Evening star., 1941-12-28
Teachers Objections
To School Vigil Hit
By Defense Official
Young Coils Complaints
Shocking, Unbelievable
And ReprehensibIe'

District teachers who baked at
having to maintain 24-hour watch
at school buildings during the holl-
DAYS were criticized sharply last
night by Commissioner John Rus
sell Young. civilian defense co-ordl-
nator for the Metropolitan Area, as
lacking patriotic spirit.
The protests against the vigil
we're termed by the Commissioner
as shocking, unbelievable and rep
rehensible." Any teacher, he said
who is worthy Of even looking a
the American flag should be no.
only willing, but eager, to give to ouI
/ country end our community thu
utmost which is asked in the name
of defense.
At the same time, DR.. Frank w
Ballou, superintendent OF schools
issued a statement saying he is still
of the opinion that there are
sufficient number of teachers ano
officers available during the holiday
period to provide the necessary per-
sonnel for keeping the telephone
service in the schools open on "a
hour alert basis.
Young Calls 1t Shocking.
"The many public protests which
have come from school teachers be-
cause they have been asked by DR.
Ballou to volunteer a few hours o!
their Christmas vacations to protect
our city is shocking, unbehevaol'
and reprehensible, >" Commlsslone
Young asserted, adding;
Our civilian defense machlner,
works through well-defined units
each under the command Of a com
petent, conscientious. patriotic mai
or woman who is giving his utmoS
for the protection of our countr
and our Metropolitan Area. Genera
orders for the protection OF ou
National Capital area are trans
mitted to these chiefs OF service an
it is not incumbent on these CHIEF
to explain the detailed why an
wherefore of each order, aomonl
ton or request to their subordinate
1T is absolutely shocking to /
confronted by such determined
such a continuous. such an unjust
fed complaint on the part OF
group of persons who are on TT
public pay roll against giving fe
hours of voluntary service for ne
tional defense. I am happy to sa
that the great majority OF OF
teachers have not shown this lac
of co-operation. Some have com
planned that DR.. Ballou's requeS
for volunteer guarding of the school
. has interfered with the nice, Ions
comfortable Christmas vacations ou
school teachers had planned. No'
isn't that too bad? Just think G
it, A school teachers vacation
interrupted by a request to give
few hours of extra service while ou
Nation is at war, attacked by ruth
less, daring, and quite capable enc
mics who wish to destroy our Natio
and wipe off the face of the cart
our American free way of living
The complaints are reprehensiblt
The fact that the teachers disclose
the instructions of DR.. Ballou, de
spite the fact that he asked tina
the instructions be kept confidentla
is nothing short of shocking"
Ballou's Statement.
DR.. Ballou, in his statement, sal
that local wardens and the schoC
wardenS should work cooperative
; in the performance of their funC
tions for the benefit of the CON
; munity. The school wardens ma
appropriately invite members of tt
, parent teacher associations or tt
citizens associations in their reSpet
6 tive areas to assist in the perform
ance of any of the functions a.
i signed to the school warden. TT
! complete utilization of all of IL
{ local resources will be required
. meet successfully the emergenci
which may beset us.
Under the instructions here
issued, it is the duty and the r
sponsibility Of every school wardt
to undertake to utilize the resourc
available for the satisfactory, con
plete and efficient performance
the 24-hour service requested
d, Col. Bolles."