The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-12-02

q
 ped by lack of equipment, and lack of an organized program.
 The report went on to describe conditions in some of the schools' gymnasiumS, asserting that posts and walls in many cases were come pleteiy exposed, 90 that children ran the risk of accidents while playing there, Individual teachers now carry their own equipment from one school to another, and in some schools funds to purchase baseballs and basketballs must Do raised by food and cake sales, while there should be 6 definite appropriation for this purpose, the report stated.
 Commissioner Parkinson and Commissioner Helen Hitchcock, who drew lip this majority report of the committee, recommended in addi. ton to appointment of Q qualified director, the inclusion of on item of &2,000 in the i042 budget for equip. ment for the expanded program, and the transfer Of baseball and basketball instruction from the park department to the department Of physical education.
 Commissioner Raymond Stone submitted c minority report assert. ing that the other members Of the committee were exceeding their powers, diSpu;lng some Of the alle- gations about present conditions, and favoring leaving the matter to the superintendent.
 Conditions DepIOFAbIe
 rn the discussion on the majority report, Commissioner John J. Rear. aey saId that the deplorable physical condition of many of the men exam. ined nationally under the selective service system had led the federal government to. set up national d. rector of physical education, and that 1t was tip to the schools to FeIn' edy this physical condition.
 Commissioner Thomas P, Ashton reported for the teachers' committee, recommending that the appoint. ment Of c director be left to pr. Condon. The Republican members pressed MT. Ashton for Q state. lnent that his committee favored the appointment of such c director, and he then made such Q statement.
 After c third reading of Q report of the activities committee subnlit- ted two months ago, urging the i'm" mediate appointment Of director, q stormy discussion arose over the qualifications of the man to be appointed, the Republican members demanding that the director must be especially trained in physical edu- cation work, and the majority of the board insisting that as his uu. ties were only supervisory, this would not be necessary.
 Plumber In Charge?
 Commissioner Hitchcock inquired whether they were going to put Q plumber in charge of the program and was told by ComnllssioneE Stone that the board could do SO If t chose. Commissioner Kearney said such aTl appointment would prevent the success Of the pro- gram. and said the appointee Rhouid be 8 certified graduate Of Q school of physical education.
 Personally" said President Ash- ton, T don't agree with you"
 T didn't expect you would, Tom" ," Commissioner Kearney retorted.
 President Ashton said he thought the appointment of fuli'tine di- rector could wait for some time, and the Republicans replied that he was needed now as never before. Don't always be waiting for the WPA", Commissioner Kearney told PreSi. dent Ashton, when the latter said the federal government might take some action. Commissioner Hitch- cock added that she would be ashamed to have the federal gov- ernment have to step in.
 Commissioner PerkinGon expressed the opinion that e physical educa- ton director today has to know more than the mere rudiments Of the subject, and that for the wel- fare of the children and thus for the city, fulitirne appoirtee should be named.
 Asked to designate his choice for the job, Superintendent Condon stated it as his opinion that phySi- cal education needed no more su- pervision than any other course of study offered in the schools, by any teachers. The I6 local physical education teachers are expertly trained, he said, and need only 0 definite course of study.
 c. o. P. Protest
 Dr. Condon said he will ask Dr. Gilmarin to take on this duty, in addition to his present tasks. The Republican members objected that If the teachers have to be certified, the supervisor of the entire pro- gram should be even more capable, ] and inquired how the assista1It