davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
FeIiowships

An expanded Federal fellowship
program would. as President
Eisenhower stated in his Novem-
Der Is address, increase the out
put of qualified teachers" In the
scientific field. the National
Science Foundation this. year
awarded S45 fellowships to out
standing students for pre-doctoral
graduate study. Next year this
program will probably be extended
10 1000 graduate students. In
addition the Foundation this year
made some 100 fellowship awards
10 college faculty members for
special study to improve the quail
ity of their teaching. This whole
program could probably be tripled
in the near future If funds were
available.
Additional support for gradute
students would attract more B.A.
degree holders into the graduate
schools. 1t would shorten the
period now required for them 70
obtain a graduate degree. thus in
creasing the supply Of college
teachers. Now a large proportion
of graduate students--a majority
in some fields OF study--have TO
maintain themselves by taking
jobs and frequently need four to
ten years to get their doctoral de-
gree.
Currently educators at the
American Council on Education
are discussing a plan whereby
Federal funds could be provided
by the Department of Health,
Education and Welfare. in con-
sultation with special advisory
boards, 10 some $50 graduate
schools, many Of which could now
accommodate more students both
In science and the humanities The
universities would administer the
program and select the holders Of
the fellowships.
Such a program would include
vide variety OF graduate schools
IN order TO utilize and build up
the smaller ones which are not Ms
crowded as Harvard. Columbia.
Chicago and the other big schools
This plan is somewhat along the
lines followed by the Public Health
Service in making Federal funds
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
Science Storts EARLY for Youngsters
At This Suburban FoHm-SchooI

ton to interest youngsters in
natural phenomena.
Parents and friends in scientific
and engineering occupations are
freely drawn upon. an advantage
which the less flexible program
ming in many schools might not
allow. The sixth and seventh
Grades recently visited the Naval
Research Laboratory in connection
with their study Of sound. and a
parent arranged for them to have
q demonstration Of work being
undertaken there on crystals. with
a lecture on the part played by
crystals in sound transmission. As
one result Of the trip. they are
now growing crystals in the base
ment Of one Of the buildings. hop
ing 10 use them later for expert
ments of their own.
Sputniks l and II have been
topics of conversation among the
younger generation as well as
among parents. and scientifically
alert teachers are capitalizing on
this at Burgundy and elsewhere.
A Library Of Congress employe
spent his Veterans Day holiday at
Burgundy giving illustrated talks
on the satellites, to classes from
second grade UP. The information
was related to what the children
had already been taught about
the solar system. as well as to
what effect satellites might have
on the future. A field trip to the
Vanguard Computing Center sup
plemented these talks.
Simple Experiments
Burgundy teachers use models,
tools and other equipment to
develop in their students a liking
for scientific work. A simple de-
vice for example. helps first grad
ers to realize that air has weight.
A partly-infiated football is bal
anced on a scale. AS air is pumped
into 1t the balance displaced, and
additional weights are required on
the other side to compensate for
the weight of the added air.
In another experiment"
handkerchief is stuffed into a Jar.
which is then inverted and pushed
down INTO q pail Of water. When
the jar Is removed, the still-dry
handkerchief shows that the air
took up space and prevented the
water from going up into the jar.
And when children put q water
tumbler over a burning candle,
they see the candle flame die as
the oxygen is exhausted.
Air light. and sound. studied on
a very primary level in first grade.
are taken up again in sixth and
seventh grade This spiral" meth
cd Of teaching. which many
schools use in areas other than
science. gives students an early in
PRODUCTION to many subjects.
When they return to them later,
they know the basic concepts.
The chickens which are part
Of the Burgundy barnyard are
managed by the third grade. In
addition to the arithmetic and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
Science Agency?

