Evening star., 1935-10-13
EDUCATION GROUP
LAUNCHES REFORM
Association Seeks to Better
Professional Solidarity
of D. c. Teachers.

sional solidarity of teachers in the
District, including private schools and
colleges as well as the public school
system, the Education Association of
the District of Columbia has launched
= a plan of reformation and reorganiza-
ton and a program of activities which
the officers hope will weld an active
force for the good of teachers, schools
and children"
DR.. Edgar c. Higbie, president of
Wilson Teachers College, also is presi-
dent of the E. A. D. c.. and 1t is
through his efforts that the association
is beginning to branch out beyond
the routine program of regular meet
ings with some outstanding speaker
and an occasional social gathering.
Without intending any disparage-
ment to his predecessors or to the
association prior to his regime, DR..
Higbie yesterday outlined what he
hoped to have the association become,
and then cited some of its accomplish
ments during the past year.
Panel Discussions Held.
Last year, for the first time, panel
discussions of topics Of timely interest
to teachers were held. The magazine,
Journal of the E. A. D. c., was made
a quarterly instead of an infrequent
publication without regular dates of
appearance. Now, DR.. Higbie and his
associates hope to make the magazine
at least monthly, or to have 10 copies
appear during the active school year.
But the greatest reform is not in
the magazine, but in the policy of
control of the association itself. A
Representative council" has been set
up to become its legislative branch.
Last year the association had approXi-
mately 400 members, too many to
handle readily in an assembly, and
also had an executive committee COM
posed of the officers and only four
elective members. Under the present
tentative plan, the representative
council will have a member from each
school in the public school system, a
member from the American AsSocl-
alton of Childhood Education, Junior
High School Teachers Association,
Senior High School Teachers Associ-
alton, the organized school principals,
and perhaps Is or 20 other educational
groups whose members are active in
the Education Association.
To Outline Program.
This group will outline work. de-
termine policies, and turn the affairs
of the association over to the eXecu-
tive committee to be carried out. 1t
was set up on the recommendation
OF a policy committee headed by
Miss A. Grace Lind of the Bancroft
School, and. if its workings are sue
cessful, will be made permanent
part of the organization.
The association already has gone
ahead with a definite plan for the
year, which will include participation
not only of the public school teachers
ana principals, but also educators
from the faculties of the city's many
colleges, from parochial and private
schools and representative teachers
and administrators concerned with
education. There will be a close alli-
ance with other teacher associations,
as we'll as with the Parent-Teacher
Association, many of whose teacher
members are active in the association.
. The chief public activities will be
renewal and enlargement of the plan
for panel discussions of current
teacher problems. The first of these
will be held at Roosevelt High School
Auditorium on Tuesday night, Octo-
ber %, when DR.. George c. Rutland,
District health officer, vii lead dis
cussion of Health, Recreation and
Physical Education for Every One in
Washington"
Will Be Questioned.
After his formal address, DR.. Ruh-
land will be quizzed by Birch E. Bayh,
director of physical education in the
public schools; Henry I. Quinn, chair
man of the committee on physical
education of the Board of Education;
Miss Augusta Kreiner, Miss Ruth At
well, Louis Barrett and Chester N.
Holmes.
On Tuesday night, December 8.
panel of Mental Health for Pupils,
Teachers and Administrator" will be
Will ILL., H1COCI1Ch dlly
psychiatrist of the New York State
Education Department. as chief
speaker. The panel has not yet been
completed, but Dr. William A. White,
superintendent Of the st. Elizabeths /
Hospital, and Prof Robert A. Maurer,
member of the Board of Education,
will take part.
A third forum will be held in
March, probably on the subject of !
vocational education and guidance !
and new trends in that field. The |
speakers have not been selected nor
have the time and place been desig- |
mated yet.
Annual Dinner in February.
On Saturday night, February 8, the |
annual dinner of the association will |
be held. DR.. Higbie and his assist |
ants are at work on that program |
now. The discussions will tie in with
the present national trends in educa-
.tion. A noted speaker will be en-
gagged and his selection will be an
nounced later.
Meanwhile the association has set |
up number of committees to go
ahead with the associations work |
pending the regular meetings. Thom-
as Holmes of Eastern High school
again heads the Committee on Gen.
eral Affairs; Miss Helen Samuels, Cor
don Junior High School. the Commit
tee on Legislation; Miss Lind, the Pol
icy Committee; DR.. M. Margaret !
Stroh, Wilson Teachers College, the
Editorial Board; Miss Edith Gros-
venor, Central High School, the Com
mittee on Insurance, and Robert Van
derlip. Langley Junior High School,
the Publicity Committee.
The Insurance Committee was inau-
gurated last year for the first time
and resulted in the company paying |
out more in benefits than it received |
in premiums under group insur- |
ance policy covering health, accidents
epd 1;fa Tho roy,,nopv houevor ic |