Evening star., 1945-10-21
Educator Delies
Schools Face
Drink Problem
Dr.. Fox Urges Closer
Cooperation Between
Homes, Institutions

There is no high school drinking
problem" Dr.. James Harold Fox,
dean of the school OF education at
George Washington University. told
the Fairfax County Federation of
Parent Teacher Associations Work.
shop In Falls Church yesterday.
Dr., Fox declared he had never
seen saloons in high schools" and
IL the students are learning to drink
the adults are teaching them. He
sadd there must be closer cooper
alton between parents and the
schools.
DR.. Fox told the group that the
child Is learning at all times and
that parents must tell children why
they must do specific things. He
noted that three-fourths of the
learning time takes place outside
of the school, and that in many
cases the child unlearns outside
what he has learned in school.
Difficulty Is Cited.
He cited the difficulty of teaching
grammar in school when incorrect
grammar is used in the home, on
the radio, and by the children's
playmates.
|, He urged teachers and parents to
remember that standards of con-
duct change with each generation,
declaring that you are growing
old as soon as you think that the
young people are going to the dogs"
At discussion group on budget.
taxation and legislation, w. T.
Woodson, superintendent of Fair
fax County schools, said he is con-
sidering and will recommend to the
school board the adoption of a H.
year school system. He stated that
it is not known yet whether there
will be five-year high school term
or an eight-year grade term.
improvements Are Needed.
In answer to a question about the
county's colored schools Mr.. Wood
son declared that these schools are
better in Virginia than in the rest
of the South. He admitted, how
ever, that they are badly in need
of improvement.
Several colored representatives
asked him about the lack of coll
ored high school in Fairfax County,
and he justified this on the grounds
the matter had been discussed
thoroughly with colored representa-
tives and it had been decided that
it was uneconomical in view of the
small number of colored students.
At the present, colored high
school students are transported to
a regional high school in Manassas,
or attend a Washington school.
Mr.. Woodson said the County
School Board has completed negoti-
ations for a site for new colored
school in the Falls Church area,
l although he admitted that no funds
were in sight for construction.
0 Wells Were Condemned.
9 Mr. Woodson also admitted, 4un-
IEier questioning, that 10 ofathe wells
e supplying water for Fairfax County
I schools have been condemned by
county health authorities, five at
white ands five at colored schools.
He said the school board is seeking
advice from health authorities on
corrective measures.
Mr.. Woodson also agreed that the
physical condition of the Fairfax
County schools was generally bad
and attributed this condition to the
inability to secure help.
At another discussion group on
citizenship, PTA members were told
by DR.. Robert Gibson, professor OF
history at the Virginia Theological
! Seminary, Alexandria, that for
, many years Virginia government
was little more than an oligarchy. -
! He said that due to pressure in
other parts of the country this
ollgarchy is fast breaking up. and
ne hopes that many more citizen,
would take part in State and local
government