Evening star., 1931-04-16
URGE INCREASE IN
RECREATION FUNDS
Citizens Tell School Board
$4,000 Is Inadequate
at Present.

An increase of $4,000 in the annual
appropriation for the Community Gen.
ter Department of the District school
system was urged before the Board of
Education late yesterday by a delegation
of citizens headed by j. g. Yaden,
chairman of the Education Committee
of the Federation of Citizens ASsocia-
tionS.
In the same meeting the School Board
agreed to permit the circulariZation of
public school employees by the Munich
pal Employees, Group Insurance Asso-
citation so that teachers and others in
the school system may purchase insur-
ance at unusually low rates.
In appealing for the increased ap-
propriatlon for community center work
MFR. Yaden pointed out that while the
city'S residential areas were growing
rapidly, the yearly amount OF money
available for recreational activities in
the school buildings had remained at
$42 900 for several years" With some
communities SO far removed from COM
mercial amusement places, he said, the
necessity of providing additional COM
munity centers, where not only enter
tainment but educational activities
might be set up, is becoming more acute.
Suggests Appeal to Congress.
Dr. j. HAYDEN Johnson, board mem
Der, suggested that since the boards
increased estimate for the Community
Center Department was reduced to the
usual $42 900 East year. the proponents
of more generous funds for that work
press their request in Congress also. Mr..
Yaden promSed that not only would
that be done, but that the active sup
port of every civic body in the District
would be sought for the same purpose.
The resignation of George Strayer,
rAafs iafo Nf lnea cal foHr1 NxyoC
accepted by the board yesterday SO that
he could return to Columbia University
10 continue his studies for the degree
of doctor of philosophy.
In the same meeting, the board
appointed Robert Smith Anderson to
fill the vacancy. Mr.. Anderson pos
sesses the bachelor of arts degree from
Columbia University Teachers College,
where he is at present candidate for
the masters degree. He has had ex-
perience as an elementary school
teacher and as principal of an ele-
mentary school.
The recent proposal that Washing
ton school children be fingerprinted
was disapproved by the board yester-
day on the specific recommendation of
DR.. Frank w. Ballou, superintendent,
that that means of identification is at
present too closely associated with
criminology and that no particular
value is attached TO it in the schools.
Portable Eliminated.
The board yesterday requested the
Commissioners TO remove from the
Powell Junior High School grounds the
portable school which has been in serv-
ice there. The building, it was pointed
out. no longer is needed for school pur-
poses and its removal eliminates 1t
permanently from the list of portables.
DR.. e. c. Higbie, president of Wilson
Teachers Colltge. yesterday was pre-
sented to the school board by Dr. Ballou.
DR.. Higbie will take over his Office at
the college this morning.
The retirement of Miss K. u. Alex
ander, administrative principal of the
Sumner -Magruder Schools, was ap-
proved with glowing expressions of
tribute by board members yesterday.
Miss Alexander has been in the school
system for so years and months and
she has spent 80 years of that time at
the Sumner School.
The request for a survey of the Gus
todial employees status was referred to
DR.. Ballou. The National Association
OF Federal Employees pointed out In a
communication to the board that the
custodial employees receive no sick leave
with pay and requested the study with
q view to correcting the inequity.