Show R H I Juni Junior r Colleges for Utah j rIa adopt or reject a a junior coll college system ge system 1 for Utah will be the question confronting the life lie state board of education when it convenes convenes convenes con con- venes October 24 The decision will be tremendously tremendously tremendously tre tre- tre- tre important Fortunately the board will have before it spine challenging information gathered over overa a period of a year by a a. fact finding com corn n mission This report points definitely to some sonic dangers dangers dangers dan dan- gers and pitfalls in the proposed junior college p program program for Utah It also emphasizes the arguments that were advanced at t the last I legislature in an In apparent attempt to obtain immediate commitment of the state to the junior college plan The flie fact finders make it plain that it will require more revenue to undertake junior college instruction and they admit that they se see no present hope of obtaining the additional addi addi- tonal lanai funds They also rai raise this point Even if the money were forthcoming would it be wise for or the state to undertake a a anew new educational function before the elemen elemen- element elementary t tary ry secondary and high schools arc are brought u up to standard On the opposite side of the picture we believe the commission has been fair in stating stating stat stat- ing ink the advant advantages or theoretical reasons for aJ junior a college system A hasty examination of ot the whole report indicates that the board boardo o of education will actually have facts and not vacuous vacuous generalities to study when it meets to draw up its recommendations to the governor and legislature f The educational leaders leaders' of the state slate need to lend the weight of their unbiased judgment t to th the final decision There are m many ny reasons why a junior college program might be decidedly de decidedly de- de harmful to the future educational progress of Utah tah The proponents of junior colleges should be so independent and honest- honest minded that they will viiI face these issues squarely square square- l ly not evade them If junior colleges eventually eventually- established in eight districts of the state would absolutely absolutely l tely assure our boys and g girls a better education education edu edu- cation then it would conceivably be worth the additional tax burden burgen But we sincerely fear that junior colleges i might ight actually lower the educational 1 standards in Utah might detract detract de de- detract de- de tract and weaken the efficiency of th the present educational system These are not matters to be settled how however ver by laymen the best educators of the state should lead us to wise conclusions on the Si significant problem 6 |