Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-01
OPTIMISM is WATCH-WORD
In SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION
Feeling Is Born of Generous Budget,
Both From Standpoint of Funds and
Constructive Policies Anticipated.

program OF vocational education for
the District. The Washington Central
Labor Union brought attention to the
inadequacies OF the present curriculum
and facilities, and DR.. Carusi named a
committee of Is persons to work out
a new program for this type Of instruc-
ton. Its report will be made within
the next three months, probably.
Nineteen hundred and twenty-nine
will be remembered as the year which
gave to the District public school sys-
tenn its first business manager"
While the term by which the new first
assistant superintendent of schools in
charge of buildings and grounds is
popularity known Is somewhat of mis-
homer, that at least is the description
accorded to the new position by mem
bers OF Congress who proposed its Gre
alton. The schools already had, and
still have, a business manager in
Maj. r. O. Wilmarth. Jere j. Crane
is the first assistant superintendent in
charge of buildings and grounds, and
he was appointed to that Office May 2.
Before his school appointment, Mr..
Crane was an architect in the Treas
ury Department, and prior to that posi-
ton ne had extensive experience in the
direction OF buildings and equipment,
which has made him valuable asset
to the school staff.
Crane Cuts Red Tape.
Mr.. Cranes associates, without single
exception, are voluble in their praise
of the work which he is accomplish
ing According to DR.. Ballou, Mr..
Crane has managed to cut through
much red tape, taking almost unique
courses to attain an end, basing his
action upon the determination to "get
things DONE" The position he holds
was created as one of Coordination,
so that, assembling all the school needs
In the field of buildings, grounds and
| equipment, he would act as the school
systems single representative in deal
ing With the various District building
otnceS with which the school officials
nave business. That is the work he
has been accomplishing since his in
stallation In office June /.
The free textbook bill which Is on
Ine very brink OF passage at the cur
rent session OF Congress, Jared sadly
during the last regular session of Con-
gress early in 1929. Framed and pro-
posed by the Board of Education, the
bill was pushed by the board members
under the guidance of Henry l.. Gill;
gan, chairman Of the boards commits
tee on legislation. Passing the House
OF Representatives, the bill failed In
the Senate solely because of Senator
Helms insistence that it be amended
to include a clause specifying that
nothing advocating union Of church
and state be taught in the public
schools. Mr.. Helms insistence pre-
vailed despite the massed visit Of
s group Of parents and teachers who
amendment and despite the fact that
the school authorities declared that
| no such material as that to which the
senator objected was being taught.
The Senate this session, however has
passed the bill and the House Dis
tr1ct committee. has reported favorably
upon 1t. AS the year 1929 closes, It
seems certain of enactment.
Two Students Suspended.
A review of the year from the stand
point of the schools should include
mention of the suspension of two Gen.
trail High School students for "falsifi-
cation" in connection with their mem
bership in an unapproved fraternity.
The case OF the two boys was submerg-
ed almost from the start by a review
OF the general question of fraternities
which the suspensions inspired Mr..
Gilligan sought to lift the present ban
on such organizations, and, failing that,
to eliminate the current practice of
requiring all high school students to
sign pledge cards testifying to the fact
| OAA0O SAACJ dAC IlOJ UlSulUtTS vi u0HD-
proved organizations" The latter pro-
posal failed also.
The suspension of the two bows
brought forth a proposed change in
the school board rules which provided
that diplomas be withheld from stu
dents guilty OF certain offenses which
formerly were punishable by suspension.
The offenses Observation-Disclosures "falsi-
f1cation immoral conduct, pointed
opposition to authority, uncleaniy con-
dition Of person Of clothing, and habit
ual hardness. The reference to "un-
cleanly condition of person or cloth
ing brought about public condemna-
ZION OF the proposal as the dirty neck
rule" and the measure was defeated.
1t was defeated, however, not before
character education was brought to the
fore as a definite part Of public
school curriculum.
1t was during 1929 that the school
board, at the recommendation of the
superintendent, heightened the hiqh
school day by half an hour. Prior to
the change senior high school pupils
attended classes from 9 am. until $3.50
pm, while now they are not dismissed
until 3 pm.
The year was marked by at least
one serious ROW" between the school
autnoritles and pupils parents. When
the school officers attempted to en-
force the rule requiring children to at
tend the school in whose district their
homes are located, by transferring a
group OF pupils from the Park View
School to the Monroe School, the
parents to the affected children re-
belled against the edlct by holding
their children out of school entirely. The
rebellion" lasted two weeks and was
finally ended when the school board
permitted the children in the platooned
classes at the Park View Building TO
remain in that building. AS this COM
promise allowed majority of the
bellion was broken in short order and
the remainder of the children sub
mitted to the transfer.
School for Crippled Children.
The two schools for crippled children
were opened In the Weightman and Ma
| gruder Buildings November / of this
year. The former school is for white
pupils and the latter is for colored chill
dren.
| Foremost among the school system
deaths of the year was that of Alvin
| w. Miller, principal of Central who
succumbed to the bite of pet cat May
10, following an illness of more than two
weeks.
Harvey w. Smith. former superin-
tendent of schools at Mllville, N. j.. was
named the new principal Of Central on
OAAAC - ssAlN AAG was ulSLdlIeQ III ONCE
| tive days later.
During the year DIR. Carusi Mrs.
Mary A. Mcneil and Mr.. Gilligan were
reappointed to the Board of Education.
The years largest single building
advance was the completion and OPEN
ing OF the new Mckinley High School
at Second and T streets northeast. After
yeaIS Of congestion in the old "McKin-
ley Manual Training School" structure
at Seventh street and Rhode Island
avenue, Tech changed its name and