Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-02
Unwilling Students
WAsArNGToN STA

1t appears that the pro-
posal of District School Supt.
Hobart M. Corning to expel
incorrigible students was
given rather hasty considera-
ton by the members of the
Public Welfare Advisory Coun-
Gil. To hide behind such
charges as buck passing" does
little to remedy the serious
problems that confront our
public school system. 1t also
might be added that frequent
~ these neat and facile labels
can cut both ways. Perhaps
the PWAC members would do
well to consider that incor-
rigibles come from the COM
munity and. as a result. de-
serve the attention of the
entire community, not just
a portion of tin this case.
the public school system. 1t
will not do to demand that
these young people be kept"
in school by teachers who are
supposed to educate, not serve
as glorified teen-age sitters.
Such a practice can only i'm
pair the education Of those
who have a desire to learn
and who must learn If we.
as a Nation. are to live up
to our responsibility of afford
ing true educational facilities
to our youth. Such a RESPONSE
bility cannot be fulfilled when
academic standards and dis
ciplinary regulations are
pushed down to such abysmal
depths that for all practical
purposes there are none. Con-
sequently, our high school
people find it possible to re-
main as student in school
without abiding by the stand
ards Of the school and with
out assuming the responsible
ity of a student. In the absence
Of these standards and respon-
sibilities, little. excepting the
responsibility and Incidence
of the delinquent, can result
this because We are living
under the dogmatic illusion
that all can be and will be
educated alike.
1t will not do for a COM
munity to foist off its young
people on a public school,
forget about them for IL years.
and expect them to come out
educated. regardless of their
capabilities or aptitudes. 1t
frequently appears exceedingly
difficult to look at such a
homogenized and depersonal-
lied idea as this and under
stand how people can honestly
expect an educated youth to
result.
I fear that if any buck
passing" is being done, it lies
in the community and not in
the school. This reveals itself
with especial lucidity when the
aforementioned incorrigibles.
capable Of little in a school
except disruption and destruc-
ton mot only physical, but
mental and spiritual as well)
are not allowed to be expelled
from a place where they do not
belong in the first place. while
the community does little or
nothing to find for these young
people the positions and jobs
so necessary to satisfy their
monaco mic aptitudes.
Rather they are showed off on
schools with the evasive ex-
PLANTATION that if they don't go
to school they will run the
streets because they can't get a
job. Since when has the public
school system absorbed the
responsibility of taking the
slack out Of the labor market?
Why are these people not af-
forded the opportunities of
job training and placement
they need? Because there is an
obvious lack Of initiative on the
part of our communities to
promote such action. To make
matters worse, the whole prob
lem is showed of on the public
school system.
Certainly every American
youth ought TO have the right
to receive an education,
regardless of race, religion or
economic condition. But it is
quite another matter in at
tempting to force education on
young people who are not will
ing or able to assume the re-
sponsibilities that accompany