Evening star., 1937-06-10
D. c. SCHOOL BOARD
REFUSES PRIORITY
FOR ABSTA|NERS
Proposal to Give Non.Drink-
ing or Smoking Teachers
an Edge Is AssaiIed.
PROPOSAL is BRANDED
"UNNEEDED MEDDLING"
Suggestion Contained in Report
Of $50 of Allied Organizations
Read to Officials.

aCdu u UluCldlS.
Branding the proposal that pref
efence in appointment and promotion
OF District teachers be given those who
do not drink or smoke an unnecessary
! and undesirable meddling in the
I private lives Of teachers and other
employees the Board of Education
yesterday unanimously adopted a re-
port generally approving present in
Structlon in the effects of alcohol and
narcotics as complying with the law.
ne report was the result of an
investigation made by a special COM
mittee OF board members at the re-
/ quest OF the committee of $50 of the
AIhed Organizations and was read
TO the remainder of the board members
by Dr. Robert A, Maurer, vice presl-
| cent OF the board and a member OF
the special committee. The committee
OF 40 had submitted a program Of
| suggestions, one of which proposed
the preferential treatment for ab-
stlnent teachers. The committee, the
report declared, found that the board
| OF examiners inquiries carefully into
the character of candidates and Is
convinced they can be depended on TO
enforce the board rules regarding
conduct becoming a teacher.
instruction Plan Urged.
Inc principal recommendation Of
the special investigating committee
was that the superintendent and his
associates set up a plan of adeouate
ana uniform instruction with
view to coordinating instruction of
/ pupils in all school levels. AS an
example, the suggestion was made that
the effects of alcohol and narcotics be
incorporated in the elementary science
course IN the Junior high schools, in
/ the physical education course in the
senior high schools and in the phvsi-
{ ology and hygiene course, III q
teachers colleges. 1t also was recon-
mended that responsible officers and
teacners be instructed to observe fully
lhe legal requirements regarding such
instruction and that the principals Of
buildings be held responsible for the
observance by the teachers.
DR.. Maurer declared instruction in
the effects of alcohol and narcotics *
oeng given in all the schools and that
no adverse criticism had been received
from the Allied Organization regard
ing the text books used which the
group had been invited to INSPECT.
Inc committee also found that the
Board Of Examiners was enforcing
adequately the section of the law re-
gardlng teacher qualifications in
hygiene and physiology.
Left to Principals.
Regarding a suggestion by the Al
lied Organization that written eyani-
nauon be required of pupils on alco-
hollc and narcotic effects. the report
expressed the opinion that methods
OF instruction may be left to the prin-
clpals. 1t also declared that recon-
menoationS set forth and existing
board rules provide ample safeguard
Tor law enforcement without recurring
detailed reports from each teacher.
DR.. Maurer further declared that
school officers can be expected by the
board to enforce rules prohibiting the
use OF liquor and tobacco by students
or employees on school property. Other
members of the special committee we're
Mrs. Philip Sydney Smith and Mrs.
Mary A. Mcneil.
The board was unable to adopt a
policy regarding the admission of non
resident pupils because the Court of
Appeals has not yet handed down
decision in the Kemp case. DR.. Frank
w. Ballou, superintendent of schools.
announced that 1913 such students had
been admitted during the past wear.
DR.. Ballou announced that 80 more
Summer school teachers were needed
in the white schools and IS more in
the colored schools. The examinations
for these posts will be conducted un-
der the revised standard set up BY
the board at its last meeting, at which
it was decided the age limit of 45
should be abolished and previous Sum-
ner or evening school teaching expe-
rlence should be credited to the applt-
cant.
Johnson to Give Degrees.
Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle proposed
that DR.. j. Hayden Johnson, retiring
from the board July after 81 years
service, should confer the degrees at
Miner Teacher College commencement.
The motion was unanimously adopted.
In revising the rules of the board,
the members are anXiously awaiting
a ruling by the District auditor re-
garding leave of absence for school
officers. The civil service rule which
allows 26 days absence and Is days
sick leave definitely excludes teachers
in the District school system, DR.. Bal
lou said, and an effort is being made
TO bring the school officers under the
word teachers" Principals have been
held as teachers" in previous court
cases. he said.
The board accepted the offer Of
Mrs. Avery Coonley of 35O1 Newark
street of $1,000 toward resurfacing the
Macomb street children's playground.
Work, it was indicated, will be started
at once. The bequest of the late Brig.
Gen. William E. Horton, the income
of which is to be used for a prize to
the cadet captain at Central High
School with the best record as a SOL
dier while member of the cadets
at that school, also was acknowledged
and turned over to the lawyer men,