There is no Washington agency
which has the job Of keeping UP
with what is going on in science"
There is the National Science
Foundation. and there is the Ma
tional Academy of Sciences. the
latter being a Official group.
and the average man thinks they
have the job Of keeping tabs on
everything in science. They don't.
Both these organizations have
large and capable STATS. both Of
them have stable budgets. Either
Of them can quickly reach those
persons who do know any given
speciality.
But neither Of these agencies
is charged with the mission of
keeping up with all government
research, much less knowing re-
search frontiers everywhere. Some
scientists feel there Is a real need
for a central science agency. AT
least In the armed services.
During World War II there was
something called the Once Of
Scientific Research and Develop
ment. which had a comprehensive
mission. Most scientists feel the
OSRD did a fine job. and many
feel they would like to see some
thing similar today. Each service
has Research and Development
Once, and In the Defense Sec
retary's Office it is all supposed
TO come together. Some scientists
say that it doesn't.
Since so much Of scientific work
today is secret. there is often no
way for a man In q naval research
laboratory in Florida to know that
an Air Force scientist in New
Mexico has Just developed an in
strument which could help IN the
Nays research. A new OSRD
theoretically would help commune
cation.
However. the question Of re-
viving something like the OSRD
is only partly a scientific problem.
mainly it is an administrative
problem. Most scientists privately
admit they have no idea how to
manage the GOVERNMENTS enor-
nous research programs. Further
more. the totality Of scientific de-
velopment is far larger today than
1t was in the days Of the OSRD-
no one agency could possibly be
completely informed on science
as Of 1857.
Every scientific leader Is con-
scious today that the abundance
Of new discoveries is itself q prob
lem for the scientist. The Federal
Government science channels are
not the only ones which are over
crowded and not working very
we'll.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01

ing that Communist theory and
practice. labeled as such. should
be freely and effectively discussed
in our Schools recalled that
"Twenty-one American boys :.
who were captured in Korea chose
ito remain with communism.
TUenty OF these 2I had neuer
heard OF communism except as a
dirty tuord before their capture"
Machinery Wos Locking
But the schools did not have
in fact they still do not have-an
adequate program, organization
or material. to I'LL the educational
gap. Many boards of education
have viewed the teaching Of Com
munist history. theory and prac-
tice as dangerously subversive.
Teachers. sensitive TO attack on
theological grounds. have been I'M
derstandably reluctant TO risk
their 'livelihoods and regulations
by attempting to instruct their
students in so explosive a subject.
The need was obvious; a start
had to be made. With hackers
whose conservatism and patriot
ism were beyond challenge. the
Institute Of Fiscal and Political
Education. a nonprofit educational
organization chartered by the New
York State Board of Regents.
found the money to attack the
problem. The institute. whose
president is John Marshall Of
Washington. former Deputy At
torney General, attorney. civic
leader and the senior trustee OF
West Virginias Bethany College.
commissioned Dr. Kenneth Cole
grove, Harvard Pho. and
member OF the Northwestern Uni
versity political science faculty for
"a years, 10 write a textbook COM
pairing communism and democ-
racy.
on october 81. three years and
over 100000 later. the text was
published. Aimed at the high
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
More Respect?

Is the American way of life
hospitable or hostile to scientists?
Many scientists feel society really
has no understanding Of. or re-
spect for. their work.
In recent years many observers
have pointed out that America
generally excels at inventions.
gadgets. and mass production. but
Americans do not go in heavily
for theoretical research. In other
words, We tend to produce in
ventors like Thomas A. Edison.
or production men like C. F. Ket-
tering, but we do not produce
many theoretical pure research"
people like Enrico Fermi or Nils
Bohr. And the public at large
has never heard their names.
In Russia. according to respon-
sible observers. the scientist is
regarded as q hero. and the pro-
lessor" is an honored and re-
Spected figure. Here the scientist
may be considered 'off-beat." and
the professor is only an "egghead.
Will the current uproar over
science have any permanent ef-
fects upon American habits and
ways Of thinking?
Some scientists think that it
will not. They say. There win be
six months Of publicity ana
a lot OF money will be appro-
priated but Americans will
continue to mistrust the expert
and the kids in high school will
still consider that boys and girls
are 'grinds' or 'drips' II they seri-
ously want to be scientists"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01

