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University Daily Kansan
Friday, Oct. 1, 1965
Doubts Shackle Progress
This week in Kansas City governors or their representatives from the 50 states and three U.S. territories gathered to propose a major innovation in American education—an interstate compact on education. The compact, if ratified by 10 to 15 state legislatures, would be the first nationwide agreement among the state governments to improve the U.S. educational system.
TERRY SANFORD, former governor of North Carolina, who has been the moving force behind the plan, describes the compact as a means to provide the machinery for suggesting "alternatives" for improving education. Sanford has stressed that if the proposed compact and its accompanying features is accepted, the objective would be to provide guidance, not dictate nationwide policy, in improving state school systems.
The months of planning and discussion with American educators which preceded the Kansas City conference and the fact that every state was represented seemed to indicate at least interest, if not enthusiasm, the initial idea. The compact would provide an unprecedented opportunity for the states, independent of federal government, to join in improving the U.S. education system.
But, not unexpectedly, a brilliant idea, still in the embryonic stage, has slowly bogged down. What could have meant an electrifying step seems to have charted a lethargic course leading to an inevitable halt. The ubiquitous fear of "big brother bureaucracy" which is gripping so many areas of this country has, with cancer-like deadliness, dealt a possibly fatal blow to the compact.
EVEN WITH POINTED evidence of the compact's value as the first step toward obviating the need of federal interference in state provinces (aside from monetary assistance), reluctance to support the compact is prevalent.
Speaking before the conference Wednesday, Gov. Richard Hughes of New Jersey pointed out that "while education needs the imposing financial resources of the federal government, the states should not accept a reduced role in developing educational policy.
THERE IS ANOTHER fear breeding reluctance to push the compact from the idea stage into reality. Educators and existing educational organizations fear their own efforts would be superseded by whatever suggestions and alternatives the commission would offer.
In calming this fear, Dr. James B. Conant pointed out the success of three regional state compacts in the South, West and New England.
"These regional compacts have proved their worth as joint planning agencies and in at least one instance have administrative powers. I see nothing (in the proposal) that in any way limits the activities of these regional interstate boards."
DOUBT HAS CROPPED out in another area, too. One of the most persistent doubts is, rather obviously, the problem of financing the compact.
Dr. Conant, as self-appointed observer and critic of American education and author of "Shaping Educational Policy," is qualified to speak with authority.
Representatives of both the Danforth and Carnegie foundations attended the conference and the foundations are considering grants that would finance the first two years of operation until states could support it, which should provide a strong incentive for all the states to ratify the compact.
FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT'S perceptive observation "We have nothing to fear but fear itself," could logically be applied to the obstacles confronting acceptance of the compact. Educators above all people should know that knowledge is the only weapon against fear. Evidence which has been presented to combat the fear of federal interference, the compact's possible effect on existing organizations and the question of finances should reduce these qualms to manageable hob gobblins.
It can only be hoped that those who could make the proposed compact a purposeful operation will realize this and move toward a significant improvement in American education.
Football Fans Prevail
People who are trying valiantly to convince themselves they can chart the course of their lives before Madison Avenue does, have faith. I have discovered there is one sacred territory left in the American dream which advertising copywriters, with their saccharine, sexy vocabulary and persuasive come-ons, have not captured
No matter how hard he tries, no advertising man can convince me that the majority of American sports fans behave at football games as copywriters intend them to.
Karen Lambert
DEFINITELY, THE RUGGED individualist still prevails.
The ingredients for an afternoon of sports fun, Madison Avenue style, include:
- A sleek, cream colored station wagon equipped with a damask tablecloth (for the tail gate);
- A picnic basket filled with culinary delights (cheerfully prepared by Mom before she and the family left Liberal, Kans., at 4 a.m. for a relaxing afternoon at a Lawrence game);
- The members of the typical American family (sister and brother in neatly pressed togs. Mother in a Dior suit and Dad sporting gray flannels, a pennant from the old Alma Mater and a tasteful fedora).
There is always plenty of parking space and no traffic problems in the ad man's ivory tower. Usually, there's a shady grove, conveniently located just three feet from the stadium, where the family can gather for a refreshing repast.
