Evening star., 1941-12-05
School Report
Asks Changes
In Arlington
System Is Praised,
But Improvements
Are Recommended

A report on the Arlington County
schools, released today by special
committee of educators, praised the
educational system. but made sew
eral specific recommendations for its
improvement
The long awaited report by the
committee, headed by Dean James
H. Fox of George Washington Uni
versity's education department. was
submitted to State School Supt.
Dabney S. Lancaster.
The citizens of the county have
coed reason to be proud OF the edu-
cational opportunities that they
have provided for their children.
the report declared in discussing the
administration and financial status,
teaching personnel, buildings and
elementary and secondary schools.
High in Three Subjects.
In a specific test of third-grade
pupils the committee found their
achievements in spelling, arithmetic
and reading well above the national
norm" while test OF secondary
schools showed pupils superior to
those Of the Nation at large in all
subjects except the sciences, home
making and health and physical
education. in which Arlington pupils
were rated average
Among the changes suggested by
the committee were employment OF
a business manager to serve under
the superintendent and combine
the duties of clerk and others to
be added: director of instruction
to give full time to planning and
supervision of the instruction pro-
gram; employment of a full-time
secretary to the county superin-
tendent, and extension of testing
programs in the secondary schools
for diagnostic and remedial pur-
poses
Supervision Plan Urged.
The survey also recommended
adoption of unified plan Of super
vision in the secondary schools to
promote better coordination be-
tween the subject matter fields and
better in-service training, and
urged a guidance program. in
creased vocational instruction and
construction of new Junior high
school.
The school tax rate of Arlington
County is relatively low and the
effort Of the county in re-
lation to the tax resources is below
the average for the counties of the
State" the report declared.
On the committee with Mr.. Fox
we're FLOYD F. jenkins. formerly di-
rector of administration, finance
and research of the State Board OF
Education; Raymond v. Long. pres
ent director of administration and
finance of the board; Burnice H.
Jarman of George Washington Uni
versity and Arthur NJ Jarman Of
the University of Virginia.
Complaints Led to Survey.
The survey was instigated by the
Arlington County Civic Federation
about two years ago when some OF
its members, led by Harrison Mann.
criticized school conditions and
practices which were said to exist.
Among the complaints at that
time were charges of pressure upon
teachers near elections and puni-
tive treatment of students. The
Civic Federation passed resolution
asking DR.. Sidney B. Hall. then
State superintendent of public in
struction, to name the investigating
committee.
Shortly thereafter Arlington
School Supt Fletcher Kemp an
nounced that the County School
Board had joined in the request
TO DR.. Hall. DR.. Hall has since
given up his State Office and is now
associated with DR.. Jarmen at
George Washington University.