TRAPPED IN WASHINGTON Every other community in the United States can offer higher education with public support to those who can't afford the cost of private schools. But not Washington, D.C. Many parents who are determined to send their children to college will be forced to move out of the District to take advantage of publicly supported State or local colleges available to all U.S. citizens except here. If Toby had the prospect of free higher education, he would have many choices for planning his life. Without it, he is trapped. And because the poor lack the money to move about at will, Toby's family can't simply move to a city where free higher education is available. Today, families like Toby's can only hope that the District will offer its people such advanced public educational opportunity-before it's too late for Toby, and for thousands of other children his age. Today, there is no public college in Washington, D.C., offering general courses without cost to the student. Tomorrow, there must be such a college. WHAT ABOUT ALL THE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITES IN THIS AREA NOW? They all cost more money than a boy like Toby will ever be able to afford. Five large universities in the District all charge tuition: Howard, American, Catholic, George Washington, Georgetown. University of Maryland charges a substantial fee for nonresidents. There are several small colleges but they all charge tuition. Washington's universities enroll students from all over the Nation and from foreign countries as well. They cannot even absorb all tuition-paying District students who apply. District of Columbia Teachers College is administered by the District school system. Actually, it's still a "normal school"-situated in two old, small buildings, each partially condemned. Everybody knows it's totally inadequate. DIDN'T CONGRESS PASS THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT LAST YEAR? The Higher Education Act of 1965 does not provide funds for establishing new institutions; it merely supplements existing systems. WHAT ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS? Scholarships help only the few specially gifted students. Thousands capable of doing satisfactory college work are denied the opportunity because they are unable to pay tuition. WHY DOESN'T WASHINGTON HAVE A PUBLIC COLLEGE? Lacking self-government, Washington cannot solve local problems for itself. Washington is an anomaly-not a State and not part of a State. Community colleges are usually created by local governments in response to community needs. We have need, but no effective means of meeting it. HOW CAN WASHINGTON GET A PUBLIC COLLEGE? Only Congress can do the job. Four bills have been introduced in the 89th Congress. S. 293 (Morse), S. 1612 (Bible), H.R. 7385 (Multer) and H.R. 4763 (Diggs-withdrawn in favor of the Multer bill). With some differences, these bills propose to establish a 4-year liberal arts college and a 2-year community college in the District. Only Congress can pass this legislation-but these bills won't be passed without your strong and vocal support. WHO SUPPORTS THE DRIVE FOR A PUBLIC COLLEGE? President Johnson supports the idea. President Kennedy supported the idea. Back in 1795 George Washington supported the idea when he urged establishment' of a national university open to all in the "Federal city." Community groups in and around Washington support the idea. Behind the campaign are churches, parents' groups, unions, both political parties, women's clubs, service organizations, school administrators, civic associations, and dozens more. The Bible and Multer bills embody administration policy, based on a report issued in June 1964 by the President's Committee on Public Higher Education in the District. That Committee included leading educational experts from every section of the Nation. WE NEED IT If we act now, Toby will go to college. Thousands of Washington's young citizens-future teachers, engineers, attorneys, technicians, and scientists-will be able to go to college. They need that college education. We, the community, need it. The Nation needs it. Urge your Congressmen and Senators to enact legislation establishing a public 4-year liberal arts college and a 2-year community college in the District of Columbia. Tell your Congressmen and Senators that Washington's children must bave more than a high school education to become self-supporting, responsible citizens in the years ahead, when demand for unskilled and semi-skilled workers is in decline. Remind your Congressmen and Senators that the Nation needs an increasing number of educated and technical citizens to enhance our national future. Write to: Senator Wayne Morse, chairman, Senate District Subcommittee on Education and Labor, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. Representative Thomas G. Abernethy, Subcommittee No. 2, House Committee on Education and Labor, House Office Building, Washington, D.C. GENERATING HOPE AND SELF-ESTEEM "Higher education for those to whom it was previously inaccessible produces consequences far beyond their own use of it *** generating hope and selfesteem among individuals and groups previously relegated to inferior status. Presenting models of successful escape * * * for those still struggling