in formal educational programs,
the book is also available to the
public 1.-THE price is S495l and is
published and distributed by a
commercial house, d. Van Nos
trand Co.. Inc.
Brisk Response
Initial response to Democracy
Versus Communism" has been
brisk. Americanism Committees
of the American Legion. State Bar
Associations and other similar
groups have expressed lively in
tereSt in the book and in the
establishment of courses in high
schools In which it might be used.
But educators so far have moved
cautiously. Comment on the text
from teachers, administrators. and
educational associations has been
tentative, According to the Insti-
tute Of Fiscal and Political Educa-
ton. the city of Wilmington. Del.
is planning to inaugurate a high
school course using the textbook
in next years classes. In Cleve-
land. Ohio. officials Of the city's
Board Of Education haye praised
the book and are actively consid-
ering its adoption.
It may be that the project has
shaken. perhaps conclusively. the
long standing opposition Of such
influential organizations as the
American Legion to teaching any
thing at all about communism in
the Nations schools. On November
81. the Leeion's Americanism Com
mission approved instruction in
the public schools ito expose the
fallacies OF communism. The
commission announced 1t would
seek "A model textbook" for such
instruction. aimed at suitable
courses designed TO deepen the
understanding of and loyalty 10
American democratic ideals and
institutions and TO expose the
fallacies Of communism.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
KOREA PROVED THE NEED
KOREA PROVED THE
New Text Charts the Communism Democracy Bottle

When the United states
counted the costs OF the Korean
War, more serious even than the
loss of blood and treasure was
the dismaying evidence that too
many American soldiers. sailors
and marines never knew why they
were fighting. A largely citizen
army. drawn from all walks Of life
and supposedly the products Of an
effective educational system. did
not know the enemy" or his ide-
ology-communism.
Military leaders. shaken by the
realization that prisoner morale
during the Korean War was by
far the lowest ever experienced in
any American war. sought the
reasons. Why did so many native
born. mentally capable and sup
posedly well-trained Americans
succumb so easily to Communist
propaganda in the POW camps?
Why did so many CTS become
'progressives." willing TO do the
enemy's bldding2 Why did so
many thousands abandon their
self-respect. lose all hope and die
miserably in Manchurian SHOWS?
After some OF the most fragrant
cases Of betrayal OF their comrades
and of military secrets by Amer
lean POW's had been revealed.
the Pentagon set up the Defense
Advisory Committee on Prisoners
OF War. II was headed by Gen.
John z Hun. who commanded the
forces in the Far East during the
Korean War.
Gen. Hull declared fatty that
American troops had obviously
been poorly prepared either TO
know what their Nation was de-
Tending or to understand the
character OF the enemy. Americas
schools. he suggested. had failed
TO teach effectively what America
stands for and what communism
stands for.
And Vice President Nixon, urg-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01

business functions which derive
from Grating and selling the eggs.
the youngsters use the chickens
for studying natural and physical
phenomena. They watch a chick
grow. by opening a series OF eggs
10 observe the developing en-
bryos. They study the structure
Of bird feathers, and. leaving the
chickens, learn something about
aerodynamics from wing con-
figurations Of wild birds.
A terrarium has been fashioned
by the fourth graders from ma
terial gathered from Bugundy's
woodlands. Gravel. topsoil and
humus form the base. with q small
hill edged by a tiny pool. Moss.
tulip tree and red oak seedlings.
and other plants were carefully
put In the glass box. the whole
thing was well watered. and the
top put on. From day to day the
pupils can observe the water
forming on the sides and top Of
the terrarium. and precipitating
back on the plants in a perfect
closed cycle model Of their natural
environment.
'Do-lt-YourseIf
Throughout its program. Bur-
gundy emphasizes having the
children do the experiments them
selves, to the extent that their
developing manual skills will per-
init. They dirty their hands" in
laboratory work. so that instead
Of being repealed by the hard and
sometimes untidy work that is
required. their natural interest is
stimulated. They are encouraged
to ask questions.
Burguudy's science program has
become systematized under the
leadership Of the school director,
william P. Young. formerly a
science supervisor in the Arling-
ton public school system, Mr.
Young developed many ideas in
the field of elementary science
while working with Grady Wade.
principal Of James Madison School
in Arlington and elementary
science education teacher at The
George Washington University.
Now representative of the better
elementary science education pro-
grams in the country. Burgundy's
program has benefited from the
thinking both Of educators and Of
scientists. Says Mr.. Young:
Interest is contagious. 1t is
our responsibility as parents and
educators to keep this interest
alive. We as adults have tc show
more interest ourselves. by taking
the time TO answer the child's
questions. and by helping him to
answer his own questions by TAX
ing him out-of doors, to libraries.
TO museums. and to wherever his
Imagination will be stimulated
and his curiosity satisfied. An in
terest Of this kind in our youth
will not only help to develop more
scientists but will bring about a
more hterate population in this
atomic age"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
by ROLAND PAINE


