Evening star., 1957-12-11
ToMoRRoW's SCIENTISTS
Program Must Begin
In Schools and Homes

social adjustment and an 10
OF lis or higher.
Also helping to create inter-
est In science In the District
are the science fairs and aetiv-
tiles Of the Washington Junior
Academy Of Sciences.
The Junior Academy. found
ed I'VE years ago under the
sponsorship Of the Washington
Academy Of Sciences. sttmu-
lates and encourages young
talented students In science.
81 Scholarships
Montgomery County school
officials report that last year
81 science and math teachers
had some sort Of scholarship
for summer study.
There is an advanced place.
ment program in the county
junior high schools and q rapid
learner math course in the
Bethesda Chevy Chase schools.
A summer program at the
University Of Maryland aims at
getting high school students
interested In scientific careers.
Students with ability in SCI
ence are given scholarships to
do lab research at the univer-
sity. They work alongside COLI
lege graduate students and pro-
fessors and are exposed TO uni
versity research techniques.
State Physics Tests
Maryland also participates in
giving Statewide tests in
physics TO promising high
school students. Top students
are offered full tuition scholar
ships to college.
1T is q way" says DR.. John
Toll. head Of the university's
physics department. "of point
ing out TO the high school stu
dents that We are interested in
talent and are prepared to re-
ward them for their talents"
Arlington County offers per-
haps the best example in the
Washington area Of community
and school cooperation in rais-
ing the level Of science and
math students and teachers.
The Arlington Plan-as 1t is
known today throughout the
country-aims at meeting the
needs Of students and upgrad-
ing the standards Of teachers.
Arlington Raises Fund
Two years ago the County
Board Of Education and such
community groups as the Par
nt-Teacher Association raised
an annual $4,000 scholarship
fund.
The money Is used TO pay
tuition in summer school Tor
science and math teachers TAX
ing advanced courses.
Gifted Students Aided
Arlington also has a pro-
gram for gifted students in
mathematics.
| Eighth grade students with
special ability in math are per-
mitted to Jump ahead Of their
classmates 70 take algebra.
Some ninth grade students are
ltaking geometry. and by the
time they reach the 18th grade
receive an introduction to
calculus.
A Science Honor Society at
Washington-Lee High School
also has helped TO create stu
dent interest in science.
One indication Of the sue
cess Arlington has had in turn
ing out able science students
came last year when the Vir-
ginia Academy of Sciences
honored the top high school
science students in the State.
One-third Of the students were
from Arlington schools.
Lead In HonOrs
Scholarships awarded to Ar
lington students have been out
OF proportion to those won by
other school systems in the
Washington area.
The world is going TO see fu-
ture discoveries even more
startling than the discovery OF
nuclear flSsion. predicts Presi-
dent Eisenhower.
Then he asks. "Will We be the
ones TO make them?"
That answer can come only
from the young students and
the school systems and homes
in which they are being trained.