Evening star., 1959-12-06

| L AlC dooOC4dJ4Oll 10 lICduy
telecasting science programs
for fifth and sixth graders. It
is prepared to offer language
instruction as well. Mrs. Camp
bell said, if the schools decide
they want the lessons.
Proposal Being Considered
Of1cials of the various sys-
TENS have the proposal under
Istudy now. The Montgomery
County School Board is expect
ed to discuss 1t on Tuesday.
The lessons, lasting is min
utes, probably would be given
twice a week in each language,
Mrs. Campbell said. They
would be geared for the ele-
mentary level. The schools
could decide in what grade-or
grades-to offer them.
The association also hopes
to put on a special half hour
show once a week to help par
ents and teachers. This would
depend, however, on the par
ticipation of commercial tele-
vision stations here, Mrs.
Campbell said.
The science programs appear
on Channel S. WTTG, which
provides the air time at cost.
The District schools are the
only ones in this area which
have a large-scale elementary
foreign language program in
the regular curriculum. What
instruction is given in suburban
systems is generally PTA-
sponsored, with the lessons
coming either before or after
regular school hours.
No Decision Made
Officials in these systems are
aware that the proposed tele-
casts would not only be a tre-
mendous boost for such instruc-
ton; in most cases they would
also represent a fundamental
change in policy, since the les
sons would be given on school
time.
For this reason they are ex-
amining the associations pro-
poSal very carefully. No system
has yet reached a decision
although Mrs. Campbell re-
ported that informal reactions
have been positive.
In most cases, final accept
ance or rejection of the lessons
will be up to the respective
school boards.
The closest thing to a COM
mittment so far has come from
Prince Georges County.
Miss Rowannetta Allen, as
sistant superintendent for ele-
mentary schools, told The Star
the county will probably make
use of the telecasts if they are
offered.
Schedule Ambitious
Although only beginning les
sons are contemplated for
1960-61. the association plans
to offer more advanced in
structions in successive years
to provide a sustaining pro-
gram, Mrs. Campbell said.
Ultimately three or four
different courses in each Ian
guage may be offered. Such
an ambitious schedule will be
possible because the association
expects to have its own station
in operation by September, 1861,
she said.
With a grant of $25, 900 from
the Ford Foundation, the group
is making detailed studies for
the establishment of this sta
ton, according to Mrs. Camp
bell, and it now ''looks feasible"
If we were not aiming for
our own channel and planning
to continue and expand the
lessons" she said, I'VE would
have no right to suggest them
in the first place"
Some 80 educational TV sta
tionS throughout the country
offered elementary French and
Spanish instruction last year,
Mrs. Campbell said. In Wash
ington now the only regularly
televised lessons have been
Russian and Spanish-primar-
lily for adults-in the very early
hours of the morning.
Chief Obstacles Noted
The associations proposal,
Mrs. Campbell noted, should
help overcome the two chief
obstacles for introducing for
eign languages in elementary
schools.
They are lack of enough
qualified teachers and the diff
f1culty and expense of setting
up a comprehensive program
which would offer continuing
instruction to children over a
period of years.
The association is supported
by foundation grants and by
payments from the schools for
the special books used with |
the science programs. Similar
books presumably would be pre-
pared for the language illstruc-
tion.
Mrs. Campbell noted that the
organization is not suggesting
doing more than it can afford. |
The groups plans for next
year also include a change IN
the current Time for Science"
programs, she said. Since their
start in September, 1858, two
weekly half-hour lessons have
been given, with each one re-
peated the following dow