Faculty, Parents Fight For School From Battle On The Campus Series By Bill Worth Citizen-Journal Staff Writer Thursday, February 11th, 1965 Copyright 1965, Columbus Citizen-Journal Used by permission Third of a Series
The decision to close the upper six grades of University School started a battle still raging among faculty members at Ohio State University's College of Education. Parents of students enrolled in University School also have joined the fray. They are upset because their children obtain what is equivalent to a private school education at University School at a cost far lower than most private schools. It costs $210 in tuition, plus $81 a year for lunches, to send a child to University School. With University School closing its upper six grades, parents either will have to send their children to more expensive private schools or to public schools. Dr. David Clark, associate dean of the college, says the decision was regrettable, but the college was forced to choose between maintaining and expanding a program to help public schools in Ohio. He says there is not enough money to do both.
Dr. Paul Klohr, a faculty member and former director of University School, says that is not the point. The questions is whether the state will provide adequate resources or whether we have to 're-deploy' existing resources to a different area," Dr. Klohr said recently. "The committee report, ( which urged' closing University School ) assumed the were no resources available." He referred to a year long study recently complete by Prof. John I. Goodlad, of the University of California at Los Angeles. "The report, sponsored by he Ford Foundation, concludes that a college-controlled laboratory school is essential in translating experimental projects to public schools," Dr. Klohr said. "The essence of the report is that a 'bits and pieces' program, which concentrates on specific projects, is not enough. We need full programs, such as the kindergarten - through 12th grade offered at University School. Referring to the OSU decision to concentrate on developing its experimental program with Ohio schools and close University School, Dr. Klohr asks: "Can you do what Goodlad suggests with only one? We're going to have to redeploy in order to get outside funds for specific projects." Dr. Klohr is not the only faculty member who opposes closing University School. Four members of the 14-member advisory committee which urged closing the school drafted a minority report criticizing the decision. They, too, were disturbed by the money problem.