Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-11
EDUCATION BOARD
ASKS LEGAL ADVICE
ON K|NDERGARTENS
Action on Prospective Teach
ers Held Up to Conform With
Desires of Congress.
4 UNDER-AGE SCHOOLS
ORDERED DISCONTINUED
One Glass Is Kept When Member
Of Body Opposes It's
Elimination.

Confused in their effort to adopt a
new policy on kindergarten administra-
ton which would accede to the ox-
pressed desires of the House and SEN
ate, the District public school officials
today are appealing to the corporation
counsel for legal opinion on the status
OF the various group of eligible persons
seeking positions as teachers In ele-
mentary grades, one to four.
Until this question, involving three
distinct classes of prospective teachers,
Is settled no persons will be appointed
TO vacancies caused by designations, re-
tirement and death.
The Board of Education, at its first
meeting Of the year late yesterday, un-
dertook to establish kindergarten
policy which would overcome the bitter
objections which Representative Sim
mons OF Nebraska, leveled at them dur
Ing hearings on the current appropria-
ton bill during the last session Of
Congress.
Eliminate Four Schools.
On recommendation Of DR.. Frank W.
Ballou, superintendent Of schools, the
board yesterday eliminated four of the
nve under age" kindergartens which
are operated for children under S years
or age. Although the superintendent
recommended also the elimination of
the under age" kindergarten in the
Webster Americanization School, this
class was retained by the board when
Henry L. Gilligan, board member, de-
Tended 1t as important to the success
OF Americanization work.
The current appropriation bill, DR..
Ballou pointed out, carries q provision
that as teacher vacancies occur in the
first four elementary grades during this
year, such vacancies may be filled by
the assignment of teachers now en-
ployed In kindergartens, and teachers
employed In kindergartens are hereby
made eligible to teach In the said
grades"
DR.. Ballou informed the board that
correspondence between himself and
confereeS Of the House and Senate
showed clearly that the legislators are
convinced there should be q "substan-
tial reduction" in the number Of new
kindergarten teachers and that efforts
be made to administer kindergarten
classes 50 that each contains Is pupils.
Three Major Problems.
DR.. Ballou recommended that the
three major problems, which follow. be
referred to the lawyer members of the
Board Of Education:
Il. If a vacancy falls In q kinder
garten should the position be filled by
the reinstatement of q Kindergarten
teacher now on leave or by the transfer
Of an available teacher from another
20. If vacancy occurs in grades one
70 four, should the position be filled by
TAtnGf0fan0Anf an al -.
grade teacher now on leave or by the
transfer Of an available kindergarten
teacher?
"3. II a vacancy falls In grades enc
70 four, should kindergarten teacher
on leave or an elementary teacher on
leave have the prior claim to REIN
statement in such position?"
DR.. Ballou was In communication
with the corporation counsel's ONCE to-
day. undertaking to arrange q personal
Glasses Continue to October IA.
An earlier question concerning the
of kindergarten was an
sWered when DR.. Ballou advised the
board that the confereeS did not mean
mat kindergartenS Of the city should
hat each should contain as nearly As
possible that many children. Conse-
luently, the board had ruled that all
In operation last June
continue this FAN until October IL. at
which time it should be determined
whether the enrolment warrants the
continuation of the class. The board
llSo has decided that new kindergartens
viii be established whenever the NUM-
" IS. 1850 '' "'"N0
DR.. Ballou also advised the hoard
hat he sought an explanation from the
'onferees on the language of the pro-
ision In the appropriation bill, making
VI kindergarten teachers eligible for
ne frSt four elementary grades.
Iney were requested specifically to
tate whether in view of the legisla-
ion the school authorities should con-
tder all kindergarten teachers as uuali-
leo TO teach in grades one to four"
ne superintendent explained.
The committee chairmen agreed that
would be necessary for the school
authorities to devise some Reasonable
'asiS of transfer by which it could
'e determined which kindergarten
eacherS are qualified to teach in grades
me to four. 1t was explained that It
vas not the wish of the conferees TO
ranSfer kindergarten teachers who are
lot qualified"
Appointments Made.
Accordingly. DR.. Ballou recommended
Fhether teachers nominated for trans
er had had training, experience and
erSonal adaptability, such as to make
hem potentionally capable and EN-.
lent teachers in grades one to -four.
he recommendation was carried By the
GARD.
The four under-age kindergartens.
'hich were eliminated by the board, are
hose. at Seaton, Peabody, Adams and
angdon Schools.
The IS appointments made yesterday,
1cluding IS temporary. three probe-
Ionary and 8 permanent appointments,
involved only senior and junior high
chool and teacher college grades. No
ppointment can be made, DR.. Ballou
Explained today, until the corporation
ounsel supplies the schools with the
pinions he Is undertaking to secure.
Rabbi Abram Simon presided at yes
erday's meeting. The only other four
lemberS attending were Mr.. Gilligan,
r. ]. Hayden, Rev. F. I. A. Bennett and
FRS. Mary A. Mcneil The next meet
1g of the board will be held Septem-
er IT.