--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Enrollments in American colleges tripled…" description: "\"“Enrollments in American colleges tripled between 1955 and 1970, 250% in the Soviet Union, 400% in France, and more than 200% in China by 1965. Gaddis ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/john-gaddis-100765_cold-war_enrollments-in-american-colleges-tripled_502639.jpg" --- # Enrollments in American colleges tripled between 1955 and… ![“Enrollments in American colleges tripled between 1955 and 1970, 250% in the Soviet Union, 400% in France, and more than 200% in China by 1965. Gaddis writes, "What governments failed to foresee was that more young people, plus, more education, when combined with a stalemated Cold War, could be a…” quote by John Gaddis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/john-gaddis-100765_cold-war_enrollments-in-american-colleges-tripled_502639.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/john-gaddis-100765_cold-war_enrollments-in-american-colleges-tripled_502639.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/john-gaddis-100765_cold-war_enrollments-in-american-colleges-tripled_502639.jpg) > ““Enrollments in American colleges tripled between 1955 and 1970, 250% in the Soviet Union, 400% in France, and more than 200% in China by 1965. Gaddis writes, "What governments failed to foresee was that more young people, plus, more education, when combined with a stalemated Cold War, could be a prescription for insurrection. Learning does not easily compartmentalize. How do you prepare students to think for purposes approved by the state, or by their parents, without also equipping them to think for themselves? Youths throughout history had often wished question their elders values. Now, with university educations, their elders had handed them the training to do so. The result was discontent with the world as it was.”” John Gaddis ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Discusses rapid post‑war college expansion, its political implications, and the tension between state‑approved education and independent thought. **In simple terms:** Education can both empower and destabilize societies. Key Takeaway Balance critical thinking with civic duty. Themes education politics history youth state control Mood analytical concerned Type Cold war:1 College:1 Education:1 Rebellion:1 Soviet union:1 War:1 Young people:1 Students Think:1 Education Combined:1 Youths History:1 Think Youths:1 Educations Elders:1 When to use this quote - policy making - curriculum design - student activism Key Concepts critical pedagogy social change ideological conflict Questions to Reflect On - How can educators foster independent thought? - What safeguards protect academic freedom? A Different Perspective State control may suppress dissent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cold war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-war/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Rebellion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rebellion/) [Soviet union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet-union/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [Cafeteria-style education, combined with the unwillingness of our schools to place demands on students, has resulted in a steady diminishment of commonly shared information…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/cafeteria-style-education-combined-with-the-unwillingness-of-our/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [I tell my students to think of poems as language plus, language with value added beyond its everyday use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-youn/i-tell-my-students-to-think-of-poems-as-language-plus-language-with/) [Monica Youn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-youn/) > [“Mystery is a genius teacher: It forces its students to think thoroughly and to ask many questions! 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