Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-25
|DR. LEARNED QUITS
EDUCATION BOARD,
GOES TO CALIFORNIA
Resignation of President
Made Public When Aides
Seek Him to Sign Papers.
TAKES FACULTY POST
AT LELAND STANFORD
Colleagues and Chief Justice in
Doubt as to Action to Be
Taken to Fill Post.

Dr. Henry Barrett Learned, president
of the District Board of Education, on
which he has served for nine years, has
rendered his resignation from that body,
it was disclosed today by Mrs. Learned.
DR.. Learned left the Capital yesterday
for California, where he will teach at
the Leland Stanford University, whose
faculty he formerly served.
The departure of the school board
president. while expected by some school
board members, to whom he had con-
fided his plans at the board meeting two
weeks ago, was a distinct surprise In
school circles today. Efforts of the
boards secretary to deliver to DR..
Learned official papers for his signature
resulted in the discovery that the presi-
dent already had left the city.
Talked to Justice Wheat.
Mrs. Learned said DR.. Learned had
made no public statement because he
believed that was the privilege of the
District Supreme Court justices, who
appoint School Board members and who
Therefore must act on his resignation.
Chief Justice Alfred Wheat, on his
way to a meeting of the justices, de-
clared that he had discussed the resig-
nation with DR.. Learned, but hurried
into the meeting before he could be
asked whether he had the resignation
in his hands
Harry o. Hine, secretary Of the School
Board, attempted to deliver to DR..
Learned at his home yesterday some
official school papers. Getting no re-
Spouse to ringing the doorbell, he placed
the papers in the letter box He said
he later was telephoned by Mrs.
Learned. who explained that her hus-
band had left for California, where he
would remain until next March.
Felt Obliged to Accept.
While members of the board were
unwilling TO discuss DIR. LearnedS de-
patture. it was said that he had told
some Of his colleagues that he would
be obliged to go to Leland Stanford If
offered the appointment whether the
Justices of the Supreme Court accepted
his resignation or not.
DR.. Frank w. Ballou, superintend-
ent of schools indicated that he knew
DR.. Learned was leaving.
Mrs. William c. McNeill,, member OF
the board. declared she knew nothing
of Dr. Learned's plans and his depart
ure for California was distinct sur
prise to her. She said that the ques-
ton of continuing with its president in
another State for so long period was
one which the School Board it-eh prob
ably should not undertake to decide,
but should seek advice from the Dis
trict Supreme Court justices, who APP
point School Board members.
DR.. Abram Simon admitted he knew
that DR.. Learned was likely to leave
Washington" but insisted he had
nothing to say with regard to the
School Board presidents departure.
Likewise. Henry Gilligan declared he
had nothing to say"
johnson Declines to Comment.
DR.. j. Hayden Johnscsl, one of the
board members who attended the last
meeting. said today he knew DR.. Learned
was leaving yesterday. He declined to
comment on the presidents departure,
however.
DR.. Learned was appointed to the
board on July /. 1917. and resigned De-
cember 81, 1921. He was reappointed
July l, 1925, to succeed julius l. Peyser.
and continued in office with reappoint-
ments in 1923 and 1881. Following the
death of DR.. Charles Francis Carusi.
school board president, last February.
DR.. Learned. who at that time was vice
president of the board, was made acting
president. He served in that capacity
until the reorganization meeting July /
of this year, when he was elected presi-
dent.
At present, Mrs. Philip Sidney Smith
is vice president of the School Board.
II DR.. Learned's connection with the
board IS permanently severed, the board
is confronted with the possibility of its
first woman president. The whole
question will be thrashed out at the
board's next meeting october 7.