Evening star., 1941-12-04

Officer Named
For Schools
BuIIou Defends
Lone Nomination
Of Mockubee

ooilu II. MUChdUCc, Sl, vi lIlc
Army Quartermaster Corps yester-
day was named public schools pro-
curement officer by the Board Of
Education. but not before one men,
ber sharply criticized the method Of
appointment.
Although he did not vote against
the nomination, Dr.. James A.
Cannon told his fellow board men,
bers: Il would rather choose the
appointees than rubber stamp what
the superintendent recommends.
DR.. Cannon complained that
Supt. Frank w. Ballou had pre-
sented only one name for the $4,000
post and limited that the job should
have been given to an in-service ap-
plicant rather than to some one
outside the service where an in
service candidate was available.
Calls for Sway Choice.
He said that hereafter he would
oppose any personnel recommended
ton of the superintendent unless at
least three candidates were pre-
sented to the board by way Of
choice. He added that If, OF two
candidates, the second place candi-
date was an in-service applicant
the second place candidate would
get my vote every time"
Declaring it became his duty to
make a statement. DR.. Ballou told
the board the selection was made
in compliance with the rules Of
the board and the policy Of the
Personnel Committee. He said the
policy of promotion from within the
service applied when the candidates
had equal qualifications otherwise.
In this case. he said. Mr.. Mockabee
was far ahead OF the second place
applicant.
Under the law, he told the mem
bers, it was his responsibility and
his alone 10 make a nomination TO
them.
Il cannot share that responsibility
with the board" he said.
Tells Of Procedure.
The superintendent reviewed the
procedure by which some 18 appli-
cants had been considered and Mr..
Mockabee decided on. He said at
all times he was considering only
the welfare of the school system
and added that he did not believe
selection from within the school
system when an outsider had su-
perior qualifications was in the pub
lie interest.
1t was indicated the question OF
appointment procedures might be
discussed informally later in Person.
mel Committee session. Recently the
board was criticized by the union Of
Operating Engineers for its appoint
ment Of a superintendent of GUS
todians from outside the system
when there were in-service candi-
dates.
Mr.. Mockabee has been on active
duty with the Army Quartermaste
Corps for the last year as executive
officer OF the Standardization branch
OF the supply division. Previously he
was employed for four years in the
Office of the chief electrical inspec-
tor OF the District. He is a master
OF electricity from the Bliss Elec-
trical School in 1885 and took a
bachelor Of laws degree from South
eastern University in 1899. He came
highly recommended by his previous
employers, it was stated.
As procurement officer Mr..
Mockabee will requisition school
supplies. He succeeds A. w. Helm
miller, who recently was promoted
to assistant superintendent in
charge Of the school budget.
Military Salute Retained.
Despite complaints from Ameri-
can Legion and other organiza-
tions on its recent order making the
salute to the flag used by the chill
dren conform to the military salute,
the board refused to reconsider the
issue. DR.. Ballou told the board the
change from the extended arm
salute had been made after COM
plants had come in about that
salute. Declaring that no matter
what the decision every one would
not be satisfied, he said he might be
100 per cent wrong but he did not
see how adoption of the military
salute could be criticized.
Another slight controversy arose
when Mrs. Velma G. Williams, one
of the three colored members OF
the board, declined to recommend
approval Of citizenship contest to
be sponsored by the Daughters of
the American Revolution in the
white schools. Mrs. Williams said
she conscientiously believed that
when a contest was on citizenship
basis, it should be open to the
colored as well as the white high
schools.
John H. Wilson, also a colored
member, recalled instances when
the board had voted unanimously
for projects sponsored by colored
organizations for the colored schools
only and said he was happy" to
recommend the approval of this pro-
posal. The contest is for girls in
the senior high schools.