Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-29
Protest Is Third Made
Against Creation of Single
Science Department.
TEACHERS TAKE MATTER
TO NATIONAL CONVENTION
School Heads Also Asked if Fur
ther Consultations Here
Are Contemplated.

Reconsideration of the merger of the
department of physics with that Of
chemistry and biology was asked CT the
Board of Education by the District OF
Columbia Congress of Parents and
Teachers in communication sent to
the board today in defense of DR.. Will
liam A. Hedrick and William P. Hay,
veteran scientists in the school system.
AT the same time, the parent-teacher
congress asked to be advised whether
the school board contemplates any
further similar reorganizations and sug-
gested that all discussions of such
changes be carried on in public meeting
This latest protest is the third voiced
since the boards action Wednesday
when, with only six of it's nine members
present, it voted over the vigorous pro-
test Of Henry Gilligan to merge the two
science departments. No official action
was taken with respect TO Dr. Hedrick
and Mr.. Hay. whose employment on
August 81 will end.
Before National Convention.
A second communication addressed
to the board carried the request of the
teachers union that if ally reorganizs-
ton involving the classical language
department is contemplated as a le-
suit of the recent retirement Of Miss
M. c. Halves as director of the Latin
department. the final action be post
poned until the regular school session
1t further asked that opportunity be
afforded for a full nearing CT teach
ers, parents and others who might be
specially interested in the teaching Of
Latin
Delegates to the national teachers
convention in Chicago today are pre-
senting the story of the Ieorganiza-
ton of the science departments with
the hope of securing the voice of a
national organization against the school
boards action. This protest was voiced
by the Teachers Council, which also
championed the two veteran instructors
The complete text of the Parent
Teacher Congress protest follows:
Whereas it has come to the attention
OF the District of Columbia Congress
of Parents and Teachers that the Board
of Education, at its meeting held We'd
nesday, June "a, decided to abolish the
departments of physics and Of chemistry
and biology of the public school system,
thereby neceSSitating the reduction in
both rank and salary of two veteran
teachers who have for many years been
the heads of those departments and Of
whom one is understood to be within
two years of retirement;
Ask Reconsideration.
Whereas further. it is understood
that such action was taken without
proper notice to the said heads of de-
partmentS and no opportunity was af-
forded for the parents and teachers Of
Washington to consider the question
and to be heard with respect to it;
Now, therefore. be it resolved by the
District of Columbia Congress of Par
ents and Teachers, That we urgently re-
quest the Board of Education to recon-
slider its action in abolishing these two
departments above mentioned and In
demoting the heads of those depart
mentS, in order that the parents and
teachers of the District of Columbia
may have an opportunity to consider
this important and far-reaching change
in the organization of our public schools
and to express their views regarding 1t.
I'VE also respectfully ask to be ad-
vised whether the Board of Education
contemplates carrying any similar plan
of reorganization into other depart
mentS of the public school system, and
we suggest that full and free discussion
of such matters with the parents and
teachers of the District of Columbia in
advance OF final action Is an 1ndis-
pensable part of the warm and hearty
cooperation between the school authori-
ties. the teaching staff and the public,
without which we cannot hope to obtain
adequate congressional support and to
build up the high morale and esprit de
corps necessary for the fullest and best
development of the public school system
of the District OF Columbia
The resolution was signed by Mrs. ].
N Saunders, president, and Mrs. z. C.
Rittue, legislative chairman.