Evening star., 1962-12-26
California
Schools Back
To ThreeRs

OAiC Vi Gllc WOIlu UlSBeSC SCHOOL
systems could Influence school
policies in the Nation. Educa-
tors and millions of parents
will be watching.
Progressive education, a trend
throughout much of the coun-
try since the 30s, is on its way
out in California.
1t was doomed even before
DR.. Rafferty's upset victory
over DR.. Ralph Richardson in
a campaign which saw liberal
Democrats backing DR.. Rich
ardSon and conservative Re-
publicans boosting DR.. Raffer-
ty. But DR.. Rafferty, will give
1t mighty shove out the door.
Has Board Backing
He has. perhaps somewhat to
his surprise, strong backing for
most of his ideas on the State
Board of Education, even
though Q of the 10 members
backed his opponent.
The success of his program
will depend on how well he can
get along with the board, con-
trolled by Democratic Gov. Ed
mund @. Browns appointees;
the Appointive Curriculum
Commission, which selects text
books, and the heavily Demo-
cratic Legislature, which votes
the money.
DR.. Rafferty, believes in old
fashioned book learning, minus
such frills as basket-weavine
aimed at developing "the total
child" as advocates put it.
He won a Freedom Founda-
tions award-and national at
tention-for a blunt speech,
"The Passing Of the Patriot"
taking strong exception to the
disappearance from textbooks
of American heroes in favor of
Tom and Betsy and their day
at the ZOO. California libraries
for months have had waiting
lists for his book, Suffer, Lit
tie Children" which rakes pro-
greSsive education.
What's in store for California
school children if he gets his
way?
"A stronger emphasis on sub
ject matter. He calls it the
conservative revolution in ed
ucation," or sometimes "educa-
ton for survival" 1t means,
says DR.. Rafferty,, education in
depth.
Specifically. DR.. Rafferty, ad-
vocates:
Use Of the phonics system in
teaching reading; stressing of
the great heroes, stories and
facts of American history from
the first grade; encouraging
youngsters to read the chill
dren's classics; abandonment of
group psychological tests now
given in many districts; scrap
ping of the terms social
studies" and Language arts"
and a return to teaching of
specific subjects such as geog-I
raphy and history; memorial
ton and drill in subjects such
as historical dates and names
of great significance, the null
tiplication tables and number
combinations. and passages
from great works Of prose and
poetry, and teaching of basic
principles Of the American free
enterprise system.
He's cool toward Federal aid
to education, strong on local
control and believes teachers
should be intellectual and cul-
tural leaders in their commu-
mites.
Made 3S5 Speeches
Some things DR.. Rafferty,
plugged for in 3S5 speeches. in
Gliding 4S debates with his
equally outspoken opponent,
have been put into effect the
last three years by a revitalized
State board-though he didn't
acknowledge 1t. And board pres
ident Thomas w. Braden, pub
Usher Of the Oceanside Blade
Tribune, says he and most 9TH
er board members see eye to eye
with the longtime school ad-
ministrator on many things
among them DR.. Rafferty's dis
taste for progressive education
and his wish to raise stand
ards.
The board has, for instance,
inaugurated language teaching
in the sixth grade. stiffened
minimum requirements in ge-I
ography and mathematics and
set up q program for teaching
communism. And while 1t feels
communism and capitalism
should be taught, Mr.. Braden
says the board opposes any
thing smacking of indoctrina-
tion "or the John Birch ap-
proach."
Some Of DR.. Rafferty's sup
port came from John Birch So
ciety members. A society sup
porter. with founder Robert
Welch beside him on a post
election telecast. referred TO DR..
Rafferty, as "our candidate"
There has never been any con-
tention that DR.. Rafferty, be-
longed 10 the society.
The campaign was non-par-
tisan in theory only. Why did
the conservative DR.. Rafferty,
win in the face Of q largely
Democratic sweep In California
and the opposition Of most pro-
fessional educational groups9
Says Mr.. Braden. a Demo-
crat:
q. The voters had a gnaw-
ing feeling that something had
gone wrong with their kids and
they tended TO blame II on the
schools. e.. ="
DR.. Rafferty, thinks his VIC
tory is a clear mandate to In
stall "a disciplined. systematic
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