Evening star., 1957-12-09
ToMoRRoWrs SCIENTISTS
High Schools Produce 'IIIiterotes'
In Mathematics, Educator Says

carry the same work load as
others-fiye classes a day. in
addition to extra curricular
activities.
Most Of the teachers feel
they don't have adequate time
for lab preparations. he adds.
Il kind Of agree. but can't help
them.
Before our schools should
try to do anything radically
different" says the county
science supervisor. I'VE would
need some sort of clear man
date from our citizens.
Decrles Political Tone
"We're not going to change
just because someone gets up
on q stump and makes a
speech. think first we should
try to do what We are doing
well.
AT the moment he went
on. education seems to be q
political issue. Why, the whole
issue Of increased funds for
education takes on a political
air. ! don't believe in comment
ing on a political issue Like
that"
Arlington County prides IT,
self ON the achievements OF its
students IN science and math.
/ And the record Of prizes won
by students in those fields
backs up this pride.
Enrolment in physics
courses. for instance. at the
Washington-Lee High School
shows q steady increase.
Physics Interest Rises
This year about IS per cent
of the junior class are taking
physics. In 1852. the figure was
10 per cent.
Arlington's salary scale for a
teacher with a bachelors de-
gree goes from $4,000 to $500
after IA years. A teacher with
a masters degree earns $4.l00
to start with a top Of $4,000.
Nevertheless, in Arlington as
elsewhere. the county finds 1t
difficult to attract or hold top
instructors.
Privately. the teachers will
say:
In the past Is years. two
political parties have been bat
Ting it out. And the teachers
and students have suffered.
IN Arlington County. you
have to be for or against
something = and that affects
what our purposes are"
One teacher. highly respected
by his colleagues and pupils.
commented on the salary
scale.
Il teach one night a week
at the University of Virginia. "
he said. And ! have a PEN
sion from service in World
War II. without these things
I couldn't stay in teaching.
IN reach the maximum in
two years and / don't know
what I'm going to do then"
Another problem cited is the
extra-curricular activities load
carried by teachers. with the
subsequent loss in time devoted
to their subjects.
In this respect. teachers In
Arlington recently sought extra
pay for time spent on extra
curricular activities.
Pay Bid Rejected
The request was turned
down. School Supt. T. Edward
Rutter commented: "You can
not measure the value Of a
teacher in terms Of the number
OF hours worked"
Extra pay. he stated. would
mot be iustifiable.
4 II is interesting TO note that
In Russia the teacher receives
extra pay for such extra work.
Another problem Is the fact
that a classroom teachers
career is limited. The teacher
lreaches the maximum and that
rs that.
However. II q teacher elects
10 60 into the administration
end Of education. the field is
wide open,
Dlscouragement Admitted
"Either you become a class
room teacher or an adminiStra-
tor. There's nothing In be-
tween" one teacher said.
what can the teacher do
who has imagination or ability
and who doesn't want TO leave
the classroom
Where do you 90 after 80
years."
Tomorrow: The students.