Evening star., 1938-10-18
VISITING TEACHER
Project HELD Up
FOR NEW PARLEY
Mrs. Steele Says She Must
Confer First With U. S.
w. P. A. Officials.
So INSTRUCTORS ASKED
FOR SHUT-IN CHILDREN
Proposal for Colored Is Probable.
but for White Is Uncertain,
D. G. Director Says.

After hearing school and health Of
ficials request SO visiting teachers for
academic work and occupational
therapy, Mrs Mary Steele, director Of
education and recreation for the Dis
trict w. p A., said today she would
have to consult with Federal W. P. A.
officials before proceeding with plans
for the proposed w. P. A. visiting
teacher project.
I'VE had no idea the project would
be so extensive" she said at the con-
clusion of conference with DR.. Daniel
Seckinger, assistant health officer;
Robert L. Haycock, first assistant su-
perintendent of schools, and A. K. Sa-
voy, assistant superintendent of di-
visions 10 to 13.
Immediately after the meeting Mrs
Steele left to confer with Maj. Daniel
Donovan, District auditor and director
, of finance for the District w. P. A.;
Ross Haworth. assistant administrator
for District w. P. A., and DR.. Lewis
Alderman, Federal W. P A. director
of the Division of Education.
Planned for 10 Teachers.
Il think they will agree to go ahead
with the project" Mrs. Steele said,
"but We had only planned to supply
a few teachers, not more than 10 as
maximum"
She said she would probably be able
to supply the colored teachers, all
qualified by the Board of Education,
but was unable to make the same
promise for white teachers.
According to general plans at the
conference, Gallinger Hospitals ortho-
pedic clinic and crippled children's S
ward will have four teachers, one
colored and one white each for aca-
demic work and occupational therapy.
DR.. Seckinger estimated the average
load at the hospital at 20 colored and
IS white children.
Same Set-up at Children's.
The same set-up of teachers will
apply at Children's Hospital, where
10 white and IS colored youngsters
are treated at the orthopedic clinic.
At Freedmen's Hospital, where the
load Is 40 to IS youngsters, four teach
ers, two each for academic work and
occupational therapy, are requested.
Faced with the problem Of educat-
ing 708 shut-in children, including
the hospital cases, the conference de-
cided to eliminate the 201 nom
educable youngsters on the ground
that the teaching should be spread
out to include only those sure to re-
ceive some benefit from the instruc-
ton.
The largest single cause of exclusion
from school, it was found, was venereal
diseases, which accounted for 333
children DR.. Seckinger reported that
bacteriologist and woman physi-
clan had been employed to cure these
children and get them back into
school as soon as possible. He said
that during the school year 40 cases
month were reported.
Classifications Given.
The other shut-in children fell into
the following classifications: Crippled,
II; physicians certificates, including
cardiac and cyesis, or expectant
mothers under 16 years of age, 81;
tubercular children not in Glenn Dale
or the school for tubercular young
sters, 12; defective vision, 7, and
epileptic, r.. Mr. Haycock explained
this record, submitted by the attend
ance department, includes children
between the school ages of and IA.
The conference requested four colored
and three white field workers to in
vestigate shut-in cases, one white and
one colored supervisor, two clerks to
keep a card file and record of the
children and 40 colored and 9 white
visiting teachers.
The total number of visiting teachers
was arrived at through calculating the
number of children outside of the
hospitals who will need educational
work. Eighty-two white and 1925
colored children will be affected. Each
teacher, working five-hour day, will
visit each home on an average of
twice q week.
Number of Units.
The Health Department will de-
termine the number and length of
visits according to the physical
stamina of the child. The age limits
for shut-in children receiving the in
struction will be from 5 to 18 years.
The tentative plans also provide
that the Health Department supply
the materials for occupational ther-
spv. while the Board of Education
sunplies school books and central Of
fee and meeting place for the teach
ers. Labor, supervision and transpor-
tatfon will be provided by the w. p. A
Conferences were scheduled to con-
TIME throughout the afternoon be-
tween school officials and James Eul-
berg, supervisor of project planning
u,ho also attended the morning meet
ing. u,
four steps before it can go into effect
+he speed already demonstrated by al
onacials involved led Mrs. Doyle K
sYnect 1t would be started within th'
next week. After 1t is approved b!
Tho school Board 1t will go to Health
Onacer George Ruhland and then II
srr Haworth, who will present it Il
anal form to Federal w. P. A. au
thorities.
Z Mark 50th Anniversary.