Evening star., 1941-09-07
Schools in Fairfax
Again Face Problem
OF 0vercfowding
Several Innovations Will
Be Tried This Yeor;
New Units to Be Added
specisl Dispatch to The Star.

centers, largely as the result OF the
heavy influx of new residents
brought into the county in connec-
ton with the defense program,
again will face Fairfax County
school officials this session.
While it is expected enrolment
will not greatly exceed that OF the
last session, at least during the
early months of the school year, d.
vision Supt. w. T. Woodson said
there probably will be an increase
of about 1000 in school population
before the term ends.
In an effort to meet the situation,
one new elementary school is being
constructed at Lincolnia, and aodl-
tions are being constructed at
Mount Vernon High School, Fairfax
High School. Herndon High School
and Gum Spring Elementary. How
ever, with the possible exception OF
the Lincolnia plant, it is not be-
lieved any of the other projects
will be completed in time TO of1er
any real relief this session.
Asks Lanham Act Aid.
The County School Board has ap-
piled for a S612,066 grant under the
i,anham Act for a new 100000 high
school at Falls Church and addl-
tions at Fairfax, Mount Vernon,
Woodlawn and Groveton Schools,
including equipment.
The enrolment in county schools
at the end of last session was 8,l95
an increase of slightly more than
400 pupils from the previous year
One important step accomplished
during the summer that will relieve
overcrowding in the Falls Church
area, was the agreement between
county and town school officials to
do away with the requirement that
pupils from one jurisdiction pay
tuition to attend schools IN the
other.
Under the new proposal, that will
not be officially concluded until the
General Assembly meets in January
the town will function as separate
school district only to the extent OF
having a representative on the
County School Board. In other re-
spects the dual system, that have
proved a problem in past years
will be united under a single ad-
ministrative set up.
Teacher for Home Bound.
Concluding an important expert
ment in education, James z. Bauser-
man. elementary supervisor, an
nounced the local system for the
first time will employ full-timt
teacher for home-bound children
those who through some physica,
handicap are unable to attend
school
Thirteen children already have
been registered for the course and
Miss Mary Alice Ankers, who has
had special training in this type OF
work, has been assigned to the
project. The work will be under the
direct supervision OF Supt. Woodson
and Mr.. Bauserman.
Special classes will be conducted
In schools having large number OF
children with speech defects. A
study OF failures and reading diff
culties last session, disclosed thai
speech defects rank high in the
county.
For the first time, the high and
elementary programs will be CO.
ordinated this year. with a freshman
teacher in each high school des'
tgnated as freshman co-ordinator.
This instructor will hold conference:
with freshman and seventh grade
teachers. and elementary supervisors
to discuss Institutional plans, prob
lens and pupil classification
Through this program, 1t is hoped
the gap between elementary anc
high school will be more success.
fully bridged, and the school will
become a continuous program from
the first grade through high school
Community Cooperation Sought.
A definite program of child anc
community study also has beer
worked out, and will endeavor tc
have the school and community
work together to fill the child's
needs.
Through a program of this type
the child will develop skill in read
ing, writing, arithmetic, and the
ability to do research, debate, make
talks, use the telephone and give
oral reports. AS part of the pro-
gram, schools will use the specia
abilities of parents living in the
communities.
Health OF pupils will be made 9
prime consideration through use o1
hot lunches, nutritional education
and cooperation with the County
tuberculosis Association, Com
munity Chest and County Health
Department, and visual education
will be encouraged with demonstra-
tons by the elementary supervisor
for faculties and other interested
groups.
The music program is to be
stressed in the county with one
teacher in every school, highly
trained in music, to head the loca.
program under the direction OF
Mrs. Jeanette L. Fellows, assistant
supervisor.
High School Supervisor.
For the first time the county will
employ a high school supervisor
Gordon E. Smith, former principa
of Fairfax High School, will have
charge of this phase of the educa-
tional program. Harold F. Weller
former principal of Franklin-Sher-
man School at Mclean, succeeds
him at the high school. w. S. Law
son, formerly of the Fairfax High
faculty, has been named principa
at Franklin
The other high schools will agair
be headed by the same principals
j. H. Rice at Herndon, G. G. Cox al
Mount Vernon and Miss N. Gregory
Edwards at Jefferson.
School officials have been con.
fronted with a serious problem il
securing teachers. A number o.
men have been called by the draft
and because higher salaries are paie
In surrounding areas, several ex-
perfenced teachers have left thu