Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-09
Raising Starting Age to 5
Studied for Kinderqartens
D.. c. Bourd
Considers
Possibility

The possibility of raising the
admission age for kindergarten
in the District public schools
to 5 years was considered today
by a board of Education Com
mittee.
At present. children may be
admitted to kindergarten when
they are 4 years. eight months
in other words, if they will be
5 by January Is. The first
grade starting age is 5 years.
eight months.
There has long been a watt
ing list for children to enter
kindergarten, and as of last
April. the list numbered 479.
School officials feel that even
this does not represent the true
number whose parents would
like to enter their children.
Report Is Asked
The idea of raising the start
ing age came up at a meeting
of the boards Rules Committee,
which is going over and revis-
ing the overall rules.
Should the committee recon-
mend a higher starting age and
should it be approved by the
board. however. this provision
apparently could not go in eff
feet this fall because time Is
too short.
Col. West A. Hamilton, the
committee chairman, asked
School Supt. Hobart NJ. Corn
ing to submit a report on the
subject of admissions for the
information of the board MEM
bers. who will have a special
meeting next month to consider
the revised rules with the hope
of getting them in effect by
September.
Col. Hamilton said that III
we have enough money to pro-
vide kindergarten for all the
parents who would like to have
children in school, that's fine,
but our obligation is to the
children who are required to
be in school," Kindergarten is
not compulsory.
Mrs. Arcadia Near Phillips
said that under the present
situation a great many children
are admitted to school who are
not ready. She questioned &C
cepting children automatically
on the basis of age, and raised
the possibility Of readiness tests
for youngsters entering school.
No Valid Testing
DR.. Corning said that for
children so young. there is not
a test of sufficient validity to
be counted on. A child that
may measure mot ready" at
years, 8 months may not be
backward, but only little slow
of maturity, he indicated.
On another section of the
rules, Board Chairman Walter
N. Tobriner said he did not
believe that I'VE should un-
officially recognize fraternities
or sororities merely because
it would be difficult to get
rid of them
He suggested that by a series
Of substantial programs, the
schools could get rid Of the
social necessity for the organi-
cations that are frowned on.
Mr.. Tobriner added that the
board should take a position
for or against fraternities and
sororities. If it favored them,
regulatory rules should be re-
vised. he said. If il opposes
them. the superintendent
should be directed to put in
effect a series of "substitu-
tional programs to the end
that over a period of years.
these organizations will be out
of our schools"
The board will be asked by
Mr.. Tobriner at its next meet
ing to set up a special commit
tee to study the future OF the
teachers college here
Mrs. Ruth B. Spencer said
that the various suggestions
THAT have been made with re-
spect to the teachers college
should be reviewed and the facts
collected. and that the forth
coming 10 years of the college
program should be previewed.