to emerge *** higher education offers the best hope for * * * progress in our cities' battles against poverty, sickness, unemployment, and crime." (Report of the President's Committee on Public Higher Education in the District of Columbia.) (D.C. Citizens for Better Public Education, Suite 509, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, D.C. 20006, Phone: 333-8484.) Senator MORSE. Miss Pinkett, I am particularly pleased that part of your presentation will consist of statements from the students that you have brought with you. I now call upon you to introduce them and have them make any statement they care to. Miss PINKETT. Thank you, Senator Morse. I would like at this time to introduce the following students, and ask that they be allowed to present their statements. Sybil Templeman from Spingarn High School had to return to school, so I will submit her statement for the record. STATEMENT BY SYBIL TEMPLEMAN, STUDENT, SPINGARN HIGH SCHOOL, MY OPINION As a citizen of the United States and a resident of the District of Columbia, I have certain responsibilities as a good citizen. Among these responsibilities is that of voting when I become 21. Also, there is the responsibilities of helping in my community and living a good life. The Government, whether it is the Federal Government or the District Government, has its responsibilities to fulfill. The most important responsibility is that in the field of education. Through education, a country can insure that it has a bright future with capable leaders and responsible citizens. If everyone who is eligible to vote can and everyone must file an income tax return, why not make it true that everyone who wants to can go to college? The big factor in any person's life who is trying to go to college is money. I feel that this city has a moral obligation to finance a student's education if he cannot but wants to go to college and is capable of getting college work. If we had a new college, it would be a source of new scholarships. Some people I know will have to work for a year or two so they can be able to go to college. This is the main reason why I feel that a new college should be built now. It should help those who only because of financial reasons will not continue their education. A student should not have to interrupt his education because of financial need. The country and the government will benefit from these students. Many may become teachers, scientists, or Congressmen. Why not let it be a two-way street and let the students benefit from the financial aid of the Government? Miss PINKETT. DeAnna Thompson, Roosevelt High School. STATEMENT OF MISS DeANNA THOMPSON, STUDENT, ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL, WASHINGTON, D.C. Miss THOMPSON. Senator Morse, my name is DeAnna Thompson. It is my belief and the belief of the majority of my fellow students at Roosevelt High School that a publicly supported liberal arts college and a 2-year junior college are much needed and reserved institutions for the citizens of the District of Columbia. In our society, where such great emphasis is placed on higher education, the able but less fortunate students of our area are finding it increasingly difficult to continue their education. With all the scholarships, loans, and Government grants available, a great majority of our finer students are still unable to find a means of achieving their goals. Many of these students would find an answer to their problems in the institutions proposed by this legislation; and, in fact, if such an institution did exist today, it would possibly solve some of my problems and those of other qualified students of this city concerning the furtherance of their education. It is my belief that such a college would also pay off in our area in a wider sense. It would relieve the already inadequate physical plant of District of Columbia Teachers College of those students who attend because of its comparatively nominal fee. Many such students have very little interest in the profession and in some instances have no real intention of becoming teachers. Assuming that many of the graduates would remain in the District of Columbia, they would take a more active interest in their community and, as a result, economic, cultural, and social standards in our area would rise. The social and technological advancement made by the United States during our lifetime is perhaps unparalleled by any other period in the history of the world. The establishment of a publicly supported liberal arts college is imperative if we, the citizens of the District of Columbia, are to be able to share in and to contribute fully to the fruits of our society. Thank you. Senator MORSE. I thank you, Miss Thompson. Being a student, yourself, and therefore in a very good position to testify as to what you think the student opinions and student attitudes are, I would like to point ou to you that during these hearings there have been several witnesses who have testified in their opinion if we had the assurance available to the high school students in the District that opportunity would be provided them to go on to college, that we might come to recognize that that would have a cause to affect relationship in these particulars: First, that if some students who drop out of