SING FOR YOUR SUPPER

Tactfully omitting reference to Harvard's National Scholarships, Inglis Lecturer Aubrey Williams last week proclaimed to a be-Fogged audience the joys and benefits of labor. More, for once, in the tradition of Jefferson than is Jefferson-admiring President Conant, Mr. Williams by implication criticized his host's views on the "distraction" of earning a living, and put up a convincing argument for the work scholarship instead of the direct stipend.

Although they agree completely and entirely on the end to be achieved--higher education for able young people from all economic classes--Jim and Aubrey differ, at least at first blush, about the type of scholarship aid which should be provided for the able but needy. Youth Administrator Williams asserts that the student who works to earn some of the costs of his education is happier, learns better work habits, and feels himself more a member of the community, than the boy who is simply given the money he needs, without any productive service being required of him. Replying that a student can find better things to do with his time than stack books away, particularly if he is preparing himself for the "learned professions," Mr. Conant places himself in the other camp, and advocates straight financial aid of the Harvard National Scholarship variety.

The truth, as a certain Harvard professor is wont to exclaim, probably lies somewhere in between. Both Mr. Conant and Mr. Williams place great stress on the individual as the proper unit to deal with--and if this test is adopted, then clearly the answer is not, either work or cash scholarships, but both. Some individuals undeniably benefit by the work experience, while others find it too heavy a drain on their energies. There are enough of each variety here to make it practical for Harvard to combine the two types of scholarships. Mr. Conant, by lending his sanction to the Temporary Student Employment Plan, has shown that he realizes this, and that his scholarship views are after all not, in practice, so very different from those of Mr. Williams.

With so much sweetness and light abounding, the final rapprochement of Jim and Aubrey should be near. The President needs more money for his scholarship plan, and the National Youth Administrator stands at the head of a program which is, in its essentials, like T. S. E. The stage is set for more and mernier Tommy Tuckers.