Evening star., 1935-09-19
BOARD TO AWAIT
TEACHING BREACH
IN D. c. SCHOOLS
Anti Communism Rider to
Be Applied if Case in
Point Arises.
DISPUTE OVER OPINION
REFERRED TO LAWYERS
Legislative Committee to Press
Demand for Public Hearing
on Issue.

pubic SCnOOlS COIIlInlLS some dCt LIldl
may pe considered a violation of the
anti-communism rider to the District
appropriation bill, no action will be
taken by the Board of Education to
enforce the law or to disseminate the
opinion Of the rider recently written
by E. Barrett Prettyman, corporation
counsel
Prettyman differentiated between
the meaning of teaching" and "ad-
vocating" and at least one lawyer
on the board disagreed with the ac-
cepted meaning Of that opinion.
Kings View Cited.
Henry I. Quinn expressed the opin-
ion that Prettyman's Interpretation
has been misunderstood and that the
press had quoted the corporation
counsel's belief as to what the law
should be rather than what he said
the law is.
Quinn quoted Senator King, chair
man of the District Committee, as
saying Prettyman's opinion did not
carry out the intention of Congress.
Authors of the anti-Communism rider,
the Senator was quoted as saying,
intended that the subject should not
be discussed at all.
He also described the chairman as
somewhat disturbed that the corporal
ton counsel had let down the bars so
that Communism, 'as school Of
thought or form Of government"
may be described for school children.
At any rate, the board referred
the entire matter to its Committee
on Legislation-composed entirely of
lawyers: Quinn, Henry Gilligan. act
ing president. and Benjamin L. Cas-
kips-along with q demand from
Roscoe F. Walter, a Government at
torney of 17o6 Summit place, for o
public hearing on the subject.
Denies Refusing Plea.
Walter disagreed almost wholly
with Prettyman's Interpretation Of
the law. and charged in his letter
to the board that Gilligan had op-
posed a public discussion. This was
denied by the acting president of the
board, who explained that he had
asked that the matter be submitted
in writing and pointed out that the
board members are too busy" to dis
cuss such matters at length by tele-
phone.
"He told me, in effect" Gilligan
said, that If we were too busy to
attend to Board of Education affairs
then we should either resign or give
up our private business" George M.
Whitwell, another member, COM
mented facetiously upon the salary"
of a board member. (Members serve
without Compensatory
DR.. J. Hayden johnson suggested
that, since there was a difference in
opinion between lawyers. Walter
should take up the matter directly
with Prettyman.
Robert A. Maurer, a former Dis
trict teacher, suggested that If a
teacher realizes he may be jeopardiz-
ing his salary by questionable dis
cussion of communism "he will drop
the subject like hot potato"
0auOu DCIChuS 1OoSAASASs
DR.. Frank w. Ballou, superintend-
ent, asked for instructions on the
subject,
why should I tell the teachers not
to do something that know they
are not doing?" he asked. ITO pro
hibit the teaching Of any subject will
serve only to make pupils curious
about it."
He explained that in certain civics
classes the forms Of government OF
all countries are discussed and de-
scribed, and quoted Quinn as saying
that it may be bad policy to attempt
to accomplish an end "by ignorance
rather than by knowledge"
It was finally decided to let the
matter rest In the hands Of the law
yer members Of the board, meanwhile
to supply Prettyman with copy of
the letter Of protest from Walter.
Laurie Dell, 4219 Nichols avenue
southeast, who will be among the pu-
pills transferred to Anacostia High
School when 1t is opened November /.
wrote the board suggesting that the
pupils there be put in uniforms or
standardized dress 50 as to prevent
a Child from appearing wealthier
than those more unfortunate"
Up to Student Body.
DR.. Ballou replied that If the pupils
there approve any such regulation
there will be no objection and that
the matter is wholly in the discre-
ton of the student body without in
reference or action on the part of
the board.
The superintendent was authorized
to proceed with arrangements for the
dedication Of the new woodrow Will
son High School In Chevy Chase. No
date has yet been set for the cere-
monies, but DR.. Ballou said 1t may
be possible to have Mrs. Woodrow
Wilson present and have Admr Curry
T. Grayson act as presiding officer at
the dedication.
At the same time, DR.. Ballou re-
ported that the Anacostia High
School probably viii not be ready
for occupancy before November /,
although the opening date las previ-
ously been set for October /. The
addition to Deal Junior High School
likewise will be delayed, he said, and
will probably not be ready until about
October 10.
An addition to the Grimke Elemen-
tary School and the new gymnasium
at Powell Junior High School are
expected to be ready when schools
open September 23, he added.