Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-21

because 10 is the maximum
teaching age.
Miss Keleher had something
less than enthusiasm for the
attitude Of some of her pupils in
her last class at Blair, a class of
AZ fourth-fifth graders of whom
I38 were colored. She said many
demonstrated an "unwillingness
to work"
When you tried to get them
to do any, they went into a
slow-motion process and you got
nothing DONE" she asserted.
Few at Grade Level
AS did previous witnesses, she
said few of the youngsters were
up to grade level and that geog-
raphy and history had to be
taught by pictures and word of
mouth because pupils eouldn't
master the textbooks.
Questioned as to why such
children had been promoted to
that grade, she said there had
been a theory over the city for
a long time that children
should be advanced on age, size,
social development"
The veteran former teacher
declared, however:
ut isn't fair to blame the
fact that a lot of children were
below grade level on the WASH
ington school system"
A fifth of her pupils. she said
in explanation, came from vari-
Gus Southern States, where she
said they had inadequate prep
aration.
She also quoted Leonard o.
Hllder. former Washington edu-
Gator, now of Arlington. Va, who
is serving as an aide to the House
investigators, as stating that pro-
motion by age has been a ma.
tional practice in recent years.
Discipline Problem
Miss Keleher said fighting ano
other discipline infractions hac
increased with indignation. But
she said the fighting has moi
been interracial.
Miss Kelleher said she con-
sidered indignation inevitable but
agreed when Mr.. Williams sug-
gested it was "a bad situation
with which you're doing the best
you can"
Mrs. Lillian Glascoe, prin-
cipal of the all-Negro Shadd
Elementary School, Fifty sixth
and East Capitol streets, gave
the subcommittee a picture oil
classes ranging from 40 to sc
and resulting difficulties in get
ting enough supplies and text
books.
/ Like principals of other
schools, she testified hers hac
its share Of delinquency, truancy
and academic problems. Somt
children living in the large
East Capitol Dwellings nearby
haven't developed habits" O.
punctual attendance, she said
but she blamed their parents.
Conduct "Unbecoming"
!; Regarding pupil conduct, sh'
said sometimes it isn't be-
coming" and she said the samI
of language. But she said sh'
. recalled only two cases wherl
, she called for police, and thesl
, Iwere not at Shadd.
Questioned by Mr.. Gerber oil
promotion practices, Mrs. Glas
zoe said that, at her school
it isn't felt worth while to maxi
a child repeat grade more thar
twice.
1T has been our policy to sent
him on and see if he can ge
something out Of the mex
grade" she said. Mr.. Gerber, il
the hearings, has been putting
special attention on the question
lof comparative promotion prac'
tices of the city's coIored anS
white teachers.
Mrs. Dorothy Denton, a teach.
Ter at Barnard Elementary School
Fifth and Decatur streets NV
described an opportunity" clas
for slow-learning children owe,
which she presided. Barnard i
: a former white school now mixec
lracially.
!, Low Reading Ability
; Mrs. Denton said some Of TIL
, pupils in her class were not ye
able to master beginning reading
. books, although the group was |
combined third-fourth gra d {
She also complained that dis