V PAGE 20 - PLAINDEALER - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20,1975 COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN ILLINOIS The story of higher educa- .tion in Illinois has been one of increased access for more people. In the antebellum peri od higher education combined classical subjects and religious philosophy in a strong liberal arts curriculum. The initial state effort, the Normal schools and the University of Illinois, emphasized the more utilitarian goals of teacher edu cation, engineering, and scien tific agriculture. This movement was primari ly associated with the post- Civil War 19th century and meant to deal with the upward ly mobile, academically orient ed student. Also, the expense of tuition and living away from home limited such education primarily to economically healthy families. The growth of the commu nity college idea is based on faith in the common man and in the American way, repre senting a continuing hope for an educational manifestation of the aspirations and ideas, the optimism and democracy, of Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson^ (And in many ways tensions between the liberal arts and vocational/ technical training on present- day campuses reflect an over simplified misreading of the differences between the elitist Virginia planter and the prac tical frontier soldier from Ten nessee.) Thus, the oldest public jun ior college in the United States, Joliet Junior College, founded in 1901, was born in the midst of a major period of political reform aimed at making a greater share of the promise of American life available to more nple. unior colleges did not play an important part in higher education in Illinois, however, until after World War II, and the first legislation pertaining specifically to them was not passed until 1937. The crush of veterans seeking admission to the University of Illinois and other existing state institutions after World War II led to the establishment of a series of two-year branches around Illinois to accommodate them. These would become the focus of the junior-college system. Following a series of studies in the 1950s, the Illinois legis lature authorized the creation of independent junior-college districts in 1959. In 1965 the legislature passed the Public Junior College Act creating the Illinois Junior College Board. Its objectives included up grading existing public junior colleges and eventual division of the entire state into junior- college districts. At least 15 percent of the curriculum was mandated to fields leading di rectly to employment. At the time, a disparate group of 16 junior colleges offering little vocational- technical training constituted the nucleus of the new system. Within a year, however, 23 applications for districts were received and approved by the new board. By 1975 some 39 community college districts in the state operated 48 campuses for 327,170 citizens in credit and noncredit classes (in creasing from 66,217 in 1965). All but one district is operated by local boards and financed by local as well as state tax monies. The community col lege of East St. Louis operates solely with state tax money. The decision to extend state support to community colleges was, in one sense, a major departure from the develop ment of higher education in the state. It added vocational training to the liberal arts/ scientific curricular goal and taught a new nonresidential and place-bound clientele with few practical limitations on age or occupational status, or lack of it. Community coDeges theo retically bring higher education within the reach of every high- school graduate in the state, extending, in effect, semi-free public education from kinder garten through grade 14. In that sense the community col leges are very much a part of the broad trend to spread the benefits of education to as many of the state's citizens as possible. Editor's Quote Book True happiness must arise from well-regulated affections, and an affection includes a duty. Mary Wellstonecraft CONSUMER LEGISLATION By LESTER W. BRANN, |R. President Illinois State Chamber of Commerce The Illinois Legislature has been criticized by some for not passing enough consumer-oriented legislation. But as it turns out the legislators may have done consumers a big favor. - Most of the legislation proposed would have cost consumers a great deal of money one way or another. It's a little like "the old one-two." The consumer either gets hit through higher product or service prices or he gets hit through higher taxes needed to support government consumer protection functions. Among the bills which failed to pass the legisla ture was one to create a state Consumer Protection Agency and a Consumer Advocate. This agency would have been allowed to meddle in the affairs of other government agencies and in court and regulatory proceedings, as well as private busi ness, under a sweeping