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OCR Page 1 of 5Statement by *
Earl J. McGrath, U. S. Commissioner of Education
April 6, 1951
Unfortunately, confusion characterizes current discussion of
deferment of college students. The facts should be kept straight.
First, men deferred for college study will be subject to induc-
tion when they graduate - a fact that is frequently forgotten. Secondly,
the number of draft-eligible students now in college is relatively
small, because of the presence of veterans, 4-F's, and ROTC enrollees
in the student body. Thirdly, the recent Executive Order establishing
a Nationwide test as one basis for consideration for student deferment
is a temporary measure, designed to deal with the immediate situation
while permanent legislation is under debate.
The basis on which students are to be deferred has been widely
interpreted by some as meaning that college men could escape the
obligation of military service. As I understand it, deferment does
not constitute escape from military service, but rather is merely
a means of postponing the induction of students until they have
completed their studies. The general rule will be that a man will
serve his tour of military duty on completing his studies.
With reference to college enrollments, estimates of the current
year show that more than two-thirds of the men now in college are
either veterans of World War II, or are physically unfit for military
service, or are enrolled in the ROTC. Of the remaining one-third,
a very large percentage is under draft induction age, so that if those
*
Statement to press concerning deferments.
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