Evening star., 1935-05-16
BOARD DIVIDED
| ON CHILD LABOR
Education Body Postpones
! Action on Liberalization
f. Measure.

oeSirabi OF DlStrlcI cnhu iaooi law
liberalization to permit theatrical
Appearances here, as provided in a
House bill, developed among Board of
Education members at meeting yes
terday.
Unable to agree whether they should
support or oppose the measure, it was
agreed to postpone action to the next
meeting, when interested persons may
be heard.
Characterized by Mrs. Alice c. Shell
don, director of school attendance and
work permits, as "a backward step in
child labor legislation" and strongly
condemned by Superintendent of
Schools Frank w. Ballou, the bill
found stanch support in Henry Gill
ligan, Charles H. Houston and Presi-
dent Hayden johnson, all of the
board. DIR. johnson was absent, but
his views were expressed by Mr.. Gill;
gan.
I'VE have entirely too much
paternalism in the things we are do
ing with other peoples children"
said Mr.. Gilligan. Many people
have suggested to me that it is fool
ish to tell parents what they can and
Clashes With Whitwell.
He clashed sharply with George
Whitwell when the latter suggested
that perusal of the manuscript of q
play would not give true picture of
q plays moral suitability for juvenile
participation since its moral tone
might be Influenced considerably by
the costumes worn.
Haven't you seen children taking
part in junior high school plays wear
tights?" demanded Gilligan. Was
there anything wrong in that? Were
they too scantily clad?"
Not objectionably So" replied
whitwell.
"You must remember these are
modern times" Gilligan continued.
whether what is worn is proper de-
pends to some extent on when and
where it Is worm"
Supporting Whitwells contention
that a plays script does not neces-
sarily reflect its moral character,
Henry I. Quinn said the expression
given to lines may change their mean
ing entirely.
Stage Appearances Banned.
The present law prohibits stage ap-
pearances by children under IA; by
boys under Is and girls under 18 after
z pm and by boys between 16 and
1S after 10 pm.
The House bill. which was intro
duced by Representative Mary Norton
OF New Jersey, would amend the
statute to authorize the Board of
Education to issue permits to chill
dren II it found the production to be
morally suitable and that the child's
health. morals and education were
being properly cared for.
Dr. Ballou, who was not present at
the meeting, stated in letter to the
board that he felt the existing law
conforms with the best accepted prac-
tice, and administration of the pro-
posed regulation would present great
practical difficulties.
Both Gilligan and Houston pointed
out that it lay within the power of
the board under the proposed amend
ment to set as high standards as it
found necessary and grant permits
only when those standards were met.
Whitwell expressed fear the change
might permit exploitation of children,
even by their parents.
Legion Request Tabled.
Another disagreement among men,
bers arose when Quinn proposed that
the Fort Stevens Post of the Ameri-
can Legion be granted permission to
stage an entertainment in the Cen
trail High School auditorium to raise
money to send its drum and bugle
corps to the American Legion Conven-
zion in st. Louis next September
DR.. Stephen E. Kramer. first as
sistant superintendent of schools, OBJ
jected that the board should call a
halt to granting exceptions to its rules
by permitting school buildings to be
used for non-school money-raising
purposes, or else revise its rules.
He said requests for use of the
school buildings for similar purposes
are increasing, and cited an applica-
ton by the Oyster Parent Teacher As
sociation for permission to have the
Junior League present its marionette
show in the school auditorium.
The board took no action on either
matter pending receipt of a recon-
mendation from DIR. Ballou.
The necessity of adequate follow-up
work after medical examination of
school children was emphasized by the
board in approving the report of DIR.
Ballou. presented two weeks ago. ad-
vocating four complete physical tests
OF each public school pupil from kin
dergarten to high school graduation.
Approve Health Work.
Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle, board
vice president, suggested DR.. George
c. Ruhland, District health officer, be
informed the board recommended, in
addition to DR.. Ballou's report, utmost
thoroughness and careful planning
in any system which may be put into
effect and that statistical records be
kept, so as to indicate trends in child
health.
A week from Friday afternoon was
set as the date for a conference with
character education experts, when
future plans will be discussed. Dr.
Ballou reported that character edu-
cation consultants will meet here that
day and the next to work out further
details in q testing program in con-
nection with the character education
experiment.
Reporting that the long-standing