high school knew that they would have a chance to go on to college and prepare themselves with college work for a better livelihood after they had completed college, they might think twice before they dropped out of high school as juniors or seniors when someone came along and offered them a job that they decided at least paid them enough so that they could start making a livelihood. Instead of dropping out, they might forgo that immediate job and stay on in high school so they could eventually go to college. Do you think there is any basis, in fact, for that view? Miss THOMPSON. Yes; I do, because a lot of the students that go to Roosevelt feel lost because they feel there is nothing to do after they graduate from Roosevelt because, I think it has been stated already, that it is even expensive to apply to colleges these days, much less paying for your tuition after you are accepted, with a fee of $10 to $15 just to apply. Some people can't afford to do that so they feel caved, sort of; they don't know what they are going to do when they graduate. I think if they had the assurance of a free 4-year college after high school, it would make them feel more assured of the future. Senator MORSE. Miss Thompson, there is a second point I would raise: There has not been any direct testimony on this, but I think it has been indirectly involved in some of the discussion. Do you think that if students who are in high school now and stay on through graduation; if they knew that a 4-year public college was available to them after graduation, they might prepare themselves a little differently in high school for that college work than is the case now when, as you say, they just don't think there is very much hope for advancement after high school anyway, and that that reflects somewhat on their incentive to do better high school work compared to what they would be able to do if they were trying to go on to college and also might influence somewhat the choices that they make in high school in the courses that they take in order to prepare for life after high school? My question is: Do you think that the availability of a college opportunity after graduation might influence the work of a good many students that do stay on in high school until they finally graduate? Miss THOMPSON. Whenever we have a goal to look forward to, I think we work better and those people who can see that there is something for them after high school would work better because they can see that they have a chance of becoming successful. So, I think that the answer to your question is yes; I do think that they would work better. Senator MORSE. Thank you very much, Miss Thompson. Miss PINKETT. Thomasine Wormley, Eastern High School. STATEMENT OF MISS THOMASINE WORMLEY, EASTERN HIGH SCHOOL, WASHINGTON, D.C. Miss WORMLEY. Senator Morse, the idea of education is to end illiteracy. This idea was achieved in my grandmother's day with the introduction of free and liberal elementary and secondary education. But now, in the space age, a greater need of education is necessary— a college education. In my grandmother's day, everyone could not afford the education. This statement is true today. In all of the 50 States, there is some type of provision for a public college education. In Washington, the District of Columbia, the Capital of the United States, an example of an American city, there is no such provision. I want to let you know that we need and want these facilities to further our education. We understand it takes time, but how much time? When will you provide a public liberal arts college? In 30, 40, 60 years? I hope not. I want to see the college in production in a few years and begin admitting students in less than 10 years. While these hearings are in session, the resources of human brainpower are going to waste without the proper cultivation of a higher education. There are only a few scholarships available and so many young men and women with average scholastical records are competing for the scholarships, and only a few will receive them. With the reality of this statement, several students become discouraged and leave high school to discover the best paying jobs want their applicants to have a college education. Without a college education, these potential college students become unemployed, unqualified, and dissatisfied. In 15 years, a busboy will need a college education in order to operate the machine, a dishwasher. The unfortunate child living in the District of Columbia would have a chance, an opportunity, if you begin this program today-not tomorrow-not 100 years from now. Advancements in technology make it impossible to achieve a proper position in society without a college education. The solution: Give District of Columbia a liberal arts college and a junior college. The results: The fulfillment of needed personnel in several fields, and the beginning of the end of the unemployment and crime now present in the Washington area. Thank you. Senator MORSE. I thank you. It is a very fine statement. You heard the questions I asked Miss Thompson, did you? Miss WORMLEY. Yes, sir. Senator MORSE. Do you agree with her answers? Miss WORMLEY. Yes, sir. Senator MORSE. Do you have any qualifications or additions that you want to make in regard to those questions? |