Evening star., 1953-10-25
A34QBst,od,
Under Fire in
Arlington Race
Board Candidates
Argue Progressive
Education Issues
BY WiIIiom J. EIvin

progressive eduCaC10n" and some
new ones are being heard in the
Arlington School Board election
campaign.
Introduction of progressive
methods in the Nations schools
in the past so years has meant
less stress on the compulsionS Of
authority and more emphasis on
spontaneous activities, preferably
in group situations.
The traditional and progress
Sive groups have disagreed vio-
lently on whether a child learns
best when he is faced with pen
alties and rewards, or whether he
really learns only when his in
tereSt in the subject itself is
aroused and encouraged.
The candidates OF the Inde-
pendent Movement for the two
board seats, James r. Miles and
Dolph Hays, say the present
board has gone too far in adopt
ing the principles of progressive
education.
Cite ultra -Progressivism."
The incumbent, DR.. E. R. Dra-
helm, and his Convention nomi-
nee running mate. DR.. L. Clark
Heating, say that what their OPP
ponents object to is ultra prog
reSsivism." which the Convention
candidates say has no part in
present school policy.
The defenders of the present
school board term the attack on
progressive education" malicious
and irresponsible criticism not
based on fact. They say the at
tackers are trying to win the
election by sweeping charges de-
signed to undermine public con-
fidence in the school system.
Mr.. Miles says that progress
sive education" as practiced in
Arlington represents a left-wing
philosophy akin to the party
which Henry Wallace headed and
to the prisoners of war who ac-
cepted the Communist line.
Sees Train of Thought.
DR.. Draheim says this argu-
nlent is an attempt to instill in
peoples minds this train of
thought: Arlington schools prac-
tice progressive education. Pro-
gresive education means John
Dewey: Dewey means Columbia
University; Columbia University
means Communist; therefore
Arlington schools are Commu-
mist. In presenting this idea to
an audience, DR.. Draheim re-
called that President Eisenhower
was recently president of CO.
lumbia.
Supporters of traditional
methods objected to the change
in pupils report cards. Under
progressive methods, the report
card shows whether a student
is making progress. considering
his ability. The traditional re-
port card gives numerical rating
or a letter rating, usually A
through E, and let's him know
where he stands with respect to
fellow students.
- Mr.. Hays has a viewpoint on
competition among students.
1.-THE schools should teach and
equip our children so that they
will be prepared to meet the COM
petition to be encountered when
they commence to earn their own
livelihood" he has said. He be-
lieves that competition among
students for grades would be
beneficial" and urges that the
competitive report card be used.
Teacher Methods Questioned.
Mr.. Miles says that under
progressiviSn, teachers are just
chaperoneS. The idea of that
method of teaching, he says, is
not to repreSS or inhibit the
children. There is too much lack
of direction by teachers, he says.
Dr.. Keating says that the
points brought up by Mr.. Miles
are excesSes that everyone is
against-"We're all against sin"
Mr.. Miles is speaking of an
ultra progressivism" that is not
found in Arlington schools, DR..
Keating says.
The school administration re-
jects the statement that its cur
riculum or teaching methods are
soft or weak. The teachers
handbook charges each teacher
with responsibility for mainten-
ance of good conduct in the
classroom.
Seen Above Average.
"We try to encourage children
with ability to do more than
ulSGL Usual CAdoo4OOLAA ACAAAAS
ments," school officials say. They
believe that academic accom-
plishments of Arlington students
are above average and they cite
Arlington scores in Nationwide
standard tests as proof OF the
value of present methods.
The report card system used in
nearly all Arlington schools pro-
vides space for indicatin G
whether a student is doing out
standing work, satisfactory
work, or is having difficulty.
These reports alternate with
teacher parent conferences re-
garding the students progress.
The administration doesn't in
sist on this method of reporting,
however, where parent-teacher
associations object. Students at
two county schools receive ABB
C-D-E reports, at the request OF
their parents in the PTA.