Evening star., 1954-04-25
Teacher Group
GetsCoachin(g
In PsychidtrY
Take Course Aimed
To Help Them Aid
MoIodjusted Pupils
By jones 6. Deone

~ SOuCS NJ OSouS
A group of teachers is en-
gagged in an experiment which
may lead to significant improve
ment in dealing with problem
children in the District public
schools.
Since early last month nearly
80 teachers and administrators
have been holding a series of
meetings with prominent PSYCHE
artists on the subject of coping
with emotional problems in the
classroom.
Under the guidance of the
psychiatrists, teachers have been
discussing such problems as poor
work and bad behavior, seeking
to uncover the causes and ex-
changing ideas on how to cor
rect them. Often they have
brought up specific cases. They
have been encouraged to disclose
their own attitudes, which have
an important bearing on condi-
tions in the class.
Understanding Is Aim.
Out of these give-and-take
sessions, the teachers are ex-
pecting to carry back a greater
understanding of how to recog-
nize and deal with emotional
Embellishments. And if the prof.
ect proves of sufficient value, it
may serve as the model for a
psychiatric educational program
reaching out through the entire
school system.
The current experiment is es-
pecially interesting because it
had its inception outside the
school system and because it is
entirely voluntary, even to the
four psychiatrists who are lead
ing the discussion sessions.
The project was initiated by
the Mental Health Association,
an organization of professional
men and laymen established re-
Gently to foster interest in emo
tional problems and their cor
rection.
The District school system has
no staff psychiatrists. School Of
ficials have been increasingly
concerned lately with the grow
ing number of children having
emotional problems, however.
Funds Sought.
This situation already has been
reflected in the creation outside
the school system of three volun-
teer-manned psychiatric clinics,
and the Board of Education has
been seeking funds to hire two
clinical psychologists as a start
on setting up it's own psychiatric
service.
The Mental Health Associa-
ton. which has close ties with
the Washington Psychiatric So
ciety, recruited four psychiatrists
to take charge of the current
educational porject.
-Four discussion groups were
organized, three for teachers and
the fourth for principals and
higher ranking school officials,
with about II persons assigned
to each. The groups have been
meeting every other Thursday
since last month and will COM
plete their work early in June,
after a total of seven meetings
for each.
To some extent the teachers
are finding these workshops USE
full in dealing with actual cases.
For example. in one of the ses-
sions recently a teacher de-
scribed child who was inatten-
tive, uninterested in his school
work, and overactive in a way
which disrupted the class. The
group decided the cause of the
trouble was at home, and the
teacher was advised to confer
with the mother, to try to learn
what the cause might be and
discuss steps to correct it.
In another instance. a teacher
who complained about a girl
pupils misbehavior wound UP
being advised that she herself
was getting too upset about little
things and should adjust her own
thinking.
I'VE don't tell teacher what
she should know" said DR..
Julius Schneider, chairman of
the associations education COM
mittee. The aim is rather to en-
courage the teachers to think
out their own problems, with the
psychiatrist acting as a counse-
lor and guide.
All the teachers participating
IN the pilot project are from
elementary schools, where the
sponsors feel their greatest task
lies. A maxim in this field is
that the earlier emotional prob
lens are uncovered. the more
promptly they can be cured.
The District Health Depart
ment is cooperating in the
project. Psychiatrists leading the
workshop groups are DrS, Sey-
mour Rosenberg, Paul Chodoff,
Joseph AbrahamS and Charles
Wilkinson. Sitting in as OBJ
servers are Clarence Davies.
Miner Teachers College: Thomas
Robertson, Public Health Serv-
ice: Mrs. Julia Fickling, coun-
selor in the school system, and
Mrs. Phyllis TreuSch. chief social
worker of the Health Depart
ment's mental health division.