Evening star., 1933-04-07
600 PROTEST DISTRICT CUTS,
WHILE LACKING CONGRESS VOICE
Teachers. Parents and Civic Leaders at
Meeting in Roosevelt High School
Deplore Tyranny Of Situation.

thorized him to inform the mass meet
ing that neither he nor any member
of the school board was consulted on
the arbitrary cuts.
Mr.. Sullivan was the next speaker
He declared that "this Is really and
truly a crisis in the affairs Of the Dis
trict of Columbia and there is no use
in mincing words" Mr.. Sullivan In
troduced the question Of national rep
resentation for the District to the
meeting. He deplored the absence OF
q voice in Congress for the District
taxpayers and contended that under
trict of Columbia have a right to de-
mand that member Of Congress con-
slider the responsibility Of looking out
for the District needs as his own per-
sonal problem.
IF taxation without representation
was tyranny in other years." Mr.. Sui
Ivan declared, 1T is no less tyranny
now"
Miss Mary c. Dent, president Of the
District Teachers Union, was the next
speaker. Miss Dent addressed herself
to the immediate results Of budget re-
duction, pledging the efficiency Of the
teachers Of the system in spite Of any
lower pay that might become their lot
The Teachers Union, she asserted,
will not stand by and see any depart
ment Of the school system done away
with. She pointed out the irony of re-
duced pay coming concurrently with
the raising Of the eligibility require
ments Of the teachers for their posi-
tions. Beginning July /, she said, ele-
mentary school teachers will be re-
quired to have bachelor of arts de-
grees and high school teachers will have
to have a masters degree.
Pleads for School Gardens.
Herbert S. Woods, speaking for the
Joint Committee for the Election Of
the School Board of the District of Co.
lumbia, pleaded for restoration of the
school gardens item as 1t was prior
to the reduction. School gardens, he
said, afford children an opportunity
to receive character education and to
transport the theory Of the classroom
to the practically Of the out-of doors.
Mrs. Harvey W. Wiley, president Of
the District Federation of Womens s
Clubs, spoke particularly about the
deduction of $4,000 in the personal
service item will necessitate the clos
ing of three branch libraries. These
branches she named as the Chevy
Chase, the Woodbridge and the Tenley-
town, each located, she explained, four
miles from the central library and
with combined circulation Of 225,000
volumes.
Continuing, Mrs. Wiley declared that
the item of $54, 500 for books and pc
riodicals was cut to $4,000 'at o time
when the demands far outstrip the
supply and when $4,000 volumes wear
out annually by USE" With many of
the libraries in serious condition
from disrepair, she said that the main-
tenance item was reduced from $29,-
$40 to $4,000.
Pledging the Federation of Women's
Clubs to deprecate cuts in library
service, Mrs. Wiley scored the lump
sum contribution Of Congress, assert
ing that the term lump" sum is "too
dignified" and suggested that the Fed
eral contribution to District expenses
be called the "speck sum-"
H. c. Phillips, member Of the ad-
ter department Of the schools, next
spoke on behalf Of restored funds for
those activities. He presented a
lengthy description Of the services af-
forded by the community centers OF
which, he said, there are 18 separate
| establishments in that number oi
school buildings.
Sees Shorter Year.
The effects of the budget cuts, Mr.
Phillips said he guessed" would force
the shortening Of the community cen.
ter activities year by at least one month
the elimination of the swimming pool
at Central and Mckinley High Schools