Evening star., 1924-04-04
SCHOOL NEWS GAG
MAY Be DROPPED
President Lloyd Intimates
Board viii Rescind Adop-
tion of Press Censorship.

The action of the board of eGuca-
tion placing a censorship on all news
emanating from the office of the ad
ministrative officials of the school
system in the Franklin School may be
rescinded, it was intimated today by
James T. Lloyd, president of the
board. Mr.. Lloyd said he had con-
ferred with several members of the
board regarding this question, and
expressed the opinion that there is
possibility that the gag" rule will
be revoked at the next meeting on
April 16
One member of the board, Presi-
dent Lloyd declared. suggested that a
special meeting be called next week
to consider more seriously the censor
ship rule, which was embodied IN a
report OF the boards personnel COM
mittee and adopted without q record
vote.
Several other members, however,
Mr.. Lloyd pointed out, do not believe
that the matter is of sufficient I'M
portance to warrant the holding of
a special meeting. but indicated that
they would not oppose its reconsld-
GRAFTON at the next regular session.
Ask Further Consideration.
A trio OF Washington newspaper
reporters regularly assigned to Gov
er" the schools sent a communication
today to President Lloyd urging that
further and more serious conSldera-
tjon be given to the news -muzzling
order adopted at the meeting We'd
neSday. The letter follows:
I'm view of tho harmonious rela-
tionship which has heretofore exist
ed between the board of education
and the members of the press, we of
the press. assigned to the schools of
the District of Columbia. take the
liberty to ask of you and the board
further and more serious considera-
tion of the boards action of Wednes-
day last, when it virtually establish
ed censorship Of all news emanat-
ing from the Franklin School, the
administrative offices of the public
school system. This is requested be-
cause our daily pursuits have brought
strlkingly to our attention phases of
the question which we feel the board
did not consider maturely at the time
of taking this action.
"Waiving the argument of consti-
tutiohal rights, possible personal ef-
irontcry and the ability of the board
to take this action wi hin the pow
ers and duties set forth in its or
gantc act of 1906, we wish to pre-
sent for your consideration develop
Inents which we feel certain will
occur and which, as we have said
we do not believe the board has proD-
erly foreseen. Briefly, they are
these:
Il. The action of the board already
has met with the unqualified dsap-
proVal of many prominent citizens
actively engaged in furthering the
betterment of the local school system.
"3. This action will only serve to
hamper US in our collection of news
and will ultimately destroy that feel
ing of cooperation and cordiality
which we and school officials have
mutually enjoyed.
'3. 1t will further belabor your
highest executive officers, whom, we
think you will agree, are already
heavily taxed in their ordinary work.
a. This regulation cannot, we feel
effectually regulate the giving of ali
news items, and as consequence
your officials, who are held account
able, Will inevitably be called upon to
account for things over which they
could possibly have had control.
Numerous other arguments could
. undoubtedly be recited, but we feel
that these will serve to show that the
injustice we believe has been done is
twofold in character and deserving of
correction"