Montgomery County sentinel., 1961-06-22

Inc following paragraphs dre oH page
of this Memo:
''The most often proposed all-year school
plan is the four-quarter system with rotat-
ing attendance. Although schools would be
operated throughout the entire year, each
child would spend the same amount of time
attending classes as under the traditional
nine-mOnth year. Each child would attend
three of the four quarters into which the
school year would be divided and would take
his vacation the fourth quarter. However,
vacation periods would be staggered through.
out the year in order to have three-fourths of
the children in school during any given quar-
ter with one-fourth on vacation. The primary
purpose of this scheme is economy rather
than a longer period of instruction
Theoretically, this plan would save about
25 percent in capital outlay for new buildings
by fully utilizing existing facilities. 1t is
argued that this plan would reduce the re-
quired teaching force by 25 percent since only
three-fourths of the children would be in
school at any one time.
1T would also increase the annual sal
aries of those teachers employed the year
round by about 20 percent. Furthermore, it
would provide an opportunity for some pupils
to accelerate since they could attend all four
quarters if they so chose 1t is because of
these theoretical advantages that the four
quarter, rotating attendance system has been
considered by many communities
1T appears that the four-quarter plan
was first put into operation in Q904) Bluff
ton, Indiana discontinued in 1915)"
This report on page gives plan pro-
posed in Montgomery County, Maryland. 1t
says:
"a plan to inaugurate permissive year.
round classes in 1860 in the Montgomery
County Maryland, public schools has been
proposed.
"The purposes are to provide pupils with
better learning opportunities, to pay teachers
higher salaries and to provide a program OF
inservice education for teachers.
Teachers would be allowed to choose To-
month contracts as at present or 12-month
contracts with two extra months salary Dur
ing the two extra months children would have
chance to spend more time on certain sub
jects or to take those subjects they do not
have time for during the regular term. 1t is
estimated that the plan would cost about $55
million"
School Board members should try to find
out about the cost figures given out in 1858.
And they should try to find out about savings
figures given out in the latest Whittier plan
School Board members might also be
interested in the following conclusions drawn
by NEA concerning all-year school plans
The three major all-year school plans
have been discussed and their respective ad-
vantages and disadvantages have been pointed
out. Regular school on an 11-month basis
and the rotating four-quarater plan have been
tried and have proved to be more disadvan-
tageous than advantageous. Extended sum.
mer school appears to achieve many of the
objectives of the other two with fewer dis
advantages. This project, which is being con-
sidered more frequently by communities de-
string to extend the school year in some way,
has proved to be quite successful in those
areas where it has been adopted
ANY organization large as the public
school system in the United States can change
from familiar patterns only with great diff
Guilty, especially when any change in the
system would directly affect the cultural pat.
terms of the population Perhaps the current
educational crisis may stimulate move for
change. In any event. something as far.reach-
ing as changing the traditional length of the
school year throughout the nation, even on an
optional basis as i'm the summer school plan,
will come slowly If at ALL"
Perhaps DR.. Whittier believes the time Is
ripe for change in 1861 or 1862. But we pre-
dict the School Board and the general public
will do lot of searching and fact-fnding
before 12month plan is seriously considered
for adoption.