Evening star., 1937-06-03
POLICY" ADOPTED
BY SCHOOL BOARD
Education Held Essential
Purpose as "Rad Rider"
Is Buried.

Politically killed last week, the red
rider" was officially buried by the
Board of Education yesterday,
The board adopted declaration
OF educational policy submitted by
Dr. Robert A Maurer, vice president
of the board, in bidding final fare
we'll to the troublesome piece of leg
islation which forbade teaching or ad-
vocacy of communism in the District
schools.
In introducing the statement, which
Is largely restatement of the feel
ings of board members from the
very beginning of the controversy
two years ago DR.. Maurer declared
himself confident also that he was
expressing the prevailing sentiment
among teachers in the school system.
With some slight language amend
ment, the declaration was adopted
by the members as follows:
The essential outstanding purpose
OF an American public school system
is the education of our youth for in
telllgent and loyal citizenship.
American Institutions.
This end can in large measure be
achieved through the comparative
study of all forms of government,
the history of other nations, and
especially-and most Importantly
thorough study and understanding of
our own history and of our ideals
of democratic government under
constitution. The courses of study
In the District of Columbia public
schools, with their ample provisions
for such study and understanding,
promote faith in, loyalty to and ap-
probation of American institutions
and the American principle of gov
ernment.
Under such a program OF instruc-
tlon the satisfactory character Of
teaching depends to a great extent
upon the result 1t achieves in patriotic
citizenship. Without such result teach
ing Is unsatisfactory
Under such a program of instruc-
ton there can be no place for teach
ing which has the purpose or effect,
directly or indirectly, of matchmaking
pupils with any philosophy of gov
eminent, BY whatever name called
antagoniStiC to that Of the United
States. This board has not heretofore
countenanced, ard will not hereafter
countenance, such subversive indoc-
trination in the public schools of the
District of Columbia.
The foregoing constitutes declara-
tion of educational policy"
Sixteen Summer schools in d.
visions l to 9 ard II in divisions 10
to l3 were approved by the board to
open July l. The Summer sessions
will be held at Central, Macfarland,
Stuart, Blair, Brown, Buchanan, Bur-
roughs, Curtis. Emery, Fairbrother,
Force, Park View, Pierce, Wallach,
West and Webster for the white stu
dents and at Dunbar, Garnet-Pat-
terson, Bell, Burrville, Cook, Garri-
son, Giddings, Lovejoy. Mott, Phillips
and Summer schools for the colored
students
Two Changes Approved.
The board also approved two
changes in the requirements for Sum-
mer school teachers outlined under
the superintendent recently adopted
plan. 1t was decided that the specified
age limit of As years should not ap-
ply where candidate has had pre-
v1ous Summer school teaching ex-
perience and meets all other require
ments. Previous Summer school teach
Ing experience also will count for the
applicant. These changes, however,
were declared not to be retroactive to
apply to recently completed tests.
The Health Department was au-
thorlzed to use single room in the
PetWorth, Burroughs and Giddings
Schools IN connection with the work
of the Bureau of Maternal and Child
Welfare in conducting infant and pre-
school health conferences.
The board also authorized DR.. Frank
W. Ballou to place a new rating sheet
before the rating officers at once and
propose It's adoption on a trial basis
at the end of this school year.
The contract for cadet uniforms was
again awarded to the Sigmund Eisner
Co. of Red Bank N. j., as the lowest
bidder. The previous contract was
terminated because of an indicated
rise in price and bids were thrown
open. The New Jersey firm was again
the low bidder
Henry w. Draper, supervising prin-
eipal of division /; Annie G. Trenis,
teacher of health education and phys
ical training at Western, and Miss
Bernadette L, Dore, principal of the
Barnard School, were granted ap-
proval to represent the District public
schools at the World Conference of
Educational Associations at Toxic,
Japan, in August.
The board also requested the school
officials to follow the previous policy in
making up the 1899 budget to be in
huenced by the needs of the schools
and not simply by economy.