Evening star., 1932-04-30
IELECT|VE SCHOOL
| BOARD is APPROVED
AT SENATE HEARING
Civic Groups, Parent Teacher
and Women'S Clubs
IndorSe Plan.
NORTHEAST CITIZENS
SHOW ONLY OPPOSITION
Capper Announces He Will Ask
for Early Action Upon
Testimony.

Election Of the Board of Education
by the people OF the District was urged
by a group of civic organizations,
parent-teacher associations and wom-
ems clubs, and was opposed by the
Northeast Washington. Citizens Asso-
citation, at hearings before the Senate
District Committee yesterday afternoon.
The board members at present are ap-
pointed by the judges of District Su-
preme Court.
Chairman Capper of the Senate
Committee, author of the elective
school board bill, announced he would
ask his colleagues to reach a decision
shortly after the testimony has been
printed and submitted.
Supporters of Bill.
Supporters of the bill we're led by
Mrs. William 7. Bannerman. chairman
of joint committee for election of the
school board, and included the follow
ing speakers:
Harry N. Stull, Federation of Citi-
zens' Associations; w. E. Baker, Ma
tional Congress OF Parents and Teach
ers; Fred S. Walker, Park View Citi-
zenS' Association; Mrs J. N. Saunders,
District OF Columbia Congress of Par
ents and Teachers Mrs. Horace ].
Phelps, District of Columbia Fedora
ton Of Womens Clubs; Herbert S.
Wood, Public School Association; Mrs.
Daniel Murray District OF Columbia
State Federation of CoIored Women's
Clubs; Miss Selma Borchard, Washing
ton Teachers' Union; Mrs l.. j. Smith.
Anacostia Citizens Association. and
William NICK. Clayton, Briphtwood
Citizens Association.
Arguments AGAINST the Hill r,o.. -
sented on behalf of the Northeast AS
Soclatlon by its president, Evan H.
Tucker. Senator Capper announced
receipt OF letters for and against the
Dill from number of other groups. in
cludlng the faculties of several schools.
Mrs. Bannerman said advocates of
the Dill are not criticizing those who
nave been appointed to the board. but
are criticizing a law which prohibits
those who send children to school from
having any voice in the operation of
the school system.
Puts Schools First.
She said the advocates believe the
Nation desires the schools of its .Capital
to be Americanized and that election
OF the school board would be in line
with American principles of govern
ment.
IN response to questions by Chair
man Capper, Mrs. Bannerman said she
Thought there was more sentiment for
election Of the school board than for
national representation for the pepple
OF the District IN Congress and in the
electoral college She said that per-
sonally she has no objection to repre-
sentation in Congress, but contended
that school board elections should be
on a non-partisan basis.
Mr.. Tucker took issue with the state
ment that there is more sentiment for
electing the school board than for ma
tional representation. He said the peo-
pie OF the District have worked for
years to secure national representa-
tion.
we have heard, he said, that else
where small percentage of voters
takes part in school board elections,
and If that happened here it would
initiate against our great end"
Several Of the supporters of the bill,
including Mrs. Bannerman, Mr.. Clay
ton and Mr.. Stun, questioned Mr..
Tucker and disagreed with him.
Sees Breaking of Ice"
Mr.. Clayton said his association has
been for elections for everything, and
feels ''the ice probably could be broken
sooner on school board elections than
on anything else" If the machinery
of election could be set up to choose q
school board. he said, it would be avail
able for use whenever Congress might
wish to test local sentiment on any I'M
portant question
Mr.. Stull said the Federation of Ctti-
zens' Associations at least five times
has indorsed the principle of an elected
school board. In response to ques-
tionS, Mr.. Walker of Park View said
the Central Labor Union also has in
dorsed the principle of electing the
school board
Mrs. Saunders of the Congress Of
the elective school board bill would
be a fitting commemoration of the
George Washington Bicentennial year.
Mr.. Wood said it is difficult to i'm
press on children the validity of the
American principle of selfgovernment
when they do not see it exercised in
the local community.
Approved by Federation.
Mrs. Phelps said the Federation of
Women's Clubs approved the bill with
few dissenting votes in March and that
in the April meeting it was almost
unanimously indorsed
Mrs. Murray of the State Federation
of Colored Womens Clubs suggested
an amendment that would insure con-
tinuation of the present proportion of
three colored members on the school
board The total membership of the
board is nine. She suggested as an
amendment that six members repre-
sent the first to the ninth school divi-
sionS and three represent the tenth TO
the thirteenth divisions.
Mrs. Bannerman said that was the
intent of the plan and expressed con-
f1dence the wording of the bill could
be worked out satisfactorily.