Evening star., 1935-05-08
CARLSON DEFENDS
CHARACTER PLAN.
Research Counselor Tells
North Cleveland Park It
Is Not Experiment.

The character education experiment
in the District labors under two COM
mon misconceptions, according to DR..
Harold Carlson, research counsellor
for the undertaking, speaking last
night before the North Cleveland Park
Citizens Association.
In the first place, it Is not "charac-
ter education" in the sense that classes
In morals are conducted. 1t is the
fruit of the growing of emphasis on
character in our education. Nor is it
an experiment. DR.. Carlson said. 1t
is a demonstration of methods sue
eessfully applied elsewhere to aid ev-
erybody's child to choose the studies
that will be most useful to him, he
said, and to help him make proper
adjustment to his environment.
Using the "spearhead" attack, Dr.
Carlson said, the activities are being
carried on in only one school of each
type in the city, in the colored and
white divisions. Sure of its value and
its success himself, he said that three
years were asked to demonstrate clear
ly and unmistakably the results which
can be obtained.
Forty-O Counsellors.
The whole new system is based on
the 40-odd "counsellors," all except
three chosen from among local teachers
known to be especially successful with
their pupils. Because classes in our
public schools are so large a teacher
finds it impossible to give individual
attention to the children who are in
great need of it.
1T is somewhat like hospital, with
eases of pneumonia, maternity and
broken legs. for which the physician
prescribes only one medicine for all.
If the patient is not cured it is simply
unfortunate" the educator said.
The counsellors take in hand the
"problem" children who would other
wise be neglected. Chosen from the
kind of teachers that children get
along with best and who have been
notably successful with different types
of problems, such as delinquency,
apathy to school and pupil-teacher
troubles, the counsellors in friendly
fashion have already achieved many
notable human savings, DR.. Carlson
said.
The second basis of the work is the
standardized tests by which progress
studied, from one semester to another,
is tabulated.
Salaries Only Cost.
The cost of the experiment, said
DR.. Carlson, is simply the salaries of
the additional teachers needed, all
paid at the usual rate, and the ex-
pense of the tests and other helps.
The association resolved to send a
resolution to Congress stating that it
was in favor of the continuance of the
experiment for the three years origi-
nally planned.
Willard A. Driggers of the Kenil-
worth Citizens Association urged the
association to support his groups fight
to place the proposed municipal air
port at the old Benning race track.
Claiming a suitable airport could be
constructed there for from one-fourth
to one-sixth the cost of any other To-
cation, Mr.. Driggers also urged that
the business which would follow such
a development be kept in the District.
He said that Benning is equidistant
with the present airport from Union
Station, and nearer than the Gravelly
Point site. It Is between the two In
size, he said.
The association agreed to support
the Benning site, and ordered q letter
TO that effect be sent to Congress.
Anthony ]. Barrett, president. held
the chair at last nights meeting, the
last of the season.