Evening star., 1941-10-26
School Program
For Alexandria
is Suggested
Educators Call Citys
Instruction Above
Average for State
BY a Staff Correspondent Of Tn. Star.

ALEXANDRIA, Va, Oct. 25-
Teachers in the elementary white
public schools here are better pre-
pared for their jobs than the aver
age instructor in similar institutions
throughout Virginia, report by
State and nationally known educa-
ton officials discloses.
The school staff is now studying
an 11-point improvement program
suggested by the survey, School
Supt. T. C. Williams declared.
The points on which the ele-
mentary schools can be improved
were outlined in a report which
school officials sought from study
committee headed by DR. H. Ruth
Henderson, supervisor of elementary
education, Virginia Department Of
Education.
Called Better Than Average.
1T was the consensus of commit
tee members. after observing IN
Alexandria schools, that there was
great diversity of Institutional
practice as there is over Virginia"
the report declared; that there
were good and bad working and
learning situations in the city as
we'll as there are in other school
divisions; that there was evidence
of a fine professional spirit on the
part of teachers. as is generally the
case over the State. 1t IS the judg-
ment of the committee that the
1F Ir,a
patrons of the schools can believe
that the children in Alexandria are
receiving better-than-average edu.
cational opportunities"
The recommendations for i'm.
provement were:
More emphasis to solving COM
munity and personal problems OF
pupils.
More activities in fields of science,
community study, functional health,
music, home making, creative writ
ing. dramatics and general construc-
ton to insure wider experience.
Other recommended tions.
Teachers in upper grades give in
creased attention to more flexible
program and center their intsruc-
ton around problems Of social
living.
Information about each child be
collected in permanent cumula-
tive record for assistance in child
guidance.
Variety of activities expanded 50
that every child may have oppor-
tunity to excel.
More teacher-pupil planning to
stimulate independence of child.
Arrangements of all-day attend
ance of first and second year pupils
as soon as building facilities are
available
More instructional materials be
brought into schools
( Principals should delegate more
administrative work to clerks and
spend more time in classrooms su-
pervising instruction. More time
/ given to personal supervision.
Additional nursing service and
full-time school physician be en-
ployed.
Indoor and outdoor recreationai
/ programs be so planned that
they mot only better serve the
needs of the school, but also the
recreational needs of all the citi-
zens every month of the year. An
/ outstanding inadequacy in this field,
both in space and equipment. was
noted"
Freedom From Outside Pressure.
The committee commended the
School Board and superintendent
for eight policies, including selec-
ton of teachers on basis of train
ing and experience: a single salary
schedule for all teachers whit equal
training and experience; meeting
expense of yearly extension class
for teachers to study timely instruc-
tional problems. and allowing teach
ers to be free of undesirable CON-
munity pressure on teacher be-
havior.
The report listed 10 practices OF
the system which it approved, par
ticularily the types of report cards
for teacher pupil parent evaluation
and Tor an above average" general
atmosphere which showed friendly
relations between administrators,
teachers and pupils.
Beside DR.. Henderson. the Study
Committee included Miss Katherine
NJ Anthony, director of teacher
training. Madison College, Harrison
burg: E. Boyd Graves, associate pro-
fessor of education. Mary Washing
ton College, Fredericksburg; DR.. N.
P. Nelson, executive secretary, De-
partment of Health. Physical Edu-
cation and Recreation of the Ma
tional Education Association. Wash
ington: Miss Carolyn Cogbill. prin-
cipal. Farmville Training School,
Farmville, and Miss Juliet Ware,
supervisor of special education, Vir.
ginia Department of Education.