and poorly-defined grant of authority. X. Illinois History Qtuiz XmI Prepared by the m Illinois State Historical Society Old State Capitol, Springfield 62706 1. The first modern "skyscraper" was the Home Insurance Building, built in Chicago in 1884. How many stories did it have? a-five; b-eight; c-ten; d-fifteen 2. How old was Abraham Lincoln when he was assass inated? a--46; b--56; c--59; d--63 3. With what profession is the name Greene Vardiman Black associated? a-dentistry; b-medicine; c-law; d-forestry 4. The Illinois Executive Mansion has just undergone ex tensive rehabilitation. When was it originally built? a-1823; b-1840; c-1855; d-1868 5. Where is the lowest point in Illinois? a-Chicago; b--Cairo; c-Carmi; d-Cahokia (Answers below) Illinois History Quiz Answers 1 -c, ten. The architect was Wil liam LeBaron Jenney, called the "true father of the skyscraper" for his use of "skeleton con struction." 2-b, 56. He was bom Feb. 12, 1809 and died Apr. 15, 1865. 3-a, dentistry. Greene Vardiman Black (1836-1915) was bom near Winchester, IL, taught in several dental schools, and was dean of Another problem. with most of the consumer legislation before the Illinois General Assembly is that it duplicates or overlaps existing authority. Such was the case of a bill to create an Illinois Consumer "Products Safety Act. This Act would directly duplicate the work of the Federal Con sumer Product Safety Commission in prescribing safety standards and banning hazardous products. In the name of protecting personal privacy, a measure was introduced to impose new regula tions on credit reporting agencies, which would certainly have raised the cost of credit to all and which would have denied credit to some who are presently able to get it. ^ The list goes on and on. In case after case, it is a matter of well-meaning legislators introducing legislation to allegedly help members of the public--legislation which actually would end up curbing the consumer's freedom of choice and costing him more money. The people of Illinois should thank the General Assembly for giving these so-called "consumer" bills the old one-two. For And About Teenagers TV COMMENTARY By John Smiley Northwestern University's dental school from 1897 until his death. Sometimes called the "Father of Modem Dentistry," Black lived to see most of his ideas on the care, treatment, and repair of teeth become the accepted meth ods of modern dentistry. 4-c, 1855.The Illinois Executive Mansion is the third oldest in the U.S. of those built for the exclusive use of the governor. 5--b, Cairo, which is 279 feet above sea level, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. THIS WEEK'S LETTER: I have a very close friend that has a problem with her parents. They took her out of our school and sent her about sixty miles from all of her friends. I hope this let ter will let her parents realize what they are doing to her because this has happened before. Her parents don't listen to her--they just jump off the bat and send her away. I think if they loved her they would let her tell her side of the story. OUR REPLY: Don't jump to such hasty conclusions about what's going on inside another household. Your friend's parents do love their daughter--for you to think differently is missing the mark. Give them the benefit of a doubt. Naturally you're sad that your friend left your school. Share those feelings with your friend and her parents. Com municate to them what you and the rest of her friends at school are thinking. Chances are the parents have very good reasons for sending their daughter to another school. Find out their side of the story--and learn to ac cept things for the way they are. THIS WEEK'S LETTER: I have a problem. My problem is I go out with my friends to have fun but I don't have fun. My friends do but I don't. I try and talk to people but I don't have the courage to talk. Especially to girls. I would like to talk to girls but I don't know what to talk about. Also, when I'm in a crowd I try and talk but it seems like they're not interested. So I'm kind of embarassed around people. What do you think I should do? OUR REPLY: If you can really get that you're not having fun--and get into that--pretty soon you'll be having fun The key is to accept what's really going on and let it be there. Until you do that it won't disappear. Don't assume too much as far as your friends are concerned. They may be going through something similar to your situation but are just better at faking it. Talk about whatever you want to talk about--even to girls! Share and communicate with those peo ple who make you feel most com fortable. And things are not the way they seem--they're the way they are. Becoux of the volume of letters to this column, requests for personal replies can not be accommodated. Editorial panel selects for weekly use, letter which best represents questions and/or comments from readers. FOR & ABOUT TEENAGERS, BOX 639, FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY 40601. AFTER A LONG ABSENCE from television, Phil Silvers will reappear next season minus his sergeant stripes. This time he'll be in a seri ous role in a S.W.A.T; epi sode. He'll aid the police in habbing an unruly gang of jewel thieves. The segment will also feature Christopher George, Sal Mineo, Susan Dey and Lesley Warren. NETWORKS will be whet ting viewer appetites by showing movie-length pilots of forthcoming series in the late summer. Some will be repeats. On August 28, for example, CBS plans to rerun its "Switch." The following night the "Kate McShane" preview will be aired. NOT TO BE OUTDONE, NBC has scheduf&d an "El- lery Queen" segment for September 7, the night be fore premiere week begins. ABC has not announced what shows will be released early, if any. One may bet his best boots that this net work will get on board the early bird bandwagon, how ever, since CBS and NBC- have already announced an early showing of eight of their new offerings. ONE of the "Police Wom an" stories next season will have a cast including rela tives of well known show business personalities. Ap pearing with Angie Dickin son will be Suzanne Edwards, wife of TV game-show host Geoff Edwards: Cher's sis ter Georganne La Piere; and Mickey Spillane's wife, Sherrie. NBC still has not made up its mind on an actor to portray Rudolph Valentino in its movie of the great film lover's life. ROMANCE OF A HORSE- THIEF is an ABC summer movie to be shown on August 18th. Appearing in the cast will beYul Brynner, Eli Wal- lach and Lainie Kazan. KEEP ON TRUCKING is a four week series of spoofs and attempts at comedy. Un fortunately, last week the attempt was made in vain. There was no spark, it had four flats, and it was sitting on empty. GUNSMOKE is done but James Arness' TV career is still quite alive. ®He'll be back in the saddle again next season in an ABC TV- movie called "The Maha- cans."If the movie becomes a series, Arness will prob ably appear in every third episode. GUNSMOKE ran for 20 years. NEXT SEASON Anthony Quayle will play King Saul in a Biblical special on the life and reign of King David. Produced by ABC, the four hour production will be tele cast in a couple of two-hour segments. THERE IS a report that Muhammad Ali will play in an ABC special next fall. Also appearing on the spe cial will be Flip Wilson, Howard Cosell, Diana Ross, and Gabe Kaplan. ON SEPTEMBER 21 NBC will challenge ABC's "Wide World of Sports" and CBS's "Sports Spectacular" with a new series called "Grand stand." The program will of fer up to five uninterrupted h o u r s a w e e k o f c u r r e n t sports events, to be seen on Sunday afternoons. VIEWERS who are hooked on the "Bob Newhart Show" will be interested in these previews of coming attrac tions. Friend Howard will mis-cue and not win Bob's sister as his bride. However, true love will bloom on the show as Bob's trusty recep tionist sets out on a suc cessful venture to woo and wed a travel agent. MORE THAN 100 actors applied for the part of Ru dolph Valentino in the up coming ABC TV-movie of the legendary silent-film star's career. ABC is producing a spe cial,"Fleanor and Franklin," which is the story of the late President Roosevelt and his wife. The four hour episode will be telecast in two two- hour segments. Whatever deceives seems to exercise a kind of magical enchantment. -Plato. Be Pat Of DM "TOP TBI" TWs Ml In Back T« Sctxwl (Mm. McHenry High School McHenry Jr. High School HEADQUARTERS FOR MCHENRY HIGH • Gym Outfits • Gym Socks • School Jackets FOR TRACK & HBO • Hooded Sweatshirts if Regular Sweatshirts •' Sweat Pants HIGH FASHION PANTS By Levi & Kazoo Jeans and fancies in the newest colors and styles. LEVI DENIM Bell bottoms, jackets, and all of the accessories. Watchbands, belts, hats, visors, wallets, totebags and key cases. i TncQeeJA* ^ T O R E f o r M E N Edgebrook School Valley View School COME IN and let us help you with all of your back to schooi needs. We are at your service with two floors stocked with the latest in fall colors and patterns. All guaranteed to make you look great and feel comfortable all thru the year.. SNEATERS With football season just around the comer, choose from our selection of Jantzen and McGregor sweaters. MOM! We Have Montini sweaters and shirts by Kaynee in long and short sleeve permanent press dacron and cotton. BOYS & STUDENT Sizes in our downstairs department Look thru our complete selection or Levi, Kazoo, and Kaynee brand goods. Y0UN6 MEN'S SHOES HIKER paired to in any field. Montini School \ BRAND NEW FOR FAU Van Heusen shirts with a touch of the West Two pocket yoke style in solids, plaids and tapered to fit 1245 N. GREEN STREET McHENRY HOURS: 8:30 - 5:30 FRI. TILL 8:30 PHnNF" 31llLfl0A7 " CLOSED SUNDAY • llUllfc. JOJWfl "BIG ENOUGH TO SERVE YOU. . .SMALL ENOUGH TO KNOW YOU" Johnsburg School - • * -j)