Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1956-06-14


white for the first year of int
grafton.
Both principals feel however
that the number 70 Negro chill
dren was still relatively low
enough to make their assimilia
ton easier.
In spite of the basic differences
in the two communities, the
principals of both schools report
the same satisfaction with the
working of the migrated pro
gram, the fact that there was no
lowering of scholastic standards
and pride in the cooperation Of
teachers and children.
Treat Them as Children
1.-THE most important factor in
making indignation run smooth
ly" says the principal at School
A, "is treating the children in the
classroom simply as children and
as young Americans and treating
their problems individually re
CARELESS of race"
School BIS principal felt that at
first she didn't see how it could
work at all but that when you
try it you see that it does work
and that after the first day a Ne.
gro child becomes just another
child"
School A and B each had one
Negro child transfer back to an
all-Negro school. In both Eases
the reason was an emotional prob
lem of the infividual and both
principals treated it as such.
The Importance Of the prin-
cipals attitude in smoothing the
path of Indignation should not be
underestimate. The PTA at
School A gives full credit to its
principals contributions.
Negro Teachers Visit
1t cites here thoughtfulness in
inviting the new Negro staff to
visit the school before it opened
in the fall, and her first day pro
gram for all new students, Ne
gro and white, which included a
grand tour of the school and ex-
plantations of its rules and regu-
lations.
School BIS principal is respon-
sible for organizing a special
group of first and second grad.
ters. Negro and white, who were
having difficulties because of
emotional disturbances, low cul
tural background or lack of kin
dergarten experience.
This group has had a special
activity program to give them the
experiences they lack. This in.
cludes reading stories, trips
around the school, games, con.
crete number concepts, learning
to follow directions through
rhythms and social and group
living through doll house play.
Because the group is small the
children get more individual at
tention and more opportunity to
talk and learn to express them
selves. The improvement in the
children is shown by the fact that
the parents of one of the white
children let the child remain al
though they were strongly OPP
posed to the placement at first.
Medical Help Given
This principal, because of the
low economic background of her
Negro children, has also done
great deal of checking and follow
ing through on necessary medi
cal and dental care to improve
her children's general welfare as
well as their scholastic achieve
ment.
She has also shdwn high sensi
tivity to the Negro children's emo
tional needs 10 the point of chang
ing a traditional program at one
time to keep them from feeling
left out and unwanted.
This consideration Of the Negro
children's special needs is one o.
her main recommendations to tn,
schools up-county that will be in
tegrating for the first time mex
fall.
Her, other recommendation i,
sound educationally regardless o
race and il is that smaller classe.
are easier on the teacher am
necessary for maintaining scho
lastic standards.
) Visits Recommended
School AS principals one recon
mendation to the up-county par
ents and educators facing int
= grafton for the first time is tina
I they visit schools where the pre-
> gram is already in effect and oh
serve for themselves how well
= is working.
She warns, though, agains
: overpreparedness and anticipation
of trouble and situations tina
( never arise once Indignation is i