Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-23
Gen. Lanes Strategy


told that Washington could
not afford the expensive dual
school system-that integra-
ton would be economical. Now
these same people are clamor-
ing for more money for the
schools because we need more
teachers to bring poorly pre-
pared pupils up to grade.
Thoughtful. serious parents
are beginning to wonder how
much creGence can be placed
in the claims of professional
propagandists of the public
schools.
The recommendations of
Gen. Lane are refreshing. by
virtue of their honesty. nov
city and intelligent attempt to
view school problems realisti-
cally.
I know many teachers and
administrators in District
schools are doing a first-class
job of educating our children.
/ have particular reference to
Alice Deal Junior and Wood
row Wilson Senior High
Schools, where good educa-
tlonal standards have been
maintained in preparing stu
dents for college. There are
doubtless others. One reason
for their success, in spite of
the relaxed requirements in
general, is that the median
10. of their students is prob
ably high. This only argues
for Gen. Lanes idea of group
ing according to ability and
achievement. One excited
parent wrote that it would be
impossible to put over-age
pupils in classes with those OF
normal age for the grade. Gen.
Lane does not advocate this.
He has offered no objection to
making a separate class for
over-age pupils of any given
grade. He does not deny edu-
cational opportunity to any
child, and certainly the public
schools cannot guarantee to
educate every child through
high school, regardless of in
sdividual ability, interest or
initiative. Gen, Lane asks for
acceptance of the fact that a
difficult situation exists, and
for respectful consideration OF
a plan for its solution. 1t is no
favor to a child to deceive him
about his progress. 1t is dis
tinct kindness to him to put
him in a class where he can
work effectively and earn pro-
motion by merit. Today when
we have increasing need for
informed, capable citizens and
leaders we can i'll afford the
luxury OF mediocrity.
Ruth T. Vanier.
X X
Indignation is now reveal
ing the effects of past neglect
of our schools. even in schools
where only one race is present.
We are seeing these effects in
the amalgamation Of stand
ards.
Now public attention is being
directed toward the achieve
ment differential which exists
in the District. This is a serl-
GUS problem, and one that
merits attention. We must not
lose track of the aim of public
education, which is to give a
child an opportunity to de-
velop the potential within
himself. In the past we have
failed to provide this oppor-
tunity equally to the two
groups Of children. We are now
faced with the necessity OF
equalizing the opportunities.
and of making up for past in
equalities. Mass demotions will
not achieve this goal. They will
further sacrifice children whose
opportunities up to now have
been meager. 1t would be far
better for us to concentrate our
efforts on helping these chill
dren to catch up with, others
Of their own age group.
Our society has a stake in
keeping children happily in
school. We do not gain when
children are sent back to
younger classes where they
are oversize and where they
are unhappy and feel them
selves to be conspicuous fall
ures: or when children are
discouraged and turn truant;
or when their behavior reaches
such a state that they are ex-
PEELED. What happens to chill
dren to whom school doors
are closed? The Police De-
partment and the Board Of
Public Welfare know all too
we'll.
Also, I do not believe that
we should sacrifice more ad-
vanced children by forcing
them to bear the brunt of the
equalization process. They must