Milford chronicle., 1955-07-22
University News

Alison Hall. home of the School
of Education al the University of
Delaware, is the scene Of an IN
usual program of instruction this
summer which can best be describ-
ed as "a school within a school
This unique Institutional feature
is the Reading Clinic Laboratory
School where trained specialists
seek to assist youngsters 10 i'm
prove their reading
The development Of reading
clinics in America is comparatively
recent One of the first was estab-
lished BY Marion Monroe at the
University of Pittsburgh in the
early Is3O's. The University of
Delaware clinic. under the direction
Of DR.. Russell G. Stauffer, began its
operation five years ago.
Not only does the reading clinic
serve elementary grade youngsters
in its laboratory school, but il also
provides corrective classes for
college students. courses for teach
ers and, for the first time this sum
mer, a program for high school
students.
The high school classes are the
first to be offered on a preventive
basis and are planned 10 assist stu
dents TO improve their reading be-
fore they are faced with the de-
mands of a college program. All
other courses are designed TO cor
rect deficiencies which students
have already experienced. Thirty
six students from Delaware, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Mary
land. most of whom plan TO enter
college in the fall. are taking the
course this summer.
The college program serves al
most twice this number during the
regular academic year From fifty
to sixty students, mostly freshmen
and sophomOres, enroll TO improve
their thinking-study skills involv-
ing the use Of textbooks and other
printed materials They also are
aided in spelling and composition
This program has proved from
80 to 100 per cent successful" DIR.
Stauffer asserted. Last year only
one student failed TO pass who par
slAE4BdlEu HI LlAC COA4CEE
gram and several improved to such
an extent that they made the deans
list All of our students find that
their reading improvement is re-
fiected in better grades and in
creased efficiency"
The course which DR.. Stauffer is
offering this summer is designed to
show how children can be trained
to Ink and set reading goals
which they strive TO realize. Sew
enty-six interested teachers and
parents of retarded readers are OBJ
serving the training methods en-
ployed by the reading clinic in
structors.
Our goal is TO make reading
clinic work almost entirely preven-
tive instead of corrective" Dr.
Stauffer explained. Teachers who
are prepared to prevent problems
and who have assisted us in help
ing retarded students are always
the most successful in achieving
results"
In addition to his work in the
clinic at the university, Dr. .Stauffer
mas Wi hCO dS a dL new
ark, Claymont. New Castle, Reho-
both and Milford and in Queen
AIMS. Kent, Caroline, and Hartford
Counties, Maryland.
There are many reasons for read
ing difficulties among students.
Crowded classrooms and limited
supplies in many of tOday's schools
cause inadequate teaching. Students
whose parents have moved about
frequently during their early school
years often become confused by diff
ferenceS in teaching methods Emo
tiOnal and neurological difficulties,
vision, and hearing deficiencies Of
ten contribute TO the problem. An
other factor is dyslexia. a failure
to associate the printed word with
may be able TO name the letters in
the word, but still be unable to re-
call its meaning.
The laboratory school instructors
are now training about twenty-five
students. Six corrective classes are
being held for mildly retarded read
ers and special instruction is being
provided for those children with ex-
treme difficulties.
A typical case was that of Steph-
en- Bristow. a twelve year old stu
dent, enrolled in the sixth grade
of the Gilpin Manor School of near
by Elkton. Maryland. A well-adjust-
ed lad with many friends and a nor
NAL capacity for success in school
work. Steve made a slow start in
reading and did not receive special
help during his early school years.
He attended three different schools
before being enrolled in the fourth
grade at the Gilpin Manor School