Evening star., 1941-12-24
Public Schools
.AreGuarded on
.24.Hour Basis
Volunteer Teachers
Constitute Large
Portion of Sentries

Washington public schools were
under guard today on 24-hour
basis, with volunteer teachers fur
a large portion of the sem
tries.
The constant guard was requested
by the District ONCE of Civilian De-
fense, which pointed out that the
school buildings had been designated
for various emergency defense pur-
poses.
DR.. Frank W. Ballou, superintend-
ent of schools, asked the teachers to
divide up the patrol on voluntary
basis. School officials said no woman
teacher would be asked to stay in a
schoOlhouse alone at night, but
would be expected to bring her
brother, husband or father.
Numerous complaints against the
24-hour vigil by teachers were re-
ceived by The Star. Callers pro-
tested that this was not function
of teachers and they could not be
and carry on this task in addition.
Keeping Phone Lines Open.
What. some citizens asked, could
a woman teacher do if a schoolhouse
were attacked by saboteurs? This,
they felt, was a job for regular or
volunteer policemen or guards.
A number of teachers went on
duty last night, and many were re-
ported to have volunteered for the
service.
At the Office of Col. Lemuel Bolles,
director of civilian defense. it was
explained that schools were being
used generally for community de-
fense headquarters and had been
designated for emergency casualty
stations. The importance of keep
ing telephone lines open was
stressed.
In only certain instances, 1t was
indicated at the Board OF Education,
will it be necessary for teachers to
stand guard Air raid wardens VIII
be able TO find other volunteers IN
some communities, it was said.
Co-ordinating Jurisdictions.
Commissioner John Russell Young,
civilian defense co-ordlnator, is max
ing an extraordinary effort to bring
about complete cooperation Of pub
lie officials and private citizens in
the various political Jurisdictions Of
the Metropolitan Area, 1t was SAID
4 today
/ More than score of county COM
miSsioners, Mayors of nearby Mary
! land and Virginia cities and other
regional defense workers conferred
Yesterday with Co-ordinator Young
on civilian defense problems OF the
Metropolitan Area. No question of
/ ultimate political jurisdiction was
raised, but attention was directed to
some "quarrels" over prerogatlves III
| a number of communities IN the
| area.
Belief that these issues would be
Strengthened out quickly was voiced
today by Commissioner Young in
view of the fact that the United
States now is at war and faces
problems far more important than
questions of local jurisdiction and
! prestige.
! Must Be Cooperation.
| Commissioner Young emphasized
| that as co-ordinator for the Metro
politan Area he had no desire to in
| fluence decision of local officials as
to selection of defense workers. Sc
lection should be made by the COM
munities themselves, he stressed,
and also pointed out no question
was involved as to the legal author
| ity of the local legal entities. but
| that due to the war there must be
| cooperation Ito do the job"
Meanwhile, a formal statement OF
| instructions for the handling of
school children, if and when an
actual afraid signal is given, was
issued by Col Bolles. on the basis of
data released by Mayor LaGuardia
as United States Civilian Defense
Director.
Air Raid Instructions.
The instructions included the fol-
| lowing:
|. When an air raid warning is
| given: Sound the school fire alarm
in a predetermined manner. Have
each class leave rooms in the same
manner as a routine fire drill. Es-
cort classes to air raid shelters.
Don't permit students TO leave the
building nor return to clasSrooms
until the ''all clear" is given. Don t
send pupils home.
2. Keep children away from VIM
dows, open doors, and move them
to inside halls where practical for
use as air raid refugees.
8. Be certain fire extinguishers
work properly and there are enough
people available for their use in
event of an emergency.
4. Start training now. Select air
raid refugees. Instruct building en-
ployes of proper methods of handling
students in an air raid.
5. Above all, don't rush around
don't worry, but act.
Parents were instructed to re-
main home, not to attempt COM
munication with their children in
school, and to leave the safety OF
their boys and girls in the hands
Of competently trained school au-
thorities.