Evening star., 1955-07-19
Plans
Step TO Bolster
Teaching Here.
To Increase Stress
On Remedial Work
Cut Class Sizes
BY JAMES G. DEANE


Hobart ID. Corning.
DR.. Corning said yesterday
that integration and the school
systems testing program had
revealed wide differences In
achievement levels, as well al
many individual problems.
The new program, he said, ii
designed to improve instruction
and achievement. Stress will bs
put on remedial work, and ef.
forts will be made to reduce
class sizes, he added.
The school superintendent said
public concern had been ex-
pressed about differences ir
achievement among the city's
students.
Calls Standards High
There Is ample evidence that
the school teachers and officers
have been able to maintain high
standards of achievement ir
spite of the fact that the schools
serve groups that are hetero-
geneous as to native ability and
achievement" he declared.
He added, however. that
achievement had always varied
widely. here and in all school
systems, and that the teaching
profession is vitally concerned
with meeting this problem.
The superintendent cited as
evidence Of the school SYSTEMS
high standards the record oi
high school students in 1925
in obtaining admission to COL
leges. All except four schools ex-
ceeded the national average OF
46 per cent in this regard, he
said.
DR.. Corning said the new pro.
gram for elementary schools ir
some respects will merely re-
emphasize measures already In
effect. Similar programs are
being planned for other schoo,
levels, he added.
Steps Outlined
The superintendent said these
steps are included in the ele.
mentary program:
For Principals
Monthly meetings Of officers
devoted to practical problems oi
supervision.
An integrated principals as.
sociation working on common
problems.
Emphasis on a supervisory
program designed to obviate the
necessity for remedial work.
Community meetings of nearby
schools to work on educationa,
problems.
For Teachers
A supervisory program with
continued emphasis upon thu
needs Of individual children.
Small area meetings in grade
groups to discuss teaching ane
learning situations.
Demonstrations and visits be.
tween buildings.
Monthly faculty meeting,
based ON problems of instruction
For All Educational Employees
Re-examination of the pro
gram in each school by principa
and faculty to find strengths ans
needs.
Common policies, procedure.
and practices discussed ans
agreed upon.
More effective contacts be.
tween heads Of departments
special teachers, principals, SUI.
pervisors, directors.
Emphasis on the best use oj
school time.
Wider use and understandings
OF the curriculum materials tc
meet the needs of children.
Through Administration
Smaller classes.
More special classes to meet
the individual needs of children
More equal distribution of the
services OF special teachers.
A carefully planned remedial
program in summer school.
Organization within buildings
to meet the needs of children.
Placement of teachers to brina
out their greatest potentialities
Tor helping children.
For Parents
Study groups in buildings te
help parents understand what
the schools are trying to do and
how they can help.
An integrated parent-teache,
association working on common
problems.
Steps Already Taken
The use of city-wide test re-
suits as a basis for review OF
|city-wide standards and prac.
tices.
Establishment Of a summe,
school committee to evaluate the
work this year and plan for q
strong remedial program next
year.
Budget requests for additional
salaries for special classes.
Plan for systematic city-wide
remedial program.
College Admissions
DR.. Corning also made public
this record of college admissions
for the 1923 school year: