Evening star., 1946-12-09
Fairfax Schools Seek
teacher for CrippIes
Confined 10 Homes
By Robert c. RoIIinos

By Robert c. Rollines
Because Of the current teacher
shortage, score OF physically ham
dicapped children in Fairfax Coun-
ty are being deprived of the school
they normally attended under the
countys "homebound" program.
For almost two months, county
school officials have searched for a
teacher to take the place of Mrs.
Louise Costa Of Herndon, who was
forced to resign because OF illness In
her family.
The children, meanwhile, are
making what little progress they can
with the help Of their parents and
friends but are not forging ahead
as they would under q regular
teacher, according to James E.
Bauserman, assistant superintend-
ent in charge Of elementary schools.
Established six years ago. the
"homebound" program sends the
teacher to the pupils, all OF whom
are confined to their beds or homes.
The teacher must criss-cross the
county from Woodlawn to Herndon
and Falls Church to Burke.
Seven Grades Included.
School grades currently repre-
sented In the program are the first,
second, third. fourth. seventh,
eighth and eleventh. Causes Of the
|chiidren's handicaps include spastic
paralysis. hereditary soft bones,
poliomyelitis. anemia, and a rare
blood disease.
For a child so badly handicapped
that he will never enter public
school, the teaching program is de-
signed to give '.the things he viii
need In life rather than the stand
ard courses" Mr.. Bauserman ex-
plains. II the child expects to re-
turn to, school. the special teacher
visits the class which he ultimately
win enter and co-ordinates her in
struction with that being given IN
the school.
The teacher not only must work
with the child. Mr.. Bauserman
pointed out, but also must hnd ways
for parents to help.
Since the program was started,
primarily as result OF Mr.. Bauser-
mans interest, three children have
been graduated from high school,
including one girl who went TO the
school to receive her diploma with
the regular graduating class and
walked without her crutches Tor the
first time in i've years.
One Girl In High School.
One OF the current pupils is q
15-year-old girl who was crippled
by infantile paralysis when she was
a small child and has never been
able to attend regular school. With
the instruction she received first In
the hospital and then for the past
six years under the ''homebound"
program, the girl is now in the sec
ond year Of high school. Although
confined to a wheel chair, she takes
the regular courses.
In addition to the usual scholastic
subjects, children enrolled in the
program also are greatly interested
in art. handiwork and collecting
various things. One child has q col
lection OF post cards of historical
shrines; another collects scrap
books. Some of the children are
given instruction in vocational sub
jects, so they can earn something
even though they are unable to
get out of their wheel chairs.
The teacher, when we have one, "
Mr.. Bauserman says, makes twice.
weekly visits to children taking
academic work and goes once q
week to children enrolled in voca-
tional courses. Teachers from the
nearest public school also drop in
from time to time.
Only Two Teachers So Far.
The "homebound" program has
had only two teachers, Mrs. Costa
and Miss Mary Alice Ankers who
has since opened private school
In another section Of the State.
The salary of the .'homebound"
teacher, as she is generally called,
lis paid by the special education fund
of the State, part of which is given
by the Federal Government, the
local school board and the Fairfax
Chapter OF the National Foundation
for Infantile Paralysis.
The "homebound" program is one
OF Mr.. Bauserman's special interests.
He viii appreciate call from any
qualified person who would like to
become the "homebound" teacher.
And SO would score OF crippled
children.