Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1942-01-16
JANUARY MEET
P. And 7. ASSOC.
JANUARY 9Th
Members Voted To Donate Ten
Dollars To The Red Cross
From Association Treasury
PROF. KRABILL DISCUSSES
ALGEBRA IN CURRICULUM

The January meeting of the Parent
Teachers Association for the Pocomo-
Ike Schools was held in the music room
of the High School on Thursday eve
ming of January 8. In the absence OF
the president, Mrs. Dawson Clarke,
Mr.. Gerhardt Neubauer, vice presi-
dent, presided.
In keeping with the present nation
al drive for the aid of the Red Cross,
the members voted to donate ten dol
lars to the Red Cross from the treas
ury of the Association.
The question for discussion at the
meeting was "Why no algebra in high
school this year" The discussion was
led by Mr.. Verlin C. Krabill, princi-
pal of the Pocomoke High School. Mr..
Krabill pointed out that several par
ents had inquired the reason for the
absence of instruction in algebra IN
Pocomoke High School during the
present school year. The speaker re-
minded the members present that, at
the present time, the teachers and adj
ministrators in the state of Maryland
are re-examining the curriculum and
courses of study offered in the schools
of Maryland to determine what the
high school ought to teach in order
chat all might learn" A state bulle-
tin, A CURRICULUM STUDY
GUIDE, has been published to aid and
direct this study.
1t is the feeling of many school peo-
pie, Mr.. Krabill went on to say, that
courses in school should be designed
more nearly to fit the needs of all the
pupils. The needs which they will en-
counter shortly after graduation and
the interests which pupils already
have should be considered in planning
course of study. Since algebra is
an abstract and a highly technical
subject, it is believed that it could be
grasped better by pupils after their
minds have become more mature and
after they have realized that they
might need algebra in carrying out
their future plans. Therefore, a
course in general mathematics has
been substituted in Pocomoke High
School for all beginning Freshmen.
This course consists, in the Freshman
year, of use of the fundamentals in
arithmetic in situations taken from
every day life, while in the second
year it consists of a smattering of al
zebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
This encounter, during their second
year, with some of the higher aspects
of mathematics, gives the pupils an
opportunity to decide for themselves
whether or not they would be inter-
ested in taking more mathematics
while in high school. Should pupil
decide to take some more algebra, he
would be allowed to do so during his
Junior year. Because of the founda
ton acquired during his first and sec
ond year in high school and because
of his greater maturity the pupil
would be able to grasp the work more
quickly and would be able to cover /
course equivalent to a second year al
zebra course. Should a pupil then
desire geometry, an opportunity
would be given to him to take that
subject in his Senior year This plan
would more nearly fit the needs of
the greater number of pupils since
the majority of pupils attending Po-
comoke High School do not need and
will never use algebra. 1t is felt to
be somewhat undemocratic to saddle
them with a subject for which they
can see no use nor value to them.
Following this explanation, Mr..
Krabill endeavored to answer any
questions concerning it asked of him
by members of the association. At the
conclusion of the discussion the meet
ing adjourned.