Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-20
Lanes School Plan

Congra tulations to Gen.
Lane, for suggestion based on
the concrete foundation of
horse sense.
Let's not retard the intelli-
gence of the Nation. The coun-
try is sorely in need of intel
ligent statesmen who will be
furnished from this genera
ton, and those to come.
I think the entrance test, re-
sulting in a student being
placed in his or her proper
class level, is an excellent step
toward progress in educational
or school organizations, and no
ill reflection should be felt by
anyone who takes an entrance
or placement examination. 1t
should, on the other hand.
benefit three classes, Cd the
pupil concerned. CD his fell
low students, and 60 the
teacher. It should not be con-
sidered a demotion but rather
as an opportunity to go back
and pick up what they failed
to gain previously.
These examinations can be
likened to measuring stick.
used to measure the degree of
learning and retention of a
student, and may even mean
a promotion for those who have
continued to grow mentally
and learn outside the class
room. Slow does not necessarily
mean that the student is dull
or not intelligent.
It would appear that the
students and educators who
take offense at the test-for-
placement method display a
lack of knowledge and intel
ligence themselves. If a college
student must take a placement
examination (this has been
done for years., why should
it be so unreasonable for a
grade student to do likewise?
X. v. M.
4 X X \
The surgical operation pre-
scribed by Gen. Lane is re-
grouping students according
to knowledge and ability, but
I doubt that he can find a sur
geon who has nerve enough to
perform it. The kids who
would be denoted would be
benefited greatly because they
could learn necessary funda-
mentals on which each course
is built. without this, the
course is not understood and
becomes a bore with conse-
quent poor marks and even
tual discrimination of school
before graduation. These un-
informed children are not lin
tied to colored. Many white
children need this operation
because of automatic promo
lions which have been too fire.
Quent.
The surgeons who should
perform the operation are the
Board of Education and the
Superintendent Of Schools. We
need not expect the operation
to be performed, however. es-
pecially in election year. It
might destroy the illusion that
integration made everybody
happy in Washington. Also,
why risk the displeasure of
disgruntled, foolish parents
who do not or will not see the
lifetime advantage to Willie
by losing a grade in order to
build his education on solid
ground? Willie would even
tually thank them for a re-
peated year.
New blood should be con-
stantly infused in the admin
istration of the school system.
Members Of the Board of Edu-
cation should be elected for
seven years, and should not
be eligible for reappointment.
The Superintendent Of Schools
should also be supplanted
every seven years. New
brooms sweep clean" No re-
sponsible job should last so
long that it becomes routine.
James A. Cannon, MD,
Former Member, Board Of
Education, 1910 to 1852.
1t is good to know that Com
missioner Lane is concerned
with the problem of education
in the District. However, to
continue his own metaphor.
his proposed surgical tech
nique, mass demotion is so out
NODDED in tendency as to be
fatal to the patient. However.
the idea of homogeneous group
ings is certainly one that ap-
peals to many educators and
is already practiced here to a
slight degree in the elemen-
tary schools, and to a greater
degree on the secondary levels.
1t is the suggestion that these
homogeneous classes be 40 to so
l. l. n