Evening star., 1949-09-19
Differs with Editorial
On Educational FlapdoOdle'

On Educational Flapdoodle'
To the Editor of The Star:
was more than surprised-I was shocked
to read your editorial in last Sundays Star
entitled Educational Flapdoodle.'" have
always had respect for Star editorials be-
cause believe them to be based upon care
full thought and analysis of given situations
However, your comments on the life ad-
Justment education programs being devel-
oped in secondary schools throughout the
country apparently are based entirely upon
the statements of DR.. Doyle. This professor
OF modern languages evidently emerged from
his conjugationS, parsings and declensions
long enough to pass judgment on the efforts
OF the sociologists, psychologists and others
who are endeavoring to alleviate the prob
lens of us humans who live in a complex
society.
You, and DR.. Doyle, condemn this plan of
the schools to discuss family living. Yet your
feature articles and editorials frequently
refer to delinquent parents" as the cause
OF juvenile delinquency. Now, no parent
wants to be delinquent nor to have delin-
quent children. But there's no magic formu-
la that comes with the baby to prevent pa
rental delinquency. It's just that life gets
increasingly complex, and frequently prob
lens and the children get beyond the ability
of some parents to handle either. Those of
us who are interested in parent study groups
know that the parents who attend them are
all too frequently the ones who need them
the least. How can we interest those parents
who so desperately need help, want help, and
yet, because Of many factors too involved
and complicated to discuss here, refuse to
make even the slightest effort to solve
their problems?
Parents Able to Learn From Parents.
For they can learn from other parents
that raising children can be happy, sue
cessful experience. and they can learn to
use the vast amount of worthwhile literature
available as parent helps. Il am not refer
ring to 'lunatic fringe progressivism" that
allows child to give unrestraned express
sion to his inclinations; but to the many
periodicals, books and study groups that give
wholesome, practical information, so that
the parents can help themselvesD
The logical conclusion at this point is to
give our high school boys and girls oppor-
tunltles. under proper guidance, to discuss
family problems as well as problem families.
Administrators and parents will tell you that
not every teacher can or should carry on
such discussion. That is why the life
adjustment education programs are proceed
ing so slowly. We all realize that we can't
solve such problems entirely in the class
room. But we can 60 long way toward
creating healthy, practical attitude toward
family life If our boys and girls, who will be
the parents OF tomorrow, have opportunity
to discuss such problems together. Especially
is this true when all of todays parents aren't
or can't be giving the help needed at home.
have two boys-one in high school, the
other in junior high. My husband and I
always conscientiously have tried to give
them good example of happy family living.
This we believe is the best way to teach our
children n for
However. not having any sisters, know
that If they have opportunity to discuss such
things as manners, budgets family respon-
sibilities. and just plain how-to-get along
with-others in class where they can get
girls point of view, they are going to be
just that much better equipped to be llus-
bands and fathers when their turns come
Teenagers Can Be Serious.
And If you don't think teenagers can think
seriously Of home and family problems and
discuss them with an astuteness that often
puts us oldSters on our toes, Just listen to
Lets Talk It Over" a weekly parent
teenage forum family life that has been
on local radio station these past two
winters and probably will be on again this
winter.
"Flapdoodle" indeed! Life adjustment
education promises to be the first practical
bit of education the youngsters have had
since they learned their multiplication
tables. And believe it will be remembered
longer than any declensions of nouns DR..
Doyle's modern Language department at
tempts to teach!
MRS. JOSEPH S. YUIIL.
Chairman Home and Family Life Com
mittee, Prince Georges County Council
of Parent-Teacher Associations.
Calls Attention to Fact That
Air Covers Sea as Well as Land
To the Editor Of The Star:
Your editorial on "The Crommelin State
menu" noted that the Navys reaction to
unidcation and the development OF first
line Of defense in the air. rather than on
the sea, is wholly understandable.
The statement development of first line
of defense in the air rather than on the
sea" overlooks the fact that air exists over
the sea as well as over the land and in q
proportion Of IS to Is. Surely, you do not
mean to contend that, in developing line
Of defense in the air, the sea should be ex
cluded from consideration or that land-based
air can adequately fill the whole need.
Another point it would be well for the B-36
investigators to cover is: Would the Army
be better balanced with its own air arm
(tacticaD integrated with its other arms or
is it better for the Army to- depend on the
Air Force for tactical air support?
NAVY CAPTAIN.
Ghost Of Big Bill
Nav IJaya Rocn Around