Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-27
DECISION DELAYED
ON SCHOOL BOARD
Resignation of President
Learned Will Await JUS
tees Return.

No action will be taken during the
coming week on the resignation of DR..
H. Barrett Learned from the Board of
Education, Chief Justice Alfred A.
Wheat OF the District of Columbia Su-
preme Court said last night.
School board members are appointed,
Justice Wheat explained. not by the
court as tribunal. but by the justices
of the court as a group of individuals.
Until all the members of the court re-
turn to Washington, the chief justice
! said, no consideration will be given DR..
Learneds letter of resignation, dated
September IL. All Of his associates
on the District Supreme Court bench.
Justice Wheat said, are not expected
back in the city until the end of the
coming week. so that nothing can be
done until after that time.
Believes Letter Conclusive"
Asked by The Star last night whether
it is likely that, in view Of Dr. Lesrned's
scheduled return to the Capital in
April, the court justices might refuse
to accept the resignation, Justice Wheat
said that while he had no right TO
speak officially without consulting his
associates he felt that the school
board presidents letter was quite con-
elusive" and devoid of qualifications
the court members.
Meanwhile, the Board OF Education
continues in the dilemma Dr. Learned's
sudden departure created for it. By
virtue of the postponement since last
Spring of the election of a vice presi-
dent, the board Is entirely without off,
GERS in its present organization emer-
gency. Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle and
Mrs Philip Sidney Smith have been
| nominees for the vice presidency await
! ing a full attendance of the board be-
fore either is chosen to that Office.
Interviewed over long distance tele-
! phone from Scarsdale, N. Y, last
night, Mrs. Smith expressed both sur
prise and regret when advised for the
! first time by The Star of DR.. Bearned's
resignation. Mrs. Smith, although she
| was formerly vice president, together
with most other board members and the
boards secretary, had not been advised
| by DR.. Learned of his contemplated
/ resignation from the board.
Favors Man for Place.
Asked for her opinion as to the ad-
visibility of woman president for the
school board Mrs Smith was reluctant
to comment in view of her lack of ia
miliarity with school board develop
ments She said, however, that under
man president of a board which was SO
| predominantly masculine as the Board
| of Education is with its six men and
| three women
| Two other board members yesterday
| asserted emphatically that they would
| prefer a man president. Mrs. Doyle,
1 herself, and Henry Gilligan, who nomi-
! mated her as vice president after Mrs.
Smiths name had been proposed, both
| fol
| would be a more fitting head of the
| school board.
Mrs. William C. Mcneil, the third
woman member of the board, declined
! to comment.
DR.. j. Hayden Johnson, dean Of the
! school board members, said yesterday
! that in his opinion the next move of
! the school board would be dictated
/ largely by the action of the District
| Of Columbia Supreme Court justices.
! He and Mr.. Gilligan pointed out that
until DR.. Learned's resignation was ac-
| cepted by the justices he still was a
member of the board.
Told BaIIou of Plans.
1t was revealed at the Franklin
] Administration Building yesterday that
[ the only person in the school system S
| official staff who was aware of DR..
! Learned's contemplated resignation
YVES Or. Frank W. Ballou, superin-
| tendent Of schools. 1t was learned
that DR.. Learned has discussed his
plans with the superintendent, who, in
| turn, took the view that the school
| board heads withdrawal was a matter
between the court justices and DR..
Learned.
DR.. Learned's departure from the
Capital was discovered by Harry o.
Hine. veteran secretary of the school
! board, who delivered sheaf' of off,
cial papers to the Learned home for
| the presidential signature The follow
! ing ~~day- Friday-Mrs Learned tele-
| phoned Mr.. Hine that her husband
had gone to California the previous
day.