Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-12
GAG" RULE CHARGE
OF A. F. OF |. IS HIT
BY DR.. c. f. CARUS|
President of School Board
Denies Teachers Are Un-
duly Restricted.
LABOR PROTEST BASED
ON CONGRESS INCIDENT
Group Testified Before Committee.
Inquiry Was Ordered Through
Superintendent.

DR.. Charles F. Carusi, president OF
the District Board Of Education, last
night characterized as IAN unnecessary
gesture" Fridays action of the American
Federation of Labor in condemning the
so-called gag rule" of the local board
and urging congressional legislation de-
manding its repeal
In response to queries, DR.. Carusi de-
nice the existence of gag rule in the
School Boards regulations, asserting
that neither by the language of the
cited rule nor the intent of the board
is there any disposition to stifle the
teachers At the same time, the board
president took occasion to repeat his
determination not to permit any school
oficer in the system to gag" any SUBJ
ordinate member Of the school per-
sonnet.
Defines His Position.
"I will look with extreme disfavor, as,
I am sure win every other member on
the present Board Of Education, upon
the efforts Of any school official to en-
force a gag on our teachers" DR.. Ca
rusi declared. mot only will the board
disapprove of anything of that sort, but
1t will not tolerate it for a moment.
And, Of course, the board itself would
under no circumstances be guilty Of
such conduct"
The rule which the American Fed
Grafton of Labor opposed in its annual
convention at Boston has been in the
School Board regulations since before
1910. AS it appears In the board rule
of that year, as we'll as in the current
regulations, the rule, under the head of
Conduct of Employees" follows in full:
THE Board of Education has conf
dence in the loyalty of its employees.
The board does not wish to discourage
any suggestions from persons in the
system looking to the improvement Of
the work of the public schools. but 1t
will look with disfavor upon any effort
on the part of It's employees to affect
legislation, unless the same has been
first submitted to the board for its con-
sideration and approval"
Rule 20 Years Old.
Despite the fact that this rule has
been in force for more than 20 years,
It was not brought to light as a target
of the unions until last Winter and
early Spring, when hearings were being
conducted on the proposed kindergarten
reorganization in connection with the
current appropriation bill. A group of
before the committees in Congress to
testify, and the School Board requested
DR.. Frank w. Ballou, superintendent, to
ascertain whether they appeared at the
request of members Of Congress or
whether they were lobbying.
Members of the local teachers union
Immediately were aroused, and through
their objections other union members
appealed to the congressional commit
tees for immediate legislation to save
the necks of scores of our teachers"
A bill calling for such legislation actu-
ally was introduced but never came up
for action.
Meanwhile, the School Board itself
discussed the rule in open meetings and
It was referred to its rules committee
for consideration. The committee has
not yet reported DR.. Carusi asserted
last night that certainly the rule will
not be made more drastic and It is en-
tirely possible that it will remain un-
changed.