Evening star., 1948-09-15

befltting, OF course, about the wealthiest county
in the United States.
In her letter she expresses the hope that
"other parents will take some positive
action to improve this serious condition during
the coming school year" If parents in WASH
ington do decide not to wait for George" to
do it, may I suggest that they not be dis
heartened if the "pompous hypocritical school
oficials' should conveniently resort to the
formula for controlling parent revolt against
public school teaching methods by inviting
them 'to curriculum workshop especially
designed for parent participation" giving them
advance assurance" that their Ideas will be
incorporated If possible"
This formula is recommended by the Educa-
tors Washington Dispatch of July % with the
remark that : Its working in Rockville, Nd"
A MONTGOMERY COUNTY PARENT.
To the Editor of The
Parents letter. with its emphatic denunci-
alton of school authorities that bar teachers
from teaching was wholesome and refreshing
because Of its entire truth.
I am neither teacher nor parent, but once
I was a boy who had teachers and parents,
and the educative process always has fascin-
ated me.
In my lifetime have had small army of
teachers. If the school authorities have not
forgotten their youth. they know that children
are quick at sizing up their teachers Children
know whether they are being taught or merely
entertained. I knew that, and I made my
estimate accordingly.
Parent may be assured that the case of her
own boy is comparatively mild. She has only
to do what other parents do-teach her boy
that nine times five is (or are) is and why
that is so.
The royal road to learning is not an easy
one, but it is right royal. 1 did think some of
my teachers might have made their courses
more resplendent-but we managed.
There are certain useful mechanics in the
practice of learning. Memorizing is one.
Then, there is: How to Learn My long run
Of teachers gave me only two clues, and these
incidentally only. One was to read little
and think OH what you have just read. The
other was to get good stiff wooden-seated
kitchen chair, deal table, pitcher of drink
ing water, lock yourself in your room and go 20
1t.
There were no memory courses, no courses
in how to learn You did without tools
School authorities obviously are trying 70
make school life attractive by taking the school
out of life Ring around he-rosy is substi-
tuted for spelling bees. Spelling is an absorb
ing topic. So is the multiplication table. So
is the alphabet. Alpha, beta, gamma delta,
you know. These things are to be learned III
the formative, memorlzing period OF life, If
necessary absorbed by rote; yes by rote.
In order to make learning attractive, our
school authorities are doing away with it. In
order to make swimming attractive We do not
play golf.
Right there is the challenge to the school
authorities-to make the learning of things an
attractive operation, teach the children how to
learn create in them zest for knowledge that
will defy limitation. Can the authorities dc
that? I am not hopeful.
What are all the varieties of doctors degrees
good for if they can't, shoot a straight line?
Logomachy is not learning The innumerable,
mountainous theses on pedagogical subjects
have brought forth the blind mole OF illteracy,
nothing else.
In time there may appear young prophet
who will direct the school system into educa-
tive lines, but in the meantime / fear that
Parent will have to constitute herself teacher
Of fundamentals. Learn at home play at
L .4a. AACAStyGs