Evening star., 1960-04-21
Retarded Students
Enroll in College
Busic Track
Survey Lists
Is in Category
BY ANDREW w. BINGHAM
Star stsfi Writer

~~NNSe ~ -@oNA ASN oNuANAlbO
who were placed in special
classes for retarded children
while in high school now are
enrolled in accredited four
year colleges.
Five of them are at District
Teachers College. Others are at
George Washington University,
Howard University and institu-
tions as distant as Idaho State
University.
This information was OBJ
tained in a special survey of
last June's graduates of the So
called basic track in District
high schools. This track is for
retarded children.
One Third Replied
The surveys findings we're
reported yesterday to the school
board. officials had sent out
queStionnnaires to 337 basic
graduates. Replies we're re-
ceived from lis of them, which
is considered a hign response
for such a survey.
Mrs. Frank S. Phillips, board
vice president, expressed sur
prise that any graduate of the
basic track could be admitted to
college, or could be expected to
perform satisfactorily.
She noted there was a pos,
Sibility the youngsters never
should have been placed in the
basic track in the first place,
but rather in one of the three
other tracks for average and
superior students.
Responses Anonymous
John D. Koontz, assistant
superintendent for the high
schools, said he would try to
find out just what happened
with the 13 who claimed they
are now in college. He admitted
his task would be difficult one.
All the responses were anony-
nous.
DR.. Paul o. Carr, president
of District Teachers College,
said he knew of three members
of this years freshman class
who were graduated from the
basic track last June. They all
met the colleges entrance re-
quirementS, he said-although
all are now on academic pro-
baton for unsatisfactory per-
formance during the first Sc
meSter.
According to the survey.
about seven out of every 10
basic graduates considered the
track program - or ability
grouping system-worthwhile.
A majority of them also said
the program helped keep them
in high school after they had
passed the compulsory school
attendance age of l6 years.
The graduates agreed that
English and mathematics we're
the most valuable subjects they
took, while music and art we're
called the least valuable. They
also said that if they could go
through school again, they
would take many more busi-
ness courses.
81 Graduates Working
Fifty-one of the graduates
reported they are working; oc-
cupations range from a clerk
typist to a labor union
picket" Twenty-one of the
workers said they were
continuing their education in
one form or another, while l3
of the workers also said they
still we're going to school.
I The survey report noted that
the basic graduates expressed
an almost uniform desire to
see course offerings strength
ened." They also indicated it
would be good for students in
| the basic track to be allowed
ito explore course offerings in
other tracks"
School officials now have
under way a detailed study of
the basic track which is sched-
uled to be completed sometime
this summer. They feel that
the survey did not include
enough students to justify any
changes in the existing pro-
gram. although it has served
Ito generate interest in the
study.