Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-05
LETTERS TO THE STAR
School Reports and Pupil Department

SShHOON NN
The aftermath relative to
the MacCarthy report and
the subsequent reply Of Su-
perintendent Hansen should
merit serious and RESPONSE
BILE attention Of the District
residents genuinely inter-
ested in education. The Mac
Carthy report graphically in
dicates the deleterious eff
fects resulting from a prior
community pattern of sep
rate and unequal" education.
The ills Of a dichotomous
manner Of living have begun
to be more manifest.
The MacCarthy report
serves an admirable function
in terms Of Illuminating GER
tain Of our community prob
lens as they affect young
people. DIR. MacCarthy and
the members of his commit
tee deserve the thanks of the
community for spotlight
ing" some Of the significant
problems Of Sabotage chill
dren and offering recon-
mendations for the mitiga-
ton or resolution of these
problems.
1t is noteworthy that DR..
Hansen has made an effort
to put the MacCarthy re-
port into proper perspective
and is acting to meet the
challenges inherent in the
report. However. it is a mat
ter Of profound concern that
DR.. Hansen believes that
corporal punishment and
early expulsion are needed in
the District schools.
Nationally there is great
concern among educators
over the alarming number of
dropoutS in our schools. The
use Of the above instruments
Of control. in my judgment,
will significantly contribute
to the classroom exodus.
Moreover, as DR.. Hansen has
affirmed, and / believe, too,
THE vast majority of our
(District) students are we'll
behaved. Then why should
the vast majority be forced
to learn from a fear Of pun
ishment because Of a small
minority who needs special
services?
Firm, imaginative. positive
and resourceful teaching viii
best serve teachers and stu
dents in the District. Class
reduction, additional special
lists (teachers Of slow learn
ers, counselors), new school
plants. and an overall COM
munity involvement in edu-
cation will best serve the
needs Of the boys and girls
who seek knowledge.
Teaching is a noble and an
honorable profession full OF
challenge. The business OF
teachers is teaching.
Samuel L. Banks.
80
School discipline Is a back
stage problem that somehow
took the spotlight and has
tended to upstage the real
needs Of education and youth
In the District. Despite the
profound report by DR.. Carl
Hansen and the misdirection
Of a MacCarthy report that
shaped well but clothed poor
ly, the ultimate has beer
missed. School discipline Il
not the crux. Further, there
is a difference between cause
and manifestation.
Discipline is a constant and
a variable In all situations
involving children. It is moi
a new problem or an unchart-
ed one. Knowledgeable adj
ministrators can handle dis
cipline II given the minimum
amount Of cooperation. But
discipline. Of whatever kind
Is not an end In itself.
II must protect the pur.
poseful detectives OF the edu.
cational function but Il
must follow up individually
with educational treatment
that inculcates social values
Otherwise. the deterrent viii
be based upon fear. The like
lihood. Is a continuing anti
social pattern.
Purposeful discipline hal
been clouded by the introduc'
ton OF that dirty word. "cor,
poral punishment" In III
more rugged sense, such pun
ishment is impractical. unnec
essary and unworthy. Who i
advocating cruelty 10 chill
dren2 Yet. semantics ant
celebration plus DR.. Hansen'
manner OF request have raiset
unfounded doubts IN tn
minds OF the Board OF Educa'
ton. Can we obtain the nee