Eighteen second-graders. heads
bowed intently. watched the dis
secting table. Their teacher. as
sisted BY a child. was care
fully cutting open a small fish
taken from the class aquarium.
The problem: One Of the tadpoles
In the aquarium disappeared that
morning. and later the fish had
died, They wanter to see II the
iish had swallowed the tadpole.
The youngsters didn't md the
tadpole. But they did get an
elementary biology lesson built
around an occurrence right in the
classroom Science. for them, was
not merely something to be read
about. but was an investigation
TO be conducted. a problem to be
solved.
This Incident took place re-
Gently at the Burgundy Farm
Country Day School in Alex
andria. II Is typical Of the teach
ing In a well-established elemen-
tary science program there.
Attention has been focused on
science teaching in high schools
and colleges as a result Of Rus
sian advances and the much
publicized shortage Of scientists
in America. But there Is grow.
ing awareness that the lelemen-
tary school is the place where the
scientific spirit is born in q
youngster and. therefore, where
preparatory work must be done.
The Lure Of Whot- ls-lt?'
Bureundy's students have long
had an mountaineering with the
technioues and methods Of science.
through experiences such as the
search for the missing polliwog.
They are taught both subject mat
ter and scientific methodology.
J Fourth graders. for example,
have a daily "What-is-it?" period.
during which they examine and
discuss some natural object--a
wild flower. dead bird. q sharks
egg-brought in by the teacher
or a student. Under the teachers
guidance they discuss its habitat.
its use 10 man. and its relation
ship to other forms Of life.
Each child may use his free
time to consult reference books. or
query the teacher or qualified visi-
tors. to find answers to problems
posed by the teacher. Answers
are written on signed slips Of
paper and dropped in locked
box. At the end Of the day the
chest Is opened and the answers
read. with credit given for sue
cesful research efforts.
A cooperative which numbers
scientists. mathematicians and
technical people among the par
ents who own and run it. Bur-
gundy has had an important nj
tial impetus to include science In
its program. Its 23-acre campus
Of woods. meadows and brook. and
its farmyard animals and class
rooms converted from barns put
1t in a particularly fortunate posi-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
ironing Program

The Government now operates
through the National Science
Foundation teacher training pro-
gram that has been very successful
and which could be expanded.
This year the summer institute
program enabled $500 science ard
mathematics teachers NEARLY all
from high schools to attend spe-
cial GO week training courses at
90 colleges. The colleges. using
Federal funds, selected the teach
ers and ran the course Of study.
Too often high school teachers
IN science and mathematics never
studied these subjects in college.
j And rapid developments in these
fields. plus instructional pressures.
make it almost impossible for
them to improve and up-date their
knowledge without special train
ing courses.
Applications for these summer
institutes have so far exceeded
their capacity under present FUNDS
that the Foundation could prob
ably triple this activity. Even so
only $4,000 out Of 10000 now
teaching these subjects could
benefit annually. Such an expand
ed program would cost about Si0,-
100000 extra per year.
Educators believe that summer
refresher training courses could
also be extended to the human
tiles in order to maintain an edu-
cational balance. Although these
high school teachers do not have
to cope with a changing body
of knowledge, they are too
often inadequately prepared for
their Jobs and require special
training to supplement their edu-
cational background.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
BY GEORGE W. oAKEs

