Evening star., 1951-11-30

Parents Told Of
School Needs
Second Board Reports
On County Efforts
To Improve Program

Montgomery County's efforts to
keep abreast its mushrooming
school population are described
today in the Board of Educa-
ltion's second communication to
parents" -
Touching all phases of public
leducation in the county, the eight
fpage progress report tells parents
what steps have been taken and
what the board feels is still neces-
|sary to achieve its goal of first
rate education"
Bigger problem is the swelling
enrolment. A total of $4,000 pu-
pills are expected next fall, which
will mean that school enrolment
has doubled in 1946.
Embarked on a program to
keep pace with this growth, the
county has built more than 100
new classrooms annually. for the
last two years.
Now under construction are 80
school projects. including new
buildings and additions to exist
ing facilities, which will have q
pupil capacity Of 3.070. Ir addi-
tion. money is available for 13
more projects this year with an
estimated capacity Of $3.50 chill
dren.
Provides 'Plus Values"
While struggling to house its
many pupils, the board has not
neglected what it calls the plus
values" of the school system.
Among the special services pro-
vided are the school library serv-
ice. adult education. a lipreading
program for children with i'm
paired hearing and an expanded
music program.
The board also has paid atten-
tion to a program for the gifted
child and the child with special
needs. The latter has resulted in
the establishment of a school for
cerebral palsied children, the re-
port states.
Besides the regular classroom
facilities. the Montgomery schools
employ a wide variety of audio-
visual aids. such as films, record
ings. slides and film strips.
This year, pupils are learning
television techniques through
planning and participation in the
weekly TV program, Educating
Your Child" presented by Mont
gomery County schools each Tues
day evening over WMAL-TV.
Expenditures Listed.
To operate the school system
during the 1950-51 fiscal year, the
board spent $5,729.437 for the
regular day school program and
s152, ,220 more for other school
programs including adult educa-
ton and the junior college. The
day school figure represents an
average Of $2o32o per student.
A nutritionally balanced lunch.
costing pupils from is to 80 cents,
is served daily in Is high schools
and As elementary school cafe
terias.
Federal subsidies surplus food
and help from the PTAs keep the
cost low. The county government
contributes nothing toward the
purchase Of food.
Ten new cafeterias will be
opened during this school year.
Teachers Education.
The report also reveals over 27
per cent of county teachers hold
advanced degrees (master or doc
tori. Teachers continue their ed
ucation through in-service courses
and work periods with experts in
various educational fields, accord
ing to the report.
The board feels that the full
salary schedule put into effect for
the first time this year played a
part in persuading more than 300
new teachers to enter the school
Svstan this fall desnifa q Nation
wide teacher shortage.
Standard tests to measure
teaching services are used in the
schools. Test results may guide
the teacher In finding a better
approach to the child. says the
report.
Concern for student health also
is apparent In all parts of school
life.