The Washington herald., 1916-06-29
School BOARD
AIDS MILITIAMEN
Guarantees Reinstatement of
Teachers Who Enlist
In Guard.

Leave of absence until the present
trouble with Mexico ends, with the
guarantee OF reinstatement without loss
OF rank or longevity pay, was guaranteed
all employees of the District public schools
who enlist in the National Guard, at a
meeting Of the Board of Education yes
terday. During the absence of the militia
men teachers, their positions will be filled
by temporary appointees.
Thus far, seven men have abandoned
the textbook for the army rifle. These
are ]. E. Walker, supervisor of the
Thirteenth division; A C. Newman,
principal of the Cardozo Manual Train
ing School; Mark F. Finley, teacher of
chemistry In Central High School; H.
w. Freeman and Albert Ridgely, medical
inspectors; Eli Brown. laborer at the
Birney School, and Howard Colbert,
laborer Of the Garnet School
strong fight for higher rating and
higher salaries was started before the
board by the manual training teachers of
the District. They presented a lengthy
signed petition citing their grievances,
and charging that the present rate of
pay and bars to advancement were such
that capable men would accept the posi-
tions only a last resort.
Under the present law, manual train
ing teachers are ranked with teachers
Of the third grade. ard cannot pos
their competence nor length of service.
Their present salary is s70O per annum
and they cannot rise above $1,000 per
annum.
Teach Same Pupils.
In their petition they demand that they
be given the same rating as a teacher
of the eighth grade. 1t is pointed out
that the annual training instructors not
only teach the same pupils as eighth
Grade teachers. but five times as many.
1t Is also declared that the manual train
ing course necessitates largely individual
instruction for every pupil, and that con-
ditions on the whole are far more ex-
acting and wearing in manual training
work, than in regular eighth grade work,
teachers of which receive from 1880 to
5000 yearly.
The matter was referred by the board
to'the committee en- ways and means.
Numerous requests for use of public
schools during vacation months were pre-
sented to the board. Most OF them were
taken under consideration. One, how
ever, was granted. This came from the
Washington city Orphan Asylum. asking
permission to use one of the rooms Of the
Berret School, at Fourteens,. and Q
streets northwest, for a summer school
for asylum inmates. The classes Will
start at once.
Twenty teachers annually from the
Washington public school system will be
sent to other cities for the scholastic
year. and their places filled by other
teachers from those same cities, If the
money can be secured from Congress
% defray the necessary transfer expen-
ses bill arranging for such an inter-
channe is already before Congress and
the board yesterday voted to exert all Its
influence to secure its passage.
Realty Men Oner Jobs.
Jobs as real estate statesmen are wait
Ing for twenty boys from each of the
,ity's high schools, II developed at the
meeting, when a request was read froTp
one of the big local real estate firms
asking the board to submit list OF
likely candidates Members of the board
decided, however, that such a step would
be beyond their province. They referred
the matter to the Superintendent Of
Schools, with the suggestion that he
communicate with the different alumni
associations.
The Northeast, the Piney Branch, and
the Deanwood citizens associations pre-
sented pleas to the board for relief from
school congestion.
request from the Mount Pleasant
Community Association for the use OF
the grounds of the Bruce School for a
carnival to be held the night of July 4,
for the benefit of the Fairgrounds Asso-
Citations, was referred to the Superintend-
ent of Schools, and probably will be-
granted. The superintendent also was
delegated to pass on a request by the
Park View Citizens Association to use
the Park View schoOlhOuse a place Of
meeting On the evening of the second
Tuesday of every month.
The case of Mrs Gladys Lyon Strong
Hellmann, whose resignation was de-
manded by the board following her mar
riage, but who was reinstated by order
of the court, was brought before the
board in a resolution offered by Presi-
dent Blair. According to the resolution,
which was unanimosly adopted Mrs.
Hellmann will get the regular salary in
crease allowed for longevity OF service
She will continue to teach the first grade