A key part Of any Federal at
tack on the now apparent short
age Of trained scientists and engi-
neers must be directed toward
gross deficiencies--hoth In guam
tity and quality-in the Nations
supply Of teachers.
Today We have $4,000 too few
teachers In our schools and coll
legeS, More important, too many
teachers particularly in the
crucial fields Of science and math-
ematics---arent properly trained.
And the situation is deterioratine
on both counts.
A few cold facts make the prob
lem clear:
At the college level. more than
three new teachers must be re-
cruited in the next is years for
every two instructine now. Since
l95S-54. holders Of doctorate de-
grees among newly employed full
time college teachers have de-
creased rs per cent. BY 1870, the
proportion Of college teachers with
Ph.D. degrees could easily be down
by one half. Even today. in fact.
out Of some 1000 annual graduate
PhDs.. only about $500 enter
teaching. school administration or
research Finally. almost half the
college graduates annually certi-
fed to teach high school science
decide not to enter the teaching
profession after all.
Educators say that poor pay and
inadequate facilities are primarily
responsible. Thus there is a
double-barrelled job: The profess
sion must be made more attractive
and the teacher reservoir must be
increased.
In this situation what can the
Federal Government do to help?
Some educational groups favor
straight subsidies to raise teach
ers salaries by Federal funds
channeled through the States.
Some officials have recently sug-
gested that. as an emergency aid
to science education. Federal
money might be given to the
States so that they could use it 70
increase the pay Of science and
mathematics teachers. But many
educators-even in the science
field. which would benefit most
question the wisdom Of giving pre-
ferred status TO some teachers and
thus unbalancing the educational
system. They prefer more specific
and limited action. Here are some
Of the devices that might be used;
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01

school level, Democracy versus
Communism" combines discussion
with clear charts, maps and pic
lures Of democracy and commu-
nism In practice. DR.. Erling M,
Hunt. chairman Of the Social
Studies department at Columbia.
wrote an introduction; DR.. Hall
Bartlett. who served as chief editor
Of the book, is head OF the Ma
terials Division of the Citizenship
Education Project, Teachers Col
lege, Columbia.
Admittedly Anti-communist
Democracy versus Communism"
is. quite definitely. an anti-C Com
munist textbook In contrasting
the two antagonistic ways OF, life.
no effort is made to present the
Communists justifications or ra-
tionalizations. Rather the en-
phasis is Of comparison between
the actual operation OF the Com
munist state and that Of our own,
in those areas deemed most vital:
Political, social and economic free
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01

These days the American Gov
eminent and public feel there's
nothing too good for science and
for scientists. They are out TO
love US TO death" one scientist
has said. They are hugging us
SO hard / am afraid they will
break our ribs"
Many scientists are selling this
golden opportunity to tell the
world what to do about science.
But privately many Of them are
not too optimistic about what win
be done In the months to come.
The comments below are based
on discussions with q wide range
Of scientists. including some in
physics who work on the satellite
program itself and some, in medi-
cine and psychology. who are also
familiar with Government-spon-
sored research.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
A Cobinet Post?

Most scientists were pleased
with the Presidents decision TO
appoint a White House scientific
advisor, and they are warm in
their praise Of DR.. James Killian.
jr.
Experienced scientists on the
Washington scene have felt that
the White House In recent years
has not had expert and complete
scientific counsel. This criticism
was voiced Of the Truman admin
lstration, too. They observe that
in England their colleagues are
accepted as perfectly capable of
sitting along side cabinet officers
or generals and admirals. In the
Raj or at No. 10 Downing Street
the professors participate in high
policy decisions. Churchill for
many years relied upon a scientist,
Lord Cherwell, to help him in con-
sideration Of virtually all major
state decisions.
In the last two years there has
been more serious talk by Amer
ican scientists about a new Cab
met Department. Secretary for
Science. On November 8 the Sem
ate Committee on Government
Operations issued a stafi memo
randum proposing Department
of Science and Technology"
Scientists. will be quite divided
as to whether this is a good idea.
Dedicated as they are to free
enterprise" Of the mind. they can
be as skittish as businessmen
about Government domination. -
They look on this proposed cab
met department about the same
way the steel industry would look
forward to a secretary of steel
production.