Evening star., 1935-04-04
Vigorous Debate on April II
Demonstration Precedes
Officials Action.
ARRANGING OF ARMY DAY
PARTICIPATION REFUSED
Cadets to Determine for Selves
Whether to March in
Procession.
The Board of Education turned

war and Fascism scheduled for IL
am. April II. and also refused to
arrange for student participation in
Army day observances.
Action on the strike was accom-
panied by vigorous debate and op-
posing contentious that the move
ment was "indoctrination" and "coun-
ter indoctrination."
The vote of disapproval finally
came when Clarence Gurewitz, Sec
retary of the General Strike Com
mittee, stated that he had been in
Structed to make no compromise from
the original plan. This assertion was
in reply to Charles H. Houston, board
member, who suggested that the dem
onstration take the form of school
assemblies where speakers would ex-
plain its purpose.
To stress its disapproval, the board
went on record as especially indorSing
one paragraph of report by Supt.
of Schools Frank w. Ballou, in which
he stated that your officers are of
the opinion that a student strike for
any cause whatsoever is form of
demonstration which should neither
be countenanced nor approved by the
school authorities at any time or for
any purpose"
One Dissenting Vote.
Mr. Houston, who is president of
the Howard University Law School,
registered the only dissenting vote.
He took the position that, although
he, personally, does not oppose all
war, he felt that those who do should
be given an opportunity to express
their views.
Henry l. Quinn. another board men,
ber, said he thought consideration of
any such matter might lead to bit
terneSs and discord."
I'VE don't teach religion in our
schools, although it is vital matter"
he declared.
But we do have military training
in our high schools" Houston re-
sponded, land mere membership in
military organization is calculated
to make q boy less antagonistic to
war"
When Quinn said the proposed
strike constitutes 'indoctrination,
Houston replied that perhaps it was
counter indoctrination." He said he
was not at all sure the schools are
free of indoctrination when they have
bands playing and students marching
around every week."
Indication that the strike move
ment has made little progress among
District public school pupils was in
dicated to the board by two of the
local strike promoters.
One Endorsement.
David Carliner, former Mckinley
High School student, who was refused
entrance to George Washington Uni
versity for his alleged radical activi-
ties, said that only one local high
school organization has Endorsed the
strike during the two weeks of in
tensive operation here by the Strike
Committee.
GureWitz said many organizations
have refused to participate for fear
| of Board of Education disapproval.
According to the plan as disclosed
by Gurewitz and Carliner, the strike
leaders intend to apply for police per-
mits to assemble in front of the va
rious school buildings for an hour,
beginning at II am. April IL. Stu
| dents of 81 nations are expected to
take part simultaneously in the dem
monstration.
| could not hold their demonstration
after school hours.
"Give up the Saturday base ball
game and hold it Saturday morning"
he suggested.
II should think, Mr.. Quinn, you
would be familiar enough with the
student mind to know students will
prefer base ball to thinking" Cure
witz answered.
Decision Against Action.
Informed that Melvin c. Hazen,
president of the Board of Commis-
sioners, had written to the board
stating that it would oe desirable to
have the high school cadets take part
in the Army day parade, the board
decided it could take no action, leav-
ing the matter up to the individual
cadets to participate or not as they
please.
A request from Maj Edwin S. Bet
telheim, jr., prominent in local vet
eran affairs, that the board arrange
for school assemblies Thursday or
Friday. with talks on the significance
of Army day, met with a similar fate.
The board voted to take no action,
but to allow Army day observance to
remain optional with the principals
of the various institutions.
| In move to keep the board better
informed of the progress Of the char
acter education experiment than 1t
has been in the past, Mrs. Philip
Sidney Smith, board member, re-
| quested DR.. Ballou to give the board
a detailed statement, as soon as pos
sible, on the work being done.
She also asked that he render fire.
quent reports in the future, If Con-
gress authorizes the experiments con-
tinuance.
DR.. Ballou replied that he would
be Every happy to prepare such a
statement as expeditiously as pos
sible.
Asserting that the board should fix
a date shortly for a conference with
representatives of citizens associa-
tions on the school estimates fol
1887, Dr.. Ballou suggested that it be
held early in May.
Vigorous Course Needed.
"The situation of greatly increased
enrolment demands that we take as
vigorous q position as possible for ar
increase In teacher personnel as well
as for additional building facilities,
the superintendent declared.
Near the end of the meeting Hous-
ton, who earlier had championed the
anti-war demonstrators, suggested te
the board the desirability of the es.
Establishment this Summer Of o Cdtt.