Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-09-12
Age Grouping Hit
By Study Report

CTlceltth in a Series on Study Group Reports
Elimination of chronological grouping of school
children is urged by special Montgomery County
Curriculum Study Group on future educational pro-
cedures.
Such practice, the study group declared, is
merely an administrative convenience and has no
scientific basis.
when we admit each child to a given grade at
given age we frequently spend the rest of his school
career trying to straighten out the original mistake,
the report asserted
Accordingly, the study group recommended that
children be permitted enter school at earlier ages
and to advance through the various grades in accord
ance with their abilities This probably would mean
return to the grade-skipping system of generation
ago, observers said
In addition the report suggested that period of
inventory" be set aside each year to review the health
sight hearing reading Sklls and academic records OF
each student to determine whether any corrective
measures should be undertaken. Schools would be
closed during this period and the students would be
screened in small groups staggered time sched
ue.
Turning to specific school subjects, the study
group assigned top priority in elementary schools to
the development of facility in the English language.
This would include elementary logic study skils,
critical and creative thinking and the ability to analyze
and explain concepts.
In all subjects, courses of study should be deve-
oped on at least three levels of learning ability the
study group said The lack of ability grouping IN
mathematics, for example, seriously handcaps teacn-
ers in this field, the report declared.
Also research indicates that low ability students
in classes containing all ability levels develop low opn
ions of themselves and become almost completely in
articulate the report pointed out When grouped Win
others of the same ability however, they regain their
self-respect and assume responsibility in the
classroom.
The education of gifted students imposes special
obligations on both them and the teachers the report
said Besides their regular studies and assignments
they should be given considerable amount OF ao-
vanced independent study.
AS for teachers, the study group recommended
that top-evel scholars and scientists be invited to
Montgomery County to work with teachers to shake
up" their minds and expose them to unrestricted IN
telectual vitality"
Admission to such sessions, the report said, should
be reward for superior teaching and professional
honor.
Another recommendation called for continuous
teacher education programs under the direction of an
Office of Professional Development with emphasis on
scholarship.
Finally schools should adopt daring and mag
NATIVE" approach to curriculum development, the
study group commended This will include new courses
of study new methods of teaching and new ways OF
solving problems.
This means techniques of thinking and learning
would receive much greater emphasis according TO the
report
Recognizing that these recommendations will re-
suit in drastic changes the study group emphasized
that 1--WE need to accept the concept of change an
honorable useful, evolutionary inevitable process.
Teachers themselves must be genuinely receptive
to change in the world in themselves and IN the OLD
ways of doing things"