Evening star., 1927-05-05
YADEN ASSAILS SCHOOL BOARD
AS GROUP VETOES GIFT POLICY
Head of Citizens Ridicules Officials, Chare-
ing Trend to Russianism as Associa-
tion Opposes Ruling.

Decision by the Board of Education
at its meeting yesterday afternoon to
apply the rule calling for its stamp
of approval on all gifts to be made to
the local public schools brought forth
resolution opposing its action, to-
gether with sensational criticism of
the decision, at a. meeting Of the Pub
| lie School Association in the District
Building last night.
The resolution adopted by the asso.
citation disappearing the ruling was
offered by f. f. Haycraft, following a
statement by James G.. Yaden, presi.
dent of the Federation of Citizens
Associations, that ito me it is another
illustration Of the utter helplessness,
inefficiency and childishnesS OF the
board"
This statement was Immediately ap-
proved by F. c. Stelzer, association
delegate, who arose and obtained rec
ognition from Mrs. Giles Scott Rafter,
the vice president, presiding, IN order
to officially voice his sentiments be-
fore other delegates.
Charges Russianism.
Mr.. Stelzer's action was hardly
over when Mr.. Yaden launched into a
still stronger and more bitter attack
upon the Board of Education, saving:
II am not surprised at this. I have
heard rumblings coming from DIR.
Ballou for some time. 1t is nothing
but an attempt to Russianize the
school system, as Russia was under
the czars. Their purpose is simply to
control the expenditure of money by
the parent-teacher associations" To
this Mr.. Yaden added: '"They simply
want to show that they are the boss.
They sit up there and preside with
more dignity and less ability than any
body Of men ever saw"
Mr.. Yaden also declared he believed
the board did not care how much was
given the schools by the parent
teacher associations, but that it SIM
ply wanted to say how the gifts are
to be made and distributed.
Mr.. Haycraft, who introduced the
motion to oppose the action Of the
board, obtained recognition Of the floor
again between Mr.. Yaden's state.
ments, and declared the action of the
Board of Education would result in
endless red tape before gifts can be
made to the schools by the parent
teacher organizations.
Mr.. Yaden had the decision Of the
board exp. med to him when the
question arose while Mrs. Rafter was
discussing the question of the parent
teacher organizations supplying GER
tain schools with window shades, ad-
vocating that all without the proper
shades" be given them.
Demand Board Action.
A further slap was taken at the
Board Of Education with the adoption
Of an amendment to the original mo-
tion Of the association regarding the
action Of the board, with the expires.
sion that it is the consensus Of opinion
of the association members that the
board should seek sufficient funds to
supply all necessary school needs, and
the amendment included the request
that the board act accordingly.
Several of the delegates told how
different parent-teacher groups had
presented schools with mimeograph
machines and electric machines used
in showing pictures in connection with
visual education" Those telling of
such gifts expressed the unanimous
opinion that the organizations CIV