Evening star., 1942-11-09
Voteless Leagues
Study of Schools
Be Reviewed
Leagues Pamphlet
Praised Highly \
In Radio PROGRAM

The voteless District League Of
Women Voters school reform pro-
gram, which involves repeal of exist
ing legislation applying to the school
system and enactment of a. new
basic code limiting control by the
District Commissioners and by
Congress with creation of an au-
tonomous Board of Education, will
sponsor panel discussion on their
reform program at 1915 pm. tomor-
row at the YWCA.
Herbert C. Hunsacker, dean of
Western Reserve University, now
serving as head of operations uf
the Office of War Information, will
review handbook of information
about the District of Columbia puo-
lic schools, just published by the
league. He will later act as moder-
ator for panel discussion by Mrs.
Henry Grattan Doyle, president of
the Board of Education; Senator
Ebert D. Thomas of Utah; Donlad
G, Stone, assistant director in charge
Of administrative management,
Bureau of the Budget, and Dr. Lloyd
E. Blauch, senior specialist in higher
education at the United States
Office of Education. A representa-
tive from the offices of the District
Commissioners will also take part.
The league members believe the
fundamental weaknesses in the
present education system of the
District arise chiefly from the pc
culiar relationships existing between
the Board of Education and Con-
gress and the District Board Of
Commissioners.
Study Took Two Years.
The leagues recommendations are
embodied in pamphlet set up after
two years study by the department
Of Government and education of
the District League. 1t is entitled:
Look at Our Schools-a Handbook
Of Information About the District
Of Columbia Public Schools"
The committee planning this COM
munity project includes Mrs. Rensis
Likert, chairman of the department
of government and education: Mrs.
ROLAND Severy, in charge of the Re-
search Committee. this past year;
Mr.. Walter LAWS, editor of the
pamphlet. and Mrs. Chester Will
liams, vice chairman of the depart
ment Of government and education.
Questions raised by this study
were answered in radio program
over Station WJSV yesterday, spon-
sored as a joint project Of the
League OF Women Voters and the
League of Women Shoppers.
Pamphlet Praised.
Willard E. Givens of the National
Education Association comments on
the pamphlet in these words: "You
are to be congratulated on this brief
statement. 1t points directly at the
tremendous handicap under which
the Board of Education exists,
namely, the cumbersome legal rela-
tionships existing among the Board
of Education, Congress and the Dis
trict Board of Commissioners. ="
According to Miss Constance
Roach of the national staff of the
League of Women Voters, "it is a
handsome piece of printing and a
Workmanlike job of scholarship.
Every citizen Of the District of Co.
lumbia with an interest in the school
system should welcome it as handy
reference"
Lloyd E. Blauch, senior specialist
In higher education. considers Tin
part Il may say also that I hope
the recommendations which you set
forth so well will be enacted into
law. Without any doubt whatever,
they are entirely sound and in
keeping with good American edu-
cational practice"
Voters Responsibility Stressed.
The Board of Directors of the
National League of Women Voters
will meet tomorrow at the Hotel
Washington for week-long discus
sion sessions surveying the 1943 leg
islative picture.
The leagues Better Congress"
campaign will center upon the
theme, Better Constituents Make a
Better Congress" The directors will
devise methods of arousing citizens
to the responsibility of their year.
round role as constituents.