Las Cruces Sun-News from Las Cruces, New Mexico • Page 7

Trouble Is, Teachers Spend Too Much Time In Teaching! 1 NEW YORK (AP) In the century Dr. Ben D. Wood has devoted to making schools Better he has brought to stake of academia's sacred i many iCOWS. Still, some classroom practices continue to distress him. 'One trouble, he says, is that teachers spend too much time teaching has long insisted that we task of the teacher is not to follow a rigid curriculum, but lo get the student to learn by Lesson Of Socrates "A child's mind is not an -empty basket to receive what the teacher pours into it," he said.

"It has taken us more than 2,000 years to appreciate the lesson of Socrates that educa- tion is the stimulation of crea: tive thinking." Wood, director of the Bureau of Collegiate Educational Research at Columbia University and professor emeritus at Columbia College, has been concerned primarily during his career with making education ftsponstve to the individual. Lean, with thinning silver hair, "Wood is at 72 possessed strong opinions and unshakable-convictions. "The tragedy of education today," Wood said, 'is that teachers teach children prescribed courses laid down by supervisors in higher education offices who have set themselves up as tin gods as to what should be taught and who couldn't care less" about students as individuals. "Our schools are turning out -intellectual paupers who come to depend on the teacher. Cu- is a precious gift, and we must be careful not to vaccinate the child against it." More Individualism He certain arbitrary facts must be supplied the student, "but even then he should be given reasons." To bring about more individualized education, Wood said, "we need complete reorientation of the objectives and priorities of the teacher colleges.

We need to change the duties of the Why, what if the doctor lad not improved his techniques in the past 100 years? "I'd outlaw the formula curriculum," he said, "and I'd make ungraded school a first requirement. With the tests now available it would be quite easy see where the children stand." Carnegie Foundation With William S. Learned, from 1927 to 1930, Wood helped conduct the first statewide evaluative testing survey of col- eges and secondary schools. The survey, called the Pennsyl- nia Study, was sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The foundation referred in its 1965-66 report to the survey as an undertaking of "considerable consequence" and said "the study revealed clearly the weakness of the course credit system as a way of measuring academic progress (though significantly the practice continues unabated today)." Mean Same Thing Wood describes objective testing as a "yardstick to measure achievement that will mean the same thing every year anywhere to every teacher and student." To critics who contend that standardized tests repress originality by requiring stereotyped, multiple-choice answers, Wood says "the tests can do that if you use them that way.

But they must be tailored to fit the needs of the child." CHICAGO (AP) An international study of how well students in 12 countries learn mathematics puts U.S. pupils near the bottom of the list. But don't blame it on the "new math," one authority says. Benjamin S. Bloom, professor of education at the University of Chicago, reported Monday that students who had been exposed 'new math" did considerably better than those with traditional math.

Least Effective "But," he added, "relatively 'ew students tested had been exposed to the new math, so we SHOUT OF WATER EL PASO, Tex. (AP)--A light water supply is expected to re duce the agricultural outlook in the Rio Grande Project in New Mexico and West Texas during 1967, Uie U.S. Reclamation Bureau says. Project manager James W. Kirby reported Tuesday that gross value crops in the project area during 1966 was down $1,425.513 from 19G5, partly because of a reduction in some cotton allotments.

Gross value during 1966 was $33,560, 076, from 134,155 acres of cotton, pecans and fruits and vegeta bles, Kirby saiti. 'New Math' Not Cause Of Low V. S. Grades MAN OF EXPERIENCE Dr. Ben D.

Wood, retired University professor, is still distressed by some classroom practices. One trouble, he says, is that teachers spend too much time teaching. (AP) LOOK LIKE A BANK? No but to many of our depositors who bank, quickly and safely, by mail it is a bank! They--and you--can use the nearest mailbox or chute to bank here by mail at any hour of any day in any weather. Do it! Ask or write for free banking-by-mail forms TODAY 1 fAffMftfS 9 MHWHAMS BANK MAIN OFFICE AT 411 NORTH MAIN Branches: Unlvanity HttgHi it Soli no ind Picicho it Will MeiilU Pirk il 603 M.pl. rhon.

326-3344 Dial 524-8081 for 24 Hour Up To The MInuto Newt. can't draw any general conclusions." The study, conducted by the International Project for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement, showed that the United States is among the least effective of 12 countries tested in developing mathematics talent. Educators cited the highly comprehensive education system in the United States and lack of opportunity to learn some phases of mathematics as reasons for the poor shoeing of American students. Make Comparisons Dr, James B. Coaant, former president of Harvard University and noted critic of America's educational system, declined comment on the study because he hadn't read It, He did say, "I think that making comparisons on tlie basis of tests is very tricky." The project tested some 133,000 students In 12 countries in what is believed to be the largest international educational research project ever undertaken.

Japan appeared to do the best over-all job of mathematics instruction in public schools. "The differences (between countries) really begin to show up at the and eighth- grade levels," Maurice L. Hartung the University of Chicago told a news conference. Hartung was one of five American educators who participated in the project. Other Countries "There is an implied indictment in.

this study of our eighth- grade math teachers," said Arthur Foshay, a professor and assistant dean of the Teachers College at Columbia University. Other countries taking part in the study were Australia, Belgium, England, Finland, France, Israel, The Netherlands, Scotland, Sweden and West Germany. Ask Support For Strike ALBUQUERQUE (AP)-Peti- Uons were prepared for Albu- quer4uc public school teachers today to determine if there is sufficient support to stage a walkout Friday in protest of teacher salary scales, Petition Move A spokesman for the sponsoring groups said 500 signatures could result in a walkout. The petition move was adopted Monday at a meeting of teachers. Meanwhile, the execulive committee of the Albuquerque Class- Siin-Xnvs, tax CntcM, N.M.

7 Wednesday, March fl. room Teachers Association called a city wide mod ing Thursday to "appraise the current legislative program and lo disc- possible alter. V'ves for action," No Comment James Rodgcrs, executive secretary of the teachers association, said his group was not nware of (he proposed petitions hut that Thursday's meeting would discuss "alternatives teachers may take if their (salary) needs are not met." Supt. Robert L. Chisholm said lie didn't want to comment at this tim: on various meetings Hi'.

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