath, U. S. Commissioner of Education, Federal Security Agency, Washington, D. C. at the Third Annual Bulletin Forum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 23, 1949 - 2:30 P.M.