The Sidney herald., 1957-05-09

ciiliSlS dllu QUIET leCfIlcdl per-
sonnet in today's society, daily
growing more complex in its
chronological aspects. More will
undoubtedly be said but the meat
of the problem appears to lie in
what has been and what can be
done towards solution.
Evaluating almost IL years of
post World War II experience in
aviation education, the record ap-
pears indeed black. Many school
districts have had the opportuni-
ty but few have understaken SER
iously helping their students de-
termine their interest, skill and
capacity in the field of aviation.
Only 400 American high schools
list aviation courses in their cur
riculum today.
Two numbered of these schools
are linked with the CPA pro-
gram.
Some schools have conducted
systematic follow-up surveys of
the graduates. The majority,
however, have been conetnt to
look with pride upon their former
students who have advanced to
aerodynamicists, pilots and crew.
men, aviation mechanics and aer-
onautical engineers.
These T those who argue that
insufficient material and per-
sonnet are available to conduct an
effective aviation education pro-
gram in their schools. This is no
longer true. Excellent materials,
notably the CAPS new booklet
series, and curriculum services
exist. Other sources are the air.
lines, community aviation organ
izations, the national aviation
education council, the aviation
manufacturing industry, local air.
ports, textbook publishers, state
directors of aeronautics, the pri-
vate and military pilot. Since
1852, 5000 u. S. teachers have
been trained in CAPS workshops
and have become acquainted with
the social, economic and political
implications of aviation as re-
lated to their own are of aca-
demic responsibilities.
1t is only logical that such air
knowledge be disseminated thru
the regular educational channels.
A more intensive aviation educa-
ton program developed by edu-
Gators and receiving support from
interested aviation agencies can
be NOSE effective in providing
favorable attitudes and concepts
regarding aviation.
l believe all of you now I'M
derstand why more schools must
cultivate the interest of youth in
aviation. The problem involving
community planning and the To-
cal airport demand better under
standing of an informed public.
AS the aviation committee of the
American Association of School
Administrators recently pointed
out, educators cannot leave all
of the education problems of a
modern society to a chance treat
but should include them as
a planned part of the curriculum
adequately administered by in
terested and enthusiastic teachers.
Just a few years back our own
high school had a course in aero
nautics. Now, please, above all
don't misunderstood me. We are
not criticizing u school admin
stration for having discontinued
that course. There were many
reasons why that course had to
be discontinued, some of which
yer a decreasing demand, space,
teachers, money along with sew
eral other reasons. Many of these
reasons still exist.
1 believe the time has come
communities must begin to
take as much interest in school
curricular programs as we do in
programs.
Your school administration needs
to know that you are interested
IN these problems.
You as parents, as CAP mem
oers can help your school boards,
superintendents, faculty, students
and lay interests where such pro-
grams have not been established.
May / repeat that materials and
curriculum services for these pro-
grams are available as we'll as
qualified teaching personnel in
many areas.
This year Kiwanis has Joined
The Civil Air Patrol in the spon-
,orship of the National Aviation
Education Workshop to be held
at Miami University in Oxford,
Ohio. The workshop is a six
weeks session and is expected to
attract more than 1000 elemen-
AIRY and high school teachers
the u. S., Alaska, Hawaii
and Puerto Rico. This workshop
S a major emphasis program for
xiwanis international this year.
We hope the Kiwanis club of
Sidney will do everything 1t can
encourage a local teacher to
attend this workshop. The cost