Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-27
SCHOOLS TO FIGHT.
TEACHERS DRAFT
Officials Reused by Ger.
mantOwn Boards Work
or.Fight Rule \
EXECUTIVES AFFECTED
Taking of 900 Men Would De-
moralize Educational Sys.
tenn, They Declare
EXECUTIVES AFFECTED

School officials of this city are conf
dent the "work-or-fighe' rule ap-
piled to male teachers by Germantown
draft board will be set aside.
The Board of Education probably will
make a formal protest to Provost Mar
shall General Crowder.
The Germantown board ruled school
teaching a nonessential employment and
ordered several teachers of draft age to
obtain other essential employment or go
into the army.
The extension of the draft age limit
TO forty-five years, already passed by
the House of Representatives., will af-
feet virtually every male teacher
and principal in Phlladelphia's public
schools, as we'll as several of the higher
executives.
superintrndents Affected
The associate superirtendents OF
schools who will be affected are Louis
Nusbaum and Theodore L. MacDowell.
Four of the nine district superintend-
ents come within the forty-flve-year
limit as does Henry J. Gideon. chief of
the bureau of compulsory education.
Nearly all of more than 100 male prin-
cipals also will be hit by the new draft.
There are approximately 800 men en-
ployed In the city's school system as
high executives. district superintendent ;
high school heads, supervisors, ls.-
cipais and teachers 1t will be difficult.
school officials say. to replace them with
women, because even vacancies caused
by the designations of women are hard
to fill.
"The 'work-or-tlght' ruling places the
school authorities in delicate situa-
tion," declared Associate Superintendent
Nusbaum today. There is certainly no
inciination on the part of any of the
officials to shield men from military
service. And yet the educational sys-
tenn is of fundamental Importance and
would be greatly handicapped II our
male executives and teachers had to
seek other employment.
Sees Blow at Democracy
MANY of those who would be affected
by the ruling have dependents. They
would be given deferred classification
because of dependency and yet would
have to give up their school work and
obtain other positions regarded as essen
tial. After all. education Is one OF the
fundamental principles of democracy.
and n blow at education would be a
blow against democracy.
II would like to learn President
wilson's opinion Of the 'work-or-fght'
rule as applied to educators.
May l refer to my own case as an
example? l come within the provisions
OF the new draft measure. In my posi-
tion here have charge of all the Lib
erty Loan campaign work in the
schools We sold more than $15.0O0.OO'
worth of Liberty bonds in the las
drive. And yet, that Liberty Loan
work would not be regarded as essentia
under the boards ruling"
William Rowen, member of th'
Board of Education investigating tn
ruling. found that several boards In tn
Kensington district uphold the rulini
that school teaching is non-essential em
ployment. Mr.. Rowen Immediately com
municated with other members of tn
board and the elementary school com
nittee, of which he Is chairman. will
discuss the matter September 4. he SAT-
today.
Seventy-five graduates of the Schoo
Of Pedagogy, who were expected to ali
in overcoming the shortage. will be los
to the schools under the draft board
ruling, according to Mr.. Rowen.