For the first time in history Oregon taxpayers have been told that their children cannot enter state-supported colleges unless they meet certain standards beyond mere high school graduation.
The new limited admission policy was revealed earlier this week by the State Board of Higher Education, and will go into effect in the fall of 1958. Prospective students will be required to earn a C average in high school or score 60 percent on a standard college aptitude test.
Had this plan been used this year, only 9 percent of entering freshmen would have been barred. Thus the proposal is not revolutionary in practice, but the principle certainly is.
Since Oregon has no junior college system and thus no tax-supported alternative for the student who cannot meet this standard, there is bound to be criticism of the new policy. Some will shout that their government is depriving their children of the right to an education. The fallacy of such an argument is obvious.
There are two good reasons for this action. One is economic. Taxpayers are apparently unwilling to pay for all the quality and quantity of education that would be desirable. Since something must be sacrificed, it would seem that barring the least qualified students would be the place to begin.
Another reason is stressed by President O. Meredith Wilson. He welcomes the decision as a step toward rising academic standards. He prefers barring unqualified students instead of allowing them to overcrowd the facilities until they flunk out, as most of them would.
Whether any organized opposition to the limited admission policy will arise remains to be seen. Meanwhile the Emerald strongly commends the decision as a forward step for Oregon Education.
Editor’s note: This Editorial is taken from the Jan. 25, 1957 edition of the Oregon Daily Emerald.