Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-02


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cism but in the hope they
would lead to Improvement OF
academic standards. I'VE asked
questions" he said, INSTEAD Of
passing resolutions"
School Supt. T. c. Williams
reported a formal study of the
elementary school curriculum
is expected to be under way
soon.
The Alexandria School Board.
took no formal action.
ARLINGTON - The School
Board, in December. began to
form a curriculum study COM
mittee. The P-TA took no
formal action, but considers
school Officials have done con-
siderable work toward improv-
ing science and math classes.
School officials have also made
considerable gains in the in
service training Of math and
science teachers.
FAIRFAX-In December the
School Board set up a commit.
tee which will determine how
best to evaluate the curriculum.
This was not a direct result Of
the Presidents speech. School
officials report an expanded
program in math and science,
to be evident this summer,
when courses will be offered
for students desiring to get
deeper into the subjects.
The P-TA Council took no
formal action.
MONTGOMERY-A re-eval.
uation Of the curriculum is
planned in the budget. The
P-TA Council has a special
curriculum committeer-but not
as a result of the Presidents
speech. A study of the curricu-
lum at one high school has
been completed.
School officials report a con-
tinuous revision of the curricu.
lum and the continuation Of
the three-year-old experiment
to introduce. foreign languages
into elementary schools.
But no formal action, resem-
bling the Presidents request.
was taken by either the P-TA
or School Board.
PRINCE GEORGES-No ac-
ton by either the P-TA or
School Board was taken. The
P-TA, however, has held sew.
eral panel discussions on the
subject. School officials report
science education has recently
been extended into elementary
schools and in-service training
OF teachers has been stepped
up"
DISTRICT-No formal ac-
ton by either the P-TA or
School Board-though. there
has been some agitation for a
summer school" for math
teachers.
School Board Member West
A. Hamilton came closer to
meeting the Presidents request
than anyone. At the boards
last meeting. he said:
1T seems to me, while we are
talking about these deficiencies
chose in mathematics), we
ought to restudy this whole
matter Of curriculum. I have
been thinking in terms of this
flve-day-a-week physical edu.
cation which ! think is a waste
OF time :. it was one of those
fast things they put over in
World War II and it was done
at the expense of laboratory
Laboratory classes in science)
time"
But the board took no action.
Both P-TA, board members
and school officials throughout
the area pointed out that to
riculum is no easy task. P-TA
leaders try not to NEEDLE in the
affairs of educators, yet edu-
Gators are quick to draw back
If specific changes are asked
by lay leaders. On the other
hand. educators who do make
specific changes - a rarity -
must either drop or diminish
other fields Of study-and face
the wrath Of those in favor Of
such subjects.
An insight into the problem
of the lay public. asking pro-
fesSional educators to change
or add something to a systems
program is contained in a re-
cent exchange between Walter
N. Tobriner. president Of the
District Board Of Education,
and School Supt. Hobart M.
Corning.
The exchange follows:
Mr.. Tobriner Il would like
the superintendent to comment
on the situation in mathe-
mates and indicate whether he
feels that anything should be
done to correct it, and II so.
what.
DR.. Corning-I think the idea
OF a workshop (summer school
workshop for math teachers)
particularly at the secondary
level, undoubtedly would be
very good. Whether within the
scope Of the workshop you could
overcome any of the deficiencies
that presently exist is some
what of question in my mind,
but 1t would certainly help.
Mr.. Tobriner-Do you think
it worthwhile to make plans
for such a workshop?
DR.. Corning-I think so.
Mr.. Tobriner - Will those
plans be made then?
DR.. Corning-I would rather
not be committed to a PROPOSE
ton which I haven't yet had
before me. II involves not only
senior high schools. but 1t in
wolves the junior high schools,
but. there again. 1t is a question
that hasn't been before us at
all.