Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-27
Broyhi||
Fail tOPostpone
School Probe
Seek Biportisunship,
Soy Campaigning
Burs Attendance
Continued From First Page

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much retarded children, Mis-.
Prince said. She told reporters
after finishing her testimony be.
fore the committee, that the
work was not typical of Eastern
students, but was exceptionally
low quality.
But she cited it as an example
LOT children with whom she sale
lher school and other Washing.
ton high schools are having tt
cope.
Both the spelling list and tbs
book report were the work Of
Negro students. she. said. ShG
Ialso produced, at q reporters re.
quest, a sample Of some work BY
a white boy, however. It in
cluded these sentences:
"a surgeon is a drocker that
orporates.
"A lawyer is a man that you
hire if you haft to 60 to cort
for something.
"A scientist is a cempleat
though.
"A college is q place where
you go to get a better edgaca-
Ition."
Miss Prince told the commit
ltee that, in the last two years,
Ia large number of her students
had failed to measure up to even
passing standards in English
IcourseS.
Many students failed not only
English but other subjects. OF
one group of SO last year. she
said II failed everything, in
lcluding department. OF the II
flour repeated and passed. sever
failed again, and six dropped
from school.
Spread in Reading
Miss Prince said she had beer
confronted recently with Wild
spread in reading accomplish
ment among her pupils, ranging
from the second grade level II
not quite seventh grade.
How is it possible" asket
Committee Counsel william
Gerber, "for students on thu
second, third, fourth and sixth
grade level to read and under
stand a book in the 10th grader
1T is not" she replied.
rIIow can you teach tlaeKn?"
Il nut the slower Of the SLOW
into group and obtained (
If1fth-grade reader and worked
whole semester in IT, Mis-
Prince said. Even then, few o.
the class passed, she said.
Are bright white pupils suf'
fering because of integration?'
Mr.. Gerber inquired.
Beyond doubt" she replied
do you think the bette
colored students are suffering
Itoo?"
II do" she said.
Endorses track" Plan
She added that she believed
a new "four-track" plan for di
viding high school students b!
ability. now under way in al
the city's schools in the 10tl
grade, will help to remedy this
however.
Asked about discipline prob
lens. Miss Prince said there hat
been disorder in the halls, hu
she added:
Were much better this yea
than last because the junior
high moved out"
Eastern last June closed /
Junior high school unit.
"Is it more difficult to teach
NOW than before integration?'
Mr.. Gerber asked.
"Oh, yes," Miss Prince re-
piled.
HAS it had any effect OF
your health?" he asked.
mot on my health but on my
plans for the future" she re.
Sponded. I'm going to retire
Iearlier."
How has indignation affected
Imorale?" Mr.. Gerber wanted t.
know.
II don't believe I'd better an.
swer for anybody but myself,
Miss Prince replied.
Miss Edith Davis, sixth-gradt
teacher at Peabody Elementary
School, Fifth and c streets NE.
also told the committee of diff.
culties Stemming from having 9
wide range of abilities among
her pupils.
Cites Glass Of "a
Last year, in her class Of "a
Miss Davis said 10 were above
average in intelligence scores, Il
average and nine below average
The 10 colored pupils split be-
tween the lower two groups
seven in the average and six Il
the low one.
On achievement tests. she salt
the class showed a range from
second to 18th grade.
Miss Davis told the committeI
she also had some problems will
pupils. both white and colored
who didn't behave in the way
thought sixth-graders should.
She said children Of both race
played well together on the play
ground. however. adding that tn
school has had very little show
feeling Of resentment. Asked b
Mr.. Gerber whether there wer
any sex problems, she replied:
I'VE don't get too much Of tina
in elementary school. In the lowe
grades Of course. but little chill
dren sort Of do that anyhow"
NeighborhOOd Decline
She blamed most behavior diff
lficultieS on a neighborhood de
cline which she said started be
fore indignation.
Two faculty members from
Mcfarland Junior High School
Thirteenth and Upshur street
INV outlined teachin0 dir