Evening star., 1931-06-25

Learned, president, who In the absence
Of other members participated in the
balloting. Mr.. Gilligan cast the only
dissenting vote.
In his protest against failure Of school
authorities to advance Mrs. Hardy to
the dictatorship of the community CEN
ter department Mr.. Gilligan contended
that the only concrete objection" was
that Mrs. Hardy was not Of an execu-
tive turn of mind" He cited a case OF
''misinformation" which he said may
have influenced the board against her.
The "misinformation" cited was state
ment that Miss Baker, former director,
was unable to present her annual report
because material due from Mrs. Hardy
was not forthcoming in time. Mr.. Gill;
gan said Mrs. Hardy later denied she
was tardy with any material for reports
In his objection Mr.. Gilligan made it
plain that he did not object to Mrs.
Peoples, but that, on the contrary, he
is "faVorably impressed" with her as a
potential director of that department.
NV objection" he asserted, lis to
the failure to advance loyal and capa-
BILE employe without stated cause and
upon actual misinformation.'
His motion to postpone action on the
appointment pending further study OF
the situation was seconded by RABBI
Simon. who said he did it, mot because
I think you are right. but out of cour-
tesy to Mrs. Hardy" In the vote. how
ever. Rabbi Simon failed to cast ballot.
The appointment of Mrs Peoples then
was voted upon, with only Mr.. Gilligan
opposing.
Teachers Union Protest.
The Executive Committee OF the
Teachers Union last night adopted a
resolution protesting against abolition
of the two positions.
A statement issued by the committee
follows in part:
"The Executive Committee Of the
Teachers Union protests the changed
policy of the Board of Education in
merging the physics, chemistry and
biology departments and In abol1sh-
ing the positions Of two men without
affording the parents, the teachers and
the citizens in general an opportunity
to voice their opinions in so drastic an
action.
"A change in policy that endangers
the tenure Of teachers who have been
given a very definite status by the Con-
gress of the United States.
"A policy that undermines the peace
of mind Of the teachers, thereby AFFECT
ing their teaching, their initiative, their
growth and their service.
"A policy that takes such drastic
action at the close Of the school year,
when the teaching corps is leaving the
city and is unable to make their opin-
"The Executive Committee Of the
Teachers Union deplores the removal OF
men who have national and interna-
tional recognition in the field of sci
once, men who are academically well
equipped and who are professionally
recognized;
THAT men who have given years OF
faithful and efficient service should be
subjected to such humiliating and un-
justif1able treatment.
"The Executive Committee Of the
Teachers Union feels that men and
women who have contributed to the
upbuilding of the Washington educa-
tional system should not be so ruth
leSsly cast aside"
School Transfer Opposed.
Further consideration of the transfer
of the Greenleaf from the white to the
colored divisions loomed when the
board agreed to hear at its reorgan1za-
ton meeting next Wednesday further
testimony from residents of the neigh
borhood. j. M. Shaffer told the board
Yesterday that the Greenleaf was in
white neighborhood whose white pop
ulation would be increased still further
by the erection of the new Jefferson
Junior High School Building and the
carrying forward of the Governments
building program on the Mall. Trans
fer of the school to colored children, he
declared, would result in an influx OF
colored residents which would virtually
destroy the Neighborhood House located
around the corner from the Greenleaf
School.
DR.. Ballou, in response to DR.. Learn
eds suggestion, cited figures to show
that the white population of the neigh
borhood is declining. In 1926, he said,
there we're 1,053 white children attend
ing the Bowen, Greenleaf, Smallwood
and Anidon Schools. In 1927 the total
dropped to 931, in 1928 to 894, in 1929
to 848 and in 1880 to 796. On the other
hand, he pointed out that while the
colored school population in 1926 was
2131 it wss 2,106 in 1880. He added
that he did not believe 1t the function
of the school authorities to undertake
to decide what the character OF neigh
borhood should be with respect to the
white and colored population.
Among those who will be heard at
the next meeting of the board will be
Mrs. John p. Neigh of the Neighbor-
hood House.