Evening star., 1948-09-08
New Fireworks
Seen on County
School Studies
Two Meetings Due
This Week on Hot
Montgomery Issue
By John V. Horner

A renewal of Montgomery Coun-
tvs heated controversy over the
public school curriculum appeared
IN the offing today.
Although teachers throughout the
county are reporting to Parent
Teacher Associations on recent
curriculum workshops, most patrons
nave focused attention on two meet
ings this week which are expected
to produce new fireworks in the
months-long dispute.
The first, called by the Parents
League for Curriculum Improve
ment, Is scheduled at $50 pm. to-
morrow at the Kensington ,Armory
The group headed by John H. Hisel
'of Bethesda, has promised to tell a
mass meeting of its investigation
into new tangled" education meth
DDS.
Speakers at the leagues meeting
will include Roberts Parke, publicity
chairman: Mrs. Duncan H. Brooks,
corresponding secretary: Carl Binker,
Mrs. Robert Sherwin, Wylie Barrow,
Edward Stock, Mrs. Frances Acton
and James FieSer.
The Board Of Education will hold
a special meeting at 8 o'clock to-
night in Rockville to act on pro-
posed curriculum changes. The
board also is expected to adopt a
revised textbook list.
Ignored nv PTA Council
The Montgomery County Council
Of Parent-Teacher Associations,
whose leadership has been aligned
with the Board of Education in de-
fense of the school program, has
decided to ignore the leagues meet
Ing. The councils Executive Com
mlttee agreed last night to send no
official representation to Kensing-
ton.
The council will take official
recognition of the second meeting
a forum to be held at 8 pm. Fri
day in the Leland Junior High
School, Bethesda Principal speak
erS there will be Assistant School
aupt. E. M. Douglass and Irving G.
McNayr, county supervisor, who
have been at odds over school budg-
ct matters. Other officials and
prominent county citizens will take
part. The fact that speakers may
Ie questioned by the audience is
expected to heighten interest in the
forum.
Mr.. Douglass said yesterday that
he had not decided whether to at
lend the Kensington mass meeting
of the parents league. but said
ne was inclined to go along with
the decision of the PTA Councils S
Executive Committee.
5000 Signers Claimed.
The league, headed by John H.
Hiser of Bethesda, claims 5000 sig
natures of citizens who want the
Board of Education to make import
ant changes in the curriculum. His
group would lay more stress on read
ing, writing, arithmetic, spelling
language, American history, geo.
.graphy and civics. 1t would relegate
TO their proper minor position
such courses as art and music.
The league also wants textbooks
furnished every child, report cards
issued each period of four to SIX
weeks, proper" classroom discipline
and course in patriotism.
With the curriculum discussion
still on. the PTA Council has sched-
uled its fourth annual "informa-
ton" workshop next Wednesday, in
;he Richard Montgomery High
School, Rockville.
Nathan r. Gilbert of Chevy Chase,
council President. said officers and
commit .e chairmen of 35 PTAs in
the ele mentary, Junior high and
high schools will attend concurrent
meetings designed to help PTA
organizations cope with govern
mental and community lethargy or
outright reaction with respect to
tne school crisis
The workshop will start at 7:30
pm. with registration A general
meeting is planned at 8 pm. and
tne individual meetings will start
at 230 n m