Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1957-10-24
Inwcrd Look
P-TA Turns Spotlight
On Self at Workshop
Inward Look

s'TIas the P!TA overemphasized legislation and
budget and not paid enough attention to currcu
lum planning?" This was one OF the questions
pondered at the County Council of PTA's 18th
annual workshop last Wednesday at Richard Mont
gomery High School
Two of the six discussion groups dealt with
curriculum, one on the secondary level with Dr.
Lewis Lapham, moderator, and DR.. George Oster
wise. director of secondary education, and Mrs
Sterling Bowman parent from Gaithersburg
on the panel
The elementary curriculum was discussed
with DR.. Clare Stratemeyer, elementary supervi-
sor, moderator and Mrs. Loretta Alderton, Oak
view principal; Mrs Dorothy Burdette, Damascus
teacher and a Germantown parent Mrs Kenneth
Heisler on the panel
general conclusion from both groups was
that parents and the PTA could supplement the
intensive study by the professionals who are con
stantly working to improve curriculum by point
ing out new needs such as the present emphasis
on science, math and foreign languages
From their own experience with their chill
dren. parents can also furnish the educators with
information on gaps in the curriculum. Mrs. Bow.
man ci1ed the gap between elementary and junior
high courses of study an example.
The P.TA's particular contribution was out
lined as: Educating parents on the School cur
riculum and serving to keep open the lines of
communication between parents and the schools
P-TAs can also help to recruit specialists to aid
in the development of curriculum
Although not highlighted this year, legisla-
ton and budget came in for their share of dis
cussion with County Council President Charles
Jamison answering the parents perennial ques-
tons of "How are our schools financed?" and
"Why does the County Manager cut the budget"
1t was obvious that the last question was not
answered to the parents satisfaction Janison said
the county manager always had to lower the
schools requests in order to balance the needs
of the people against the assessable tax base.
He called this fourth grade arithmetic"
Another panel member, Willard McGraw of
the School Board said that the boards need to
justify constantly its requests for school construc
ton was responsible for our schools being built
piecemeal with new additions needed before con-
struction is completed
plea for prevention rather than "cures" for
teen,age troubles came from Juvenile Court Judge
Alfred Noyes during the panel discussion on youth
guidance.
The Judge pointed out it cost the taxpayer
$500 to send one boy to the State Training School
and that the annual salary for probation off
Ger who could work with so boys was less than
the cost of sending two boys to the institution.
The P-TA's role in helping the Junior College
and how to improve PlTA programs were the sub
jects of the last two discussion groups.
Maxwell Burdette assistant superintendent in
charge of educational services, pnch-ht for Super
intendent c. Taylor Whittier who was i'll last
week with the flu.
In proving his point that the educational dol
lar doesn't go far these days. Mr.. Burdette gave
examples from his first year of teaching, 80 years
ago.