Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-03-04
CHARACTER WORK
IN SCHOOLS KILLED
Elimination of Funds in
Bill Laid to Link With
Communism.
Communism.

"Inseparable connection" between
the character education experiment
and teaching of communism IN the
public schools was given by Chairman
Blanton of the District Appropriations
Subcommittee as the reason for elimi-
mating the $78,660 character educa-
ton fund from the 1887 appropria-
lions.
THE committee cannot subscribe to
the principle advocated by the super
intendent of schools" Blantons re-
port said. THE subcommittee was
of the unanimous opinion that the
Board of Education should take i'm
mediate steps to eliminate from the
public schools all communistic books
and magazines. We therefore rec
ommend the elimination of all funds
for character education"
At the same time the subcommit-
tee included $353,000 for alterations
and enlargement of Eastern High
School that was not included in the
budget estimates.
Net Increase of S113,027.
The net increase, however, in the
bill over the Budget Bureaus esti-
mates was only S113,O27 The differ
ence was absorbed in a number of
minor cuts for other items, including
$25 900 for fuel, light and power.
A total of Sll,925 was taken from
the administrative Offices. This in
cluded $4,000 salary for Miss BERTHE
Backus, assistant superintendent in
charge of the character education ex-
pertinent.
A sum of $4,000 was cut out for
another assistant superintendent who
had been sought to relieve DR.. Ste
phen E. Kramer, first assistant, of
part of his duties. DR.. Kramer has
direct supervision of the teachers
colleges, senior and junior high
schools, and the vocational schools.
The proposed new superintendent
would have relieved him of the Junior
high and vocational schools.
Roosevelt High School will have to
wait for another assistant principal.
A woman assistant principal has
been employed there since the school
was opened and the other senior high
schools have both woman and man
assistant. A salary of $4,000 was
asked for the purpose, but it was
GisalloWed.
Others Eliminated.
Other personnel employed in char
acter education eliminated by the
Blanton subcommittee are II clerks,
Sl7.460: teachers, librarians, research
assistants and counsellors, $56, 300.
Promotion of two elementary school
principals from teacher-principal to
supervising principalShips, at a total
cost of SIPS, was cut out.
Other items eliminated and the
sums are as follows: Clerks in at
tendance and work permit work, ST.
$40; clerk in finance Office, $l,440;
clerk at Eastern, $l,440; clerk at Nc
Kinley, 81 ,440; teachers to relieve con-
gestion now existing in class rooms.
$36,600 use of funds that would be
available by starting new teachers at
minimum grades, $4,000; reduction
in vacation schools, $4,000; reduction
in night schools, $780, building and
grounds personnel, $3.50; piano for
Armstrong, $1,000; other personnel,
$1,000.
An increase of $4,000 was allowed
for new manual training equipment
at Woodrow Wilson and Anacostia;
additional equipment at Woodrow
Wilson, $4,000; new equipment at
Cardozo, $4,000, and equipment and
repairs at Shaw Junior, $4,000.
Ninety thousand dollars was al
lowed to equip the completed Ana
costa Junior-Senior High School.