Conant Urges Improvement, Growth of 2-Year Colleges

President Conant urged last night the improvement and expansion of two-year colleges in this country, but at the same time declared that growth in the number of four-year colleges is undesirable.

Speaking before the 39th annual convention of the National Retail Dry Goods Association at the Hotel Statler in New York, Conant said that "we can never have too much ... general education directed toward making a more responsible citizen and a better developed individual."

He warned, however that an overemphasis on advanced education can lead to "unemployed groups of people highly trained for special professions."

Backs Taft Measure

Conant came out strongly in support of the bill of Senator Robert A. Taft LL.B. '13 (R-Ohio) for federal aid to education and stated that increased education for high-school graduates "must be paid for by the taxpayer."

Pointing out the high cost involved in running a residential college, the President declared that the most economical education is that given "locally in a local community."

The two-year community colleges, which now teach about 10 percent of students above high school level, should be expanded to take 20 to 30 percent, Conant urged.