Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-11-06


Julius I. Peyser and Rev. F. I. A. Ben
nett. threw the Board of Education
into an uproar for an hour and ten
minutes yesterday afternoon. while
important school matters demanding
attention were shunted aside. The
opening attack was made on Mrs
Cecil Norton Sisson. general director
of the community center department.
and before the incident had passed
DR.. Frank w. Ballou. superintendent
of schools, and James T. Lloyd, presi-
dent of the school board, were smart
ing from the stings of an upbraiding.
DR.. Benefits attack on Mrs. Sisson
was inspired by newspaper article
in which the clergyman was accused
of opposing the creation of a COM
munity center at the Lovejoy School,
because 1t competed with the COM
munity work at his church. 1t was
the upshot of challenge by DR.. Ben
nett at a previous meeting as to the
accuracy Of the attendance records at
the Lovejoy center as contained in
Mrs. Sisson's annual report. At that
time DIR. Bennett expressed the opin-
ion that the figures had been pad
ded."
Annual Report Stirs Row.
The speech of DR.. Bennett seemed
to fire Capt. Peyser with the spirit of
fight and he laid down a baFrage of
criticism. first at DR.. Ballou and then
at Mr.. Lloyd. Capt. Peyser resented
deeply that the superintendent had
made public his annual report in the
press before it was submitted to
members OF the board. Even more
indignant was Capt. Peyser over the
action of Mr.. Lloyd In writing re-
port for the board which no other
member had seen. Capt. Peyser re-
scented particularly a section in the
report which apologized for the lack
of harmony on the board during the
last school year.
IF We are to sit here and be
soft-soaped without any opinions of
our own" exclaimed Capt Peyser,
the Board of Education ought to be
dissolved"
DR.. Ballou Replie~-
After the two board members had
completed their attacks, DR.. Ballou
answered the criticisms. THE most
serious thing of ALL" he said. lis that
an implication has been made as to
the honesty of employees of the board.
Dr. Bennett used the word padded
that means dishonesty" The super
intendent also pointed out that the
board had given him authority to
make public his annual report prior
to its submission to the members.
Ernest II. Pullman, president OF the
Manor Park Citizens Association.
stirred up another argument among
several members of the board when
he said he had appeared before the
bureau of the budget and had been
assured that an item for the erection
of a school in his community would
be included in the school estimates
at this late date, if requested by the
board.
Accuses Budget Bureau.
charge was then made that the
budget bureau was undertaking to
tell the board what it ought to ask
for. The request of Mr.. Pullman was
subsequently referred to the hnance
committee Of the board. The hnance
committee also received the request
Of the Rhode Island Avenue CITIZENS
Association for transportation for
pupils attending the Langdon School
who travel long distances.
Upon recommendation of STEPHEN
E. kramer, principal of Central High
school. the corporation counsel will
be asked by the board to issue an
opinion on the authority of school
PRINCIPALS to control smoking on
school property The holding of the
annual Teachers Institute on January
30 1925 was approved Ihe Schools
will be closed on this date. The
institute program includes general
session in the morning. followed by
round table discussions in the after
noon.
Approval also was give by the
board to the plans of the supervising
principals of the first nine divisions
to hold memorial services for the late
Alexander T. Stuart, director of in
termediate instruction, at Central
High School on November IL at 2
pm Similar exercises Will be
planned by the supervising principals
of divisions 10 to 10. inclusive.
Two Examiner. Named.
Appointment of Miss Anna NJ.
Crook and Miss F. E. Burlingame as
members of the board of examiners
for the white schools was approved.
DR.. Ballou announced that an atypical
school had been opened in Brookland
at the request of residents in the
community. The board gave permis-
sion to the supervisors Of music to at
tend a conference of music teachers
at Winston Salem, N. C.
Capt. Peyser informed the board
that an investigation by him has re-
vealed that $252,577 in school funds
had been returned to the Treasury in