Evening star., 1937-06-17
TRAFFIC HAZARDS
HELD T00CREAT At
MOST DC. SCHOOLS
Board of Education Will
Make Drive to Secure
Proper Protection.
PRINCIPALS SUGGEST
LIGHTS BE INSTALLED
Van Duzer Indicates Limited
Funds Preclude Much Prog
ress at Present.


ton of a situation whereby more
than half of the District schools are
inadequately protected against traffic
dangers.
According to report prepared by
school officers and submitted to the
board yesterday, l26> schools Of all
classes out of the approximate 200
in the District filed reports through
their principals that they lacked ade-
quate safeguard against traffic acci-
dents. The data will be sent to
Traffic Director Van Duzer.
The principals of the various schools
were asked to suggest what, in their
opinion, would be the best remedy
to the station. A slim plurality IA
vored light installation over the as
signment of police to the danger
spots. Van Duzer. however, indi-
Gated by letter to the last board meet
ing that limited funds preclude much
progress in either way.
The traffic director, meanwhile,
urged every motorist to be more alert
in his driving and to slow down when
he sees children at play either in the
street or on the sidewalk. Parents and
teachers, Van Duzer added, should inn
press on the children the Importance
OF playing safe as well as picking a
safe place to play.
In presenting the report to the
board. DR.. Frank w. Ballou, super
intendent OF schools, pointed out that
it had been compiled for the officials
and not by them. and hence they
were in no position either to approve
or disapprove it.
Would Leave Method to Police.
Altogether there were n requests
for lights, 70 for police officers and
AZ for some sort of sign control.
DR.. Ballou indicated, however, that
he felt the method of traffic control
at the danger spots should be left to
the Traffic Department.
School officers are teachers" within
the meaning of the law exempting
District school teachers from the 26
days leave OF absence and Is days
sick leave allowed other Federal en-
ployes, according to the ruling of the
District auditor, DR.. Ballou told the
members. This will allow the school
officers the three months leave the
teachers now have. The board ac-
cepted the auditors opinion for its
own rules until change, if any. is
made by the controller general
In his letter to DR.. Ballou the audi
tor pointed out that school officers
had been held as teachers" in the
retirement law and in court decisions.
He quoted Representative Ramspeck
OF Georgia as declaring: Il am sure
it was not the intent of Congress to
reduce the privileges of the officers" +"
The marriage clause of the econo-
my act reared its head again as the
board received the resignation of Mrs
E. w. Schwarzmann. a teacher at
the Maury School. The resignation,
DR.. Ballou pointed out, was entirely
voluntary. Mrs. Schwarzmann said
that under the act her husband, en-
ployed in the Navy Department,
would be unable to obtain a perma-
nent civil service rating to retain his
position after June 30, and asked
that her resignation take effect at
that date.
To Continue Experiments.
The group voted the continuance of
five educational experiments during
the next year on the basis of their
popularity and success over the last
year. These include the supervised
study plan at the Deal Junior High,
new report card at the Eliot Junior
High. cumulative record tried at
the Taft Junior High. report cards
in the Adams, Barnard. Cooke, West
Buchanan and Ketcham Schools and
the work of the physical training
teachers in the central area.
The members approved the maya
zine Opportunity for the high school
library list, but Crisis, another peri
odical, was disapproved pending fur
ther investigation. Mrs Mary Nc
Neil, board member, expressed hope
that 1t would soon be restored. Both
publications were under investigation
for alleged racial derogatory remarks.
An order establishing the rate of
pay for a Community Center Bows
Club supervisor from 81 to 81 per
diem and promoting H. C. English
to the position of supervisor was also
approved.
The meeting closed with a note of
sadness as Robert A. Maurer vice
president of the board, called at
tention to the fact that it was the
last meeting for George M. Whitwell
and DR.. J. Hayden johnson, dean of
the board. whose retirements be-
come effective July l.
Maurer, who presided in the alb.
sence Of Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle.
declared he had worked with both
men on the Personnel Committee and
that the committee is never going
to be the same again."
One by one the other members
present spoke words of tribute to
both retiring members, Gratz E. Dun
KUN chasing DR.. Johnson's 2l years
OF service as a contribution unex-
celled in the present generation in
Washington"
A special committee was chosen to
draw up . fitting resolution by the
board to be read at a testimonial
dinner to DR.. johnson to be given
by some civic groups June rs.