Evening star., 1961-06-18
SCHOOLS
SCHOOLS
Red SPutnik Spurred
District to Action
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I:
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o complete re-evaluation of
methods and curricula. This, in
turn, led to discovery of the
weak spots. In l960-61 the
weak spots began to be streng-
thened.
What were the weak spots?
Generally, there has been a
significant withdrawal on the
part of many school systems
from what has long been called
the progressive system" and a
return to primary concern for
thorough training in the baSics
reading, writing, arithmetic,
the sciences, history and geog-
raphy. The so-called "frillS" of
public school systems are out,
the new planners say.
AS apparently was the case
all across the Nation, the over
riding change in the public
school systems in and around
the Nations capital came in
the form of upgrading the
curricula.
Never were so many courses
many of them advanced-of-
fered Washington area students
at so many levels.
Never was so much done for
not only the gifted student. but
for the slow one as we'll.
Never before did the various
jurisdlctionS-from Montgom-
cry County to Arlington County
undertake so many pilot
projects looking toward fur
ther curriculum improvement.
Russian Is Taught
Suddenly, in many commu-
mites here, it was no longer
possible for a student to be
graduated from high school
without a year of higher math-
ematics or a year or two of a
foreign language.
American history taught in
chronological order suddenly
was required regardless of the
course the student was taking.
even for those taking vocational
courses.
A youth taking science at last
was handed a microscope with
a decent lens. And this was
happening in fifth and sixth
grades; not just high schools.
A girl taking typing also
took a course in the spelling
Of scientific terms. Also. she
studied business administra-
ton.
The student taking a Ian
guage suddenly was seated in
an up-to-date language labor
atory. Frequently the language
was Russian.
Handicapped children, who
before this year could not go
to school because of lack of
space and specially trained
teachers. suddenly found them
selves in class. Room somehow
had been found.
Kindergartens sprang UP
everywhere.
Librarians Are Added
The children who were slow
In developing and could not
have entered first grade until
they were 8 or 9 years old,
were enrolled in special pre-
school classes designed to
speed them up and get them
into first grade at the normal
age time.
School boards began hiring
more and more student coun-
Selors.
They also hired long-sought
and badly needed librarians.
If area school officials felt
that one or another program
might improve the caliber of
their high school graduates,
the program was seldom turn
ed down. And generally they
were backed by the public.
This, the educators seemed
to be saying, would be their
answer at the local level to the
cry that something must be
done about Americas educa-
tional system If it is to meet
the Soviet challenge" particu-
larly at the elementary and
secondary levels.
The upgrading Of curricu-
lums and the general broaden
ing of academic opportunities
were not, in themselves, all the
Washington area school sys-
TENS accomplished. They were
simply the strongest points.
The year for some areas was
highlighted also by the OPEN
ing of new buildings. In Prince
Georges County alone 10 new
schools were built. In Fair
fax there were nine.
Amidon Plan Successful
One Of the best examples Of
the stepped-up 1861 pro-
grams can be found in the
District.
There is little doubt that
School Supt. Carl F. Hansen's
much-heralded Amidon Plan
was the big news of the Dis
trict's school year.
Thoroughly disillusioned by
the caliber of students the So
called progressive system was
producing in the Nations Cap
ital, DR.. Hansen last September
opened Amidon Elementary
School, Fourth and I streets
S.W.
An official report on the
Amidon program has not been
drawn, but the benefits have
been so apparent that DR..