Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-30
Falls Church Schools
General postponement of

Falls Church Schools
General postponement of
the decision-making process
seems to have left the Citi-
zens for a Better City pre-
siding over dissolution of
Falls Church's school system.
The initial reason for forma-
ton Of the city - desire for
excellence In education -
seems buried in complacency
and a refusal to publicly
acknowledge and correct ex-
isting defects and errors in
judgment and administra-
ton.
George Mason Junior
Senior High School seems in
a state Of academic and en-
vironmental deteriora-
ton. Several of our best
teachers are seeking employ
ment in other systems; in
some cases at a cut in SAL
airy. Do such designations re-
fleet the abandonment of a
level Of morale necessary to
a first-class educational sys-
TEN?
Some teachers have de-
plored lack Of intellectual
stimulation. lack of commu-
nication and lack Of direc-
ton from our school admin
istration that is so essential
to a live educational environ
ment. Such a situation ap-
pears to reflect the marked
erosion In the academic
standards that were evident
Tour 10 i've years ago.
Ours is a system where well
paid teachers act as police
men in the halls one period
a day to help quell rowdi-
ness both in and out of the
classroom. Smoking and
drinking have been reported
within the school jurisdic-
ton. Too often energies
of students are directed into
Sororities and fraternities
outside school Jurisdiction
because arbitrary admins
tration discourages student
participation in more worth
while pursuits. 1t is socially
sin" to seek selection in
Greek letter societies rather
than "in" to work on publ
cations. or to respect aca-
ueInlc excellence.
These problems were tacit-
ly admitted In the Superin-
tendent's budget request for
an additional assistant prin-
cipal TO handle discipline -
a request turned down by the
school board.
Nor does the number of high
school students whose par
ents have felt 1t necessary to
assume the financial burden
Of seeking admission TO pri-
vate institutions testify to a
growing faith in the excel
lence Of our educational sys-
TEN. This expanding list in
cludes many prominent and
old families Of Falls Church,
and would be longer II more
parents could afford 1t.
Appearances by parents and
interested parties before the
school board to discuss these
problems or complaints APP
pearances publicly solicited
by the School Board - are
treated with patronizing dis
dain and are dismissed forth
with. Persistence in appeals
TO the school board, unfor-
tunately too rare. seems only
to earn the supplicant the
reputation OF a neurotic mall
content, or part Of the lun-
attic fringe" The implication
is clear; the norm is accept
ance Of bland. non-contro-
versial dicta passed on by the
school administration. the
school board and our elected
officials.
Present conditions suggest
a grave lack OF stability with
In the administration OF our
school system, and the need
for Falls Church citizens 10
require their elected and APP
pointed officials 10 take note
OF a situation which falls far
short OF prediction prom
Uses. CBc, II Is time 10 Shout
der the responsibility you
bargained for 49, or 10 ac-
knowledge political Inn
potence.
Mrs. Jonathan ID. Stoddart
Co : Manager. 1861 CBC
Campaign. President. Fails
Church Council OF PTAs,
io6l-62.