EVERYONE IS HAPPY at football games. Toothpaste smiles are flashed with abandon, particularly at the man who just zoomed ahead to get the last parking space within five blocks of the stadium.
Courtesy and decorum are the word at these fairy tale events. When the star quarterback fumbles, does anyone exercise his command of profauny, or wave an indignant fist. Perish the thought! With a philosophical "You can't win 'em all" attitude, Mr. Sportsfan simply shrugs it off and sympathetically offers a "better luck next time" condolence to the unhappy player.
Anyone who has ever attended a football game knows this advertising dream is fantasy.
In the first place, Dad probably spent so much for season football tickets that he couldn't afford to wash the car. Mom is out of her mind if she even considers a picnic. Who wants homecooked food when concession stand stomach shrivelers can be purchased for 75 cents and up?
AS TO ATTIRE, with football starting as early as July or August, anyone who wears more than the clothing required for maintaining public decency is a masochist.
The only way to stay alive and preserve sanity at football games is to be a rugged individualist (the more rugged, the better). It's strictly a matter of survival of the fittest and there is no sophisticated way to succeed.
— Karen Lambert
The road to paradise is a difficult one, especially for KU students who are trying to get there by way of Danforth Chapel.
The adage about "walking the straight and narrow path" has suddenly become an absolute necessity unless one is mad for stepping in gaping cavities or skipping across piles of earth fill.
THE PEACEFUL, RUSTIC setting under singing pine trees is undergoing a metamorphosis that would make Kafka shudder. What was once a tranquil corner is rapidly becoming an eyesore to be avoided when travelling across campus.
Construction of old Fraser Hall's replacement can't be delayed, but it does seem, with today's rapid building methods, that a fence could hastily have been erected to protect the immediate area surrounding the Chapel.
— Karen Lambert
But this is progress. A new building has to rise in a hurry, so the scenery must suffer.
Daily Hansan
111 Flint Hall
UNiversity 4-3646, newsroom
UNiversity 4-3198, business office
Founded 1889, became biweekly
1904, triweekly 1908, daily Jan. 16,
1912
Member Inland Daily Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press, Represented by National Advertising Service, 18 East 50 St., New York, N.Y. 10022. News service: United Press International. Mail subscription rates: $4 a semester or $7 a year. Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays, University holidays, and examination periods. Second class postage paid at Lawrence, K an. Accommodations, goods, services and employment advertised in the University Daily Kansas are offered to all students without regard to color, creed, or national origin.
Photo by Bill Stephens
"IN NAKED BEAUTY more adorn'd, more lovely than Pandora." John Milton's lines from "Paradise Lost" fittingly describe the statue of the tranquil maiden standing in the patio south of the Museum of Art.
On the Side...
The Great American Dream no longer corresponds with the success of the individual. We now plan for our retirement in 40 years with a comfortable pension. Much easier than working.
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Gandhi would roll over in his grave if he could see his peaceful, nonaligned nation now. He accomplished more by not raising an arm against anyone than all the armies of the world have ever accomplished.
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Now that the immigration laws of this country have been relaxed, our friendly, neighborhood bigots can transfer their prejudices from Negroes, who have been here as long as they have, to the newcomers.
In the same vein, Sen. John L. McClellan (D-Ark.) said discrimination against foreigners is only in the national self-interest, We've always felt this way, especially after the Civil War, when the South considered itself a separate nation.
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There's a new twist to the old eternal triangle. A freshman girl accepts one date for a football game, forgets she made the date and makes another. Then she finds out her mother is coming up to visit the same day. Both dates get shot down and end up with her roommate, who is cuter anyhow.
. . .
Our favorite professor is the one who uses the same notes year after year. He eliminates the necessity for thinking, both for himself and for his students.
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S
After all the fuss last year, we now find out that few, if any, Negroes went through rush. We heard one of them say that although some of his best friends were white, he certainly wouldn't live with them.
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In case you've ever wondered why the student's favorite BEVERAGE is never advertised by name in the Kansan, it can be explained by the paragraph that now appears in every issue, which states that all services are offered to anyone, regardless of race, religion and etc., ad infinitum. Beer, you know, is either light or dark. And some students express a preference for one over the other. That might be termed discrimination.
Harry Krause