Evening star., 1940-07-28
D. {. Vocational
Defense Course
Seen Peri|ed
Controller Is Asked
For Decision to
Clear Funds Status

ing courses being conducted in Dis
trict public schools as part of the
Nations preparedness program
hangs on a decision by the Con-
troller General.
The point has come up that the
District may not be eligible, under
strict wording of the law. for
money to defray the expenses of the
courses, which started Tuesday in
two high schools and three voca-
tional schools.
The Board of Education Yesterday
voted to inform the Controller Cen
erals Office that if favorable rul-
ing is not forthcoming, the courses
will be discontinued on Friday.
Twenty teachers would be re-
leased and approximately 500 en-
rollees would have to 60 without the
training.
The United States Office of Edu-
cation has approved an allotment
of Sl8,067 so for the District under
an appropriation of sl50O0,000
voted by Congress to defray ex-
penses of the courses being given
throughout the Nation.
d. c. Is Not Mentioned.
The law states. however. that the
money appropriated is for pay
ment to States, subdivisions thereof.
or other public authorities" The
District of Columbit was not men,
toned specifically
L. J. Cantrell, acting superin-
-. tendent of schools. told the Board
of Education that DR.. j. c. Wright,
assistant Commissioner of Educa-
ton, called him to a conference on
the matter on the day before the
courses were started
Mr.. Cantrell said that the Office
! of Education. in making the allot-
ment for the District. interpreted
. "other public authorities" to include
Washington authorities However,
doubt later arose as to the Districts
eligibility for the money.
The teachers of the courses, Mr..
Cantrell continued. were called to-
eether and informed of the situa-
ton. Although they were given the
privilege of Withdrawing from their
positions If they so desired, in order
to seek other employment, all de-
cided to remain.
Opinion Is Requested.
T. Mr.. Cantrell said that officials of
the Office of Education. confident
that favorable ruling by the con-
troller general would be forthcom-
.ing. addressed on Wednesday a re-
lquest for an opinion. This was not
received and the teachers We're so
Informed of the situation again
on Friday.
The teachers unanimously agreed
to continue the program for an
other week. Mr.. Cantrell said.
'tThese teachers are to be highly
commended for thus responding to
what they considered their patri-
otic duty.
Yesterday the board authorized a
letter from Mrs. Henry Grattan
Doyle president. to R. N. Elliott.
acting controller general. inform
ing him of the necessity for
prompt ruling.
Mrs. Doyle, expressing in her let
ter the boards unanimous belief
that the law should apply to the
District. wrote:
The board is of the opinion that
1t would not be reasonable to con-
tinue teachers in this service in
definitely without a determination
OF their pay status. Some of the
teachers who have accepted posi-
tions under this program have given
up other employment to serve and
all of them, for the time being, have
agreed, as patriotic duty. to con-
tinue serving without assurance of
compensation.
1T goes without saving that the
Board of Education in the great
crisis that confronts us is heartily
In favor of the program contem-
plated under the national defense
training program and would be
1oathe to see any obstruction or re-
tardation of that program. but it
feels under obligation to advise you
tiAoV VIII pAoSi oiil IllGldteu
must needs be discontinued on Au-
gust unless in the meantime some
ruling is rendered to validate it's
continuance in the District of Co.
lumbia'
May Appeal to Congress.
If the controller generals Office
renders an adverse ruling, the Dis
trict's only recourse would be to seek
prompt passage by Congress of
resolution permitting the District
to participate in the program. The
Once of Education offered to aid in
seeking such measure. although it
was felt that passage through the
legislative mill would take consid-
erably longer than the five days re-
naming until Friday. 1t was not
stated whether the Board of Edu-
cation would take the responsibility
If continuing the employment of the
teachers, when the money for their
salaries would not be available In
the event such a resolution failed to
pass.