Evening star., 1951-08-15
Aviation Course
Called Stepchi|d
In DC. Schools
Flight Bill Hearing
Told Present Project
Is Operated Poorly

A picture Of aviation as q
"stepchild" among courses in tho
Districts schools was painted to- |
day before a Senate District SUBJ
committee.
The aviation course was ex-i
amined at q. hearing on a proposal
to add fight experience to the
present study in the senior high
schools.
Mrs. Perry Robinson. an avia-
ton teacher in the schools, testi-
fed in favor of the bill but said
the addition of flight training
should be viewed in relation to
the whole program.
She complained that the course
had been getting teachers with
little or no background in avia-
ton. She said that overall en-
rollment in the course had been
Testifies for Organizations.
Mrs. Robinson, who was testify
ing not as teacher but as repre-
sentative of several organizations
interested in aviation, pointed outl
that the course was placed UNDER
the science department. She said
she thought there should be some
one on the administrative level
who was versed in aviation to
guide the program.
The witness said she believed
that the whole job of teachingI
aviation could be done more ef-'
fectively, still keeping within the
$4,000 authorized annually for
the course.
Senator Pastore, Democrat, of
Rhode Island, asked Supt. of
Schools Hobart M. Corningj
whether the course had not beeni
somewhat of a stepchild.."
Corning Favors Rebuilding Course.
DR.. Corning replied that while
he did not think the course was
"a flop" he did believe it needed
building up and revitalizing.
He said that school teachers,
and principals had expressed the
view the course was too TECHNICAL
and not sufficiently practical.
DR.. Corning said that commit
tees have been appointed to gol
into the courses in air-age educa-
ton, to restudy the present course
to bring it up to date, and to es-
|tablish workshop for teachers,
This committee work will start
in September.
Mrs. Robinson had testified
that in-service training for teach
ers was needed. She also said
that air maps being used in the
course were out of date.
Lee Says Board Is Concerned.
Adelbert w. Lee, acting presi.
dent of the Board of Education.
told the committee the Schools
Board was greatly concerned'
about the course.
Mr.. Lee told Of getting unsatis-
factory answers to inquiries made
about the use of Link trainers
in the schools. He said that of
10 trainers, three were in use and
the others were gathering dust"
A few days ago, he said. he was
told after persistently inquiring
in one school about a trainer that
1t was in good condition, but he
found that it was not.
Mr.. Lee assured the COMMITTEES
that the board would look into
the situation.
Liability Factor Mentioned,
In testifying on the bill. DR..
Corning told the Education Sub
committee of the Senate District
Committee that the Board of
Education had not been in favor
of similar bills in the past because
of liability in case of an accident.
The present bill, introduced by
Senator Kefauver, Democrat, Of
Tennessee includes a provision
that the District would not be
liable in sponsoring flight ex-
Iperience.
DR.. Corning said that as in all
cases where there was any haz-
ard involved, the written consent
of the parents would be required.
1t was brought out that only
iabout $4,000 is now spent on the
course, although $4,000 is au-
thorized. No definite plans have
been formed for administering the
flight training. but school officials
indicated it could be done within
the authorized sum.
Senator Pastore said he person.
ally was in favor of the bill. Keith
johnson, head of the science de-
partment in the schools, said that
while only about so per cent of
the number taking the course in
1912 is now enrolled, the national
drop was worse than in the Dis
trict.
He noted, however, that enroll
ment in physics and chemistry
also had dropped. He said he did
not know why.
Senator Pastore commented that
all In all the present aviation
program hasn't amounted to a
great deal"
Mr.. johnson said that the
schools could teach only the broad