The Need for a College
The post-World War I rapid population growth during the early
1920s resulted in the overcrowding of the city’s school system
and the state’s colleges and universities. Two major and
controversial events contributed to the creation of the college—the
passage of a bond issue of nearly three million dollars and the
later establishment of the 6-4-4 system.
The 1924 Bond Campaign. After enlisting the assistance
of the Chamber of Commerce and other interested parties, the
city school board on March 5, 1924 asked the citizens of Pasadena
to support a bond issue of $2,994,000 to cover school building
needs for the next six years. The overcrowding of the various
classrooms and the anticipation of further growth motivated
the decision. The high school and new junior college would receive
$1,095,000 for new buildings.
While the Chamber of Commerce immediately endorsed the proposal,
local citizens began forming committees, coordinated by the "School
Bond Executive Committee," to inform the public as to why
such a large sum of money was needed. The Pasadena Star News
commented that:
The phenomenal growth in recent years had made it impossible
to keep pace in school construction with the increase in population,
even with past voting on bonds. Pasadena cannot dodge its responsibility
to the schools and still expect to maintain its place in the procession
of progress along with its sister Southern California communities
which do keep such pace.
F.G. Runyon, editor of the Pasadena Evening Post, led
the opposition to the bond issue. In his unrelenting criticism
he argued that "the opposition will voice a protest, not
against education, but against what is believed to be the injudicious
expenditures of funds voted in two previous bond issues".
He also feared that the entire teaching staff would be mobilized
to secure passage of the bonds.
The spirited campaign concluded on March 13, 1924 when the election
resulted in the passage of the bond issue by a two-to-one margin.
One issue that arose out of the bond campaign, which drew a great
deal of heated discussion, was the proposal for the creation of
a junior college district. The unexpected opposition surprised
the school board. The major opponents included some high school
teachers who believed that they might be demoted to a junior high
school; high school student leaders who feared that difficulties
might develop in inter-school athletics; high school alumni who
also were concerned about potential difficulties in the athletic
programs; and alumni of nearby established colleges who worried
that it might affect their freshman enrollment. Objections also
were raised by parents who were financially able to send their
sons and daughters to distant colleges; by retired city residents
who were concerned that taxes would increase; by prominent college
graduates who desired a four-year college after high school; and
by individuals uninformed about modern educational systems.
School authorities enlisted the Pasadena Star News to
inform concerned individuals that the entrance requirements for
the junior college would be the same as at the state university
and other reputable universities and colleges. Moreover, the credits
would be of the same standard. They went on to explain that:
It [the junior college] is planned for those students unable
to go away from home to college; for those whose parents deem
them too young to be away from home during the first two years
of college life; to relieve pressure on the state university and
other higher institutions of learning. The state university which
must accept all California students who present themselves is
grossly overcrowded. Privately endowed and conducted universities
and colleges are so congested that annually they reject a great
many students applying for admittance.
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