Summary of remarks made by Chancellor Chiang:
Almost 90% of the educational institutions of China had been concentrated on the eastern coast. The Japanese invasion compelled them to move westward. There are now twenty-seven (27) universities located in Free China. Because of the tremendous increase in the cost of living, the government has had to practically feed all the students. Most of them live on rice alone, even the price of rice has risen 1600 times since the war. Practically no books are available. One hopeful trend in the whole picture is the fact that more farmer’s sons are enrolling in the Middle Schools and Universities as well as the Primary Schools. The farmers are one of the groups who have benefited by the inflation. In the Province of Kweichow, 50% of the children of school age are in school, and the farmers are demanding that more schools be opened for their children.
Among the lessons we should learn from the war concerning education are:
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We are forced to find out the reasons why imported things disappear overnight on account of the blockade and cannot be replaced; we have not mastered modern science and technology.
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However, the mastery of applied science and technology is not adequate to cope with the problems of China—we must know more about the pure and natural sciences.
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We must also realize that the Chinese people need to acquire a deeper understanding of Western culture and life, which goes beyond the manufacture of motors and airplanes. I am referring to the logical way of thinking and more objective attitude to all problems.
After luncheon an informal discussion was convened by Dr. Stephen Duggan, Chairman of the Program Committee of the Institute. Those present were Chancellor Chiang, President Shuster of Hunter College, Professor Mead of C.C.N.Y., Professor Goodrich of Columbia and Messrs. Mallory, Brodie and Meng.
President Shuster and Professor Mead accepted the invitation to become members of the American-Chinese Student Advisory Sub-Committee of the Program Committee.
Dr. Duggan then called upon Mr. Meng to outline the problems. Mr. Meng stated that during recent years it could no longer be taken for granted that Chinese students naturally understood American life and culture, particularly those who resided in metropolitan centers. Most of the students are graduate students and only get to know their own small groups. They need to acquire a more liberal and larger background in American life and culture.
The discussion centered around how Chinese and American students should be brought together for their mutual benefit, particularly for the Chinese student to gain a deeper insight into American life.
President Shuster suggested that at least one tea should be held at Hunter College, at which the girls at Hunter should be hostesses. He further suggested that lecturers should be found to speak on different phases of American life.
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Professor Mead suggested that Houston Peterson of Cooper Union might be consulted.
Chancellor Chiang commented on the fact that the Chinese Government had adopted a policy during recent years of curtailing the coming to the United States of undergraduate students. This, in his opinion, is a mistake, because he believes that undergraduate life affords more opportunities for a better understanding of American life and culture. He further said that many of his generation spent many years in this country; he himself spent four years at the University of California, four years at Columbia University, and one year in traveling.
The consensus was that because of the fact that Chinese students were mainly graduate students, the Institute should work out a program which would be effective in doing something for Chinese students in their understanding of American life and culture. A program planned and tried in New York (through which practically all students come at some time before they return to China) might be tried at other metropolitan centers.
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