The Month in Focus

ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE Monthly Vol. VIII, No. 2 February, 1945 The Month in Focus Veteran Education The act of Congress which provides for the education increased attention as ever-growing or continued education of returning veterans is arousine numbers of charged service men are resuming participation in academic life. The situation already has presented many delicate problems, and it is obvious the act must be administered with care. The opportunity of a free education in institutions of higher learning may stimulate many to enter into college courses, but unless proper guidance and counsel is provided for these individuals, more harm than good may come from the program. In some institutions, the existence of barriers such as entrance examinations may greatly reduce the assimilation of individuals into courses for which they do not have aptitude. However, the number of institutions which require entrance examinations is relatively small and is restricted principally to a few technical colleges. It may profit a man to pursue courses in liberal without definite objectives from the standpoint of arts gen- eral improvement of intellect. but increased earning power may not be effected by such a procedure. proper By counselling. the individual may be directed toward courses which will provide training in a specific field for which he has an aptitude and which will qualify him to secure certain types of positions. At the same time he may be given greater familiarity with the subjects of general interest. The colleges are not the only ones who can be of assistance to the returning veteran. There are many who will profit most by becoming skilled in some trade. During the period of the war, a relatively small number of young men will have been trained in the civilian trades to replace the older men. Industry can do much for itself and the veteran by providing a certain amount of training along these lines. Industry can also play an important part in the training of those who elect to pursue college courses by cooperating with the colleges. There is some indication already that there may be a closer cooperation in this field than before the war. After all, the colleges train individuals in fundamentals which serve as the foundation upon which industry must build the training of its employees in the specific skills. Whether the training is to be in a trade, a profession or an art, guidance is necessary to prevent disappoint- February, 1945 ments and failures. These of course will occur regardless of the effectiveness of counselling. but certainly with guidance, the score should be better. War or Postwar While one does not wish to appear pessimistic, he cannot help being disappointed in the over-confidence shown by a large number of individuals in this country during the past six months. Victories such as the recent. Russian advances in Germany and American conquests in the Philippines have led to a distinct feeling of complacency and unfortunately • to much over-confidence. These remarks are directed specifically to those technical people who are thinking more about postwar than about present activities. Possibly such direction is unjust. for the lead is, in many cases, taken by officials who may plant the germ of complacency. However, a reserve of fuel by which high pressure steam can be produced up to the finish. may get the job done sooner than if the fuel tank runs dry and operations must stop until more fuel can be obtained. A runner who passes all contestants prior to crossing the finish line has not won the race; he must give all the strength he has to assure a win. Continued concentrated effort on the part of the civilian worker in his contribution to the war, be it money or labor, will assist in reducing the suffering and loss of life as well as the expenditure of material goods. Blood for the Arteries of War At the risk of seeming repetitious it is desirable to emphasize again the dramatic and vital role that human blood is playing in the winning of the war and the saving of our wounded fighting men. The annals of World War Il are filled with actual examples of men who have survived fire and explosion to walk and fight again only because of prompt and adequate supply of whole blood or blood plasma at the battle front. Timely and inter- esting as Dr. Winegarden's article on the processing and use of blood in this issue is. we hope its most important effect will be to help insure an increased supply of this basic commodity of life at its source, the civilian blood donor. Let it be made available neither in too little quantity nor too late. Page 3