Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-07
BY G. O. HERNDON

LaSC year, IN montgomery
County, little boys gasp of de-
light at his own ingenuity pro-
vided a teacher one of those
moments of intense qualification
teachers live for.
The boy, a pupil in an upper
elemntary grade. was one of AIS
youngsters in the county who
were aided by special reading
instruction last year.
Unlike others faced with the
same problem, this young pupil
had accepted his reading slow
ness. The flaw. he thought, was
permanent, and he had decided
not to worry about it. After weeks
Of remedial reading instruction,
the boy suddenly began to COM
prehend the basic skills of
reading.
According to Mrs. Mary Moh-
Ter, co-ordinator of special read
ing services for the Montgomery
County school system, "he was
the most amazed boy in the world
when he realized he could read. "
Help for 45O
In the fall of 1855, county ele-
mentary school principals listed
800 children they thought needed
extra help in reading. OF these
$50 we're tested. and the Ais were
those who could be given help
with available personnel,
Thousands of youngsters are
classified as poor readers in the
Metropolitan Area of Washing
ton. They are in a group clearly
distinct from students regarded
as handicapped or retarded. The
poor readers usually have better
than average ability in other
fields.
In the United States, an esti-
mated 4 million youngsters fall
in the poor reader category
Educators have become increas-
ingly aware of the nature of
this problem in the last four
or five years and are making a
greater effort to provide remedial
instruction.
A completely reorganized pro-
gram for children who have
trouble with printed words is
being prepared in Montgomery
County. now in preparation for
the fall term. A reading clinic
will be established at Mont
gomery Junior College. On the
second floor of newly remod-
eled building there, several rooms
will be provided for the analysis
of reading problems in school
children and for their treatment
in some cases.
Two More Teachers
In addition, remedial reading
teachers who taught last years
special classes will be augmented
by two additional teachers.
Five additional reading teach
e.s we're planned for the 1856
81 school year. The reduction Of
the increase was ordered in con-
nection with a budget cut Of
about 100000 in the school
board request for Institutional
salaries.
Besides the clinic. the new
program in Montgomery will in
clude the reorganization Of
teaching centers for slow read
ers. The remedial instruction
was given at 10 elementary
schools. The children came to
these centers from total OF 81
schools. including the 10 at
which instruction was given.
Through these changes, school
officials said they hoped to i'm
prove the service" They declared
there were many children with
reading problems for whom
special help could not be pro-
vided.
10 New Remedial CenterS
DR.. Forbes H. Norris, county
school superintendent. said the
1861 reading service should
be regarded as the beginning OF
y preventive program The
reading clinic will be supple
mented by fewer but generally
larger instruction centers. spaced
70 bring the program TO more
children in more schools. Max
well z. Burdette. the schools
director Of educational services,