Evening star., 1948-09-04
Teacher RMo'|*
Asks Changes in
Social Studies
Workshop Survey
To Be Acted on by
Montgomery Board
By J. B. Zotmon

- -
A breakdown of the social studies
program into geography, history,
science and health, each of which
would be taught separately, is
among recommendations contained
In a report to the Montgomery
County Board of Education by
teachers participating in last
months workshop on elementary
curriculum changes.
The report, made public yester-
day, will be acted on by the School
Board at special meeting to be
held soon.
Also to be presented are pro-
posals by school principals on how
much time should be devoted to
each subject, according to DR.. Ed
win w. Broome, superintendent of
schools. These recommendation
are being drafted.
Hits officials Motives.
Meanwhile. Robert B. Parke, pub
licity chairman of the county Par
ents' League for Curriculum I'M
provement, attacked the motives of
school officials in inviting parents
to attend the workshop.
THE good faith of these officials"
he declared, appears open to ques-
tion in view of their contradictory
statements concerning possible cur
riculum changes"
Mr.. Parke also noted that the
July % issue of the Educators Dis
patch, bi-monthly publication de-
voted to educational news through
out the country. described the work.
shop plan as formula for con-
trolling a parents revolt against
public school teaching methods"
He quoted the periodical, which
has offices in Washington and New
York, as stating the formula is
working in Rockville, Nd -
Members of the league advocate
more emphasis on "the three RS
and less on such subjects as art and
music.
Report on Workshop.
In their report on the workshop,
the teachers recommend that the
social studies program be changed
to the social and natural science
program. Separate books would be-
used for each of the subjects COM
prising the program, DR.. Broome eX-
planned.
In addition, reading classes would
be broken down into comprehension,
vocabulary building, reading skillsI
and literature, with definite goals
for each.
A similar method would be used
In teaching spelling and writing, in
which more attention would be given
accurate spelling, word recognition,
analysis Of words, penmanship
standards and letter formation.
All subjects would be identified by
grades instead of being classified as
primary and intermediate studies.
For example, there would be arith-
metic for the first grade, arithmetic
for the second grade and so on Spe-
cif1c textbooks would be used for
each grade.
Proposed outlines containing the7
subject matter to be taught in all
grades are being drafted and will |
be submitted to the Board of dEdu-
cation. ..
Seven-point Program.
The report also listed a seven
point program being studied by
principals and teachers. 1t includes
the following proposals:
Advising parents of the work to
be taken up by their children, es-
tablishment Of principals advisory
council in each school to include
parents, teachers, trustees and stu
dents, extension of parent study
groups and establishment of school
zones to help care for children in
sections where new schools are to
be built but cannot be made avail
able Immediately
In the meantime, officials of the
Parents League for Curriculum I'm
povement revealed they have re-
ceived dozens of congratulatory let
ters from persons in all sections of
the country.
An Elberta, Ala, resident. wrote:
Three cheers for you in denounc-
Ing the neW-fangled education sys-
tenn we have"
Another, from Richmond, Va, eX-
pressed the hope similar movements
would be organized in all communi-
ties in the United States. A letter
from Beloit, Wis, contained the
admonition. keep up the good fight
for good schools"
5000 Sign Petition.
j. Henry Hiser, league president,
said about 5000 signatures have
been obtained on a petitlon outlin-
Ing the groups aims and urging
the Board of Education to chance
the present curriculum to comply
with the recommendations They
include:
l. Reading. writing, arithmetic,
spelling, language, American history
geography and civics should be
taught separately in a systematic
and organized manner"
2. Subjects such as art and music
SHOULD be relegated to their proper
minor position in the school curricu-
lum"
3. Textbooks should be furnished
each child for every subject. ~
4. Report cards should be issued
every four to six weeks.
S. Normal" amounts of home
work should be assigned regularly.
6. There should be proper" class
room discipline.
7. A patriotism course ito instill
the appreciation of ouf American
way of life" should be established
IN all grades