Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-19
TEACHER ACCUSED
OF STRIKING CHILD
Attorney Charges 8-Year.
Old Boy Was Hit on Hands
With Ruler.

Suitable discipline" was demanded
for a teacher who, it is charged, struck
an 8-year -old subnormal pupil in a
typical class at the Polk School in a
complaint filed with the Board of Edu-
cation late yesterdaNA by Alfred D.
Smith attorney for the child's parents.
The parents also asked the transfer
OF the child to another school.
Mr.. Smith charged the woman teach
er first struck the boy on the hands
with ruler on February 81. The boys
hands were bruised and swollen at that
time. The mother complained to school
authorities, who referred the case to
Walter B. Patterson, supervising prin-
cipal in charge of special schools, MT
Smith explained.
Ordered Back to School.
The woman struck the child again in
the same manner on March 2, Mr..
Smith said, and when the child re-
turned home with his hands bruised his
parents determined to Keep him out OF
school A probation officer, however,
called on the parents and told them
they must return their child to the
class. It was then, their attorney eX-
planned. that the parents sought legal
aid
Mr.. Smith declared he has the names
OF four other subnormal children in
the class who we're punished in the
same manner by the teacher.
LEGISLATION, designed to legalize the
payment of salary to persons appoint
ed by Dr. Frank w. Ballou, Superin-
TRIDENT, pending the approval OF the
School Board, will be sought in the next
session of Congress. Controller Gen.
oral McCarl, Dr. Ballou told the board
od fhpTp IL
thority under which teachers and other
persons appointed to service by the SUI
pe-intendent without the approval OF
the beard could be paid.
Withdraws Objections.
When McCarl was advised, however,
that when vacancies occur between
board meetings new appointees must
be named at once, since the work can
not go undone until the next board
meeting the controller withdrew his
objections for the time being. To re-
uuire immediate board action on every
such appointment, the superintendent
explained, would neceSsitate board
meetings virtually every day. Hence
1t has been the practice since 1905,
for the superintendent to appoint per-
sons to sudden vacancies and have the
appointment approved by the school
board at its next subsequent meeting.
DR.. Ballou advised the board yes
tsrday that Mr.. McCarl had agreed to
continuation of this procedure, at least
until the end of the current fiscal
year, by which time he hoped proper
legislation could be obtained. The
beard yesterday agreed to ask the
Commissioners to undertake to get Mr..
McCarl to extend his period of grace"
pending efforts of the school board
to have a bill enacted in the next ses-
sion Of Congress.
DIR. Learned Elected.
DR. H Barrett Learned, who has been
acting president of the School Board
since the death OF its president, DR..
Charles F.. Carusi was elected preSi-
dent yesterday. on the nomination of
Mrs. Philip Sidney Smith, the latter
also was elected vice president. In
accepting the presidency of the board
DR.. Learned paid tribute to DR.. Oarusi
who, he said, set an ideal and gave
genuine uplift to the whole city. DR..
Learned declared that. while he felt
he couldn't equal DR.. Carusi as presi-
dent he did pledge his best to the
Office
Mrs. Smith was nominated by DR..
Abram Simon. who declined a nomi
nation made by Mrs Henry Grattan
Smith were elected unanimously as
there were no second nominations for
either Office.
Daniel c. Roper, appointed to the
board since its last meeting to fill the
vacancy created by the death of DR..
Carusi, was sworn in at the beginning
of yesterdays meeting by Henry o.
Hine, secretary.
Ogden Mills Loses.
Jere ]. Crane, first assistant super
intendent in charge of business affairs
will represent the School Board on the
General Supply Committee. despite the
desire Of Ogden Mills, Acting Secretary
of the Treasury that Maj. R. o. VIII
marth be its spokesman It was re-
vealed at the meeting that Commits
sioner Reichelderfer had conveyed to
school authorities the wish of Mr. Mills
that Maj. Wilmarth sit with the gen.
eral committee. Mills was advised,
however, that since Mr.. Crane had
taken over the duties of the business
office Of the school system. he was the
logical officer for the assignment.
The board voted unanimously to rec
ommend to the Commissioners that a
viaduct be constructed over the Balti-
more d Ohio Railroad tracks at Frank
lin street northeast. in Brookland. Such
construction would afford safety to
pupuS OF the proposed Crosby NoyeS
School, at Tenth and Franklin streets
northeast.
Use of the Mckinley High School
auditorium was denied the Costello
Post of the American Legion to present
an entertainment TO raise funds for
uniforms for the organizations Drum
and Bugle Corps.
A request from the Kiwanis Club.
signed by Charles W. Pimper, its presi-
dent, that the 1888 estimates carry
funds for bus transportation and i'm
proved equipment for crippled children
was referred to the Finance Committee.
Mrs. Henry Grafton Doyle was ap-
pointed the boards representative on
the Health and Welfare Committee Of
the District
The board rejected the proposal Of
the Women's Organization for National
Prohibition Reform-that its national
poster contest be approved by Wash
ington schools. In declining to permit
local schools 10 participate the board
adhered To its avoidance of "contro-
Yersial subjects
Kills. Four Sisters and Self.