Evening star., 1942-10-22
Schools 10 Give
Pre-Induction
Courses
Board Acts to Fit
Young SeIectees in
Special SkiIIs

approval of lowering of the draft
age to 18, the Board of Education
yesterday asked its school officials
to include induction courses IN
electricity, radio, machines and au-
tomotive mechanics in all senior
high schools so that youths may be
partially trained before being called
for service.
The instruction will be inserted in
the curriculum as parts of existing
physics or mechanical courses prob
ably by December /, according to
DR.. Chester w. Holmes, first assist
ant superintendent in charge of high
schools. He stressed that the courses
be given at the request of the War
Department to meet its needs for
trained youths of 18 and 10.
In a second move in anticipation
OF lowering of the draft age. the
board asked school officials to
choose buildings and personnel for
registration of about 1000 boys who
have turned 18 since registration
last spring or who are entirely new
to the Washington school system.
Star Tournament Approved.
The board also authorized. The
Evening Stars annual Metropolitan
Washington Tournament for the
champion basketball teams in divi-
sions one to nine of the senior high
schools.
Supt of Schools Frank w, Ballou
praised The Stars tournament di-
rector, Rod Thomas, for his efforts
so early" in the year to arrange
for the tournament to be held Just
before the close of the high school
basketball season March /. Last
year permission to hold the tourna-
ment was denied because no time
could be found for it within the
school basketball season.
Emphasizing that the tournament
will now be a regular part of the
school basketball program "as the
school officials have always wished
1t to be- instead of a "post-season"
activity, DR.. Ballou declared, Il Join
with the high school principals in
heartily recommending that the
board approve the tournament"
The board stipulated that Wood
row Wilson High School, high-rank-
! ing basketball team last year, be
permitted to compete in the tour
nament this year IF it stands at all
nigh IN the scores at the end of the
season. On the other hand. DR..
Ballou explained. if Woodrow Will
son Is not near the top it will with
draw from the contest in favor of
the team second to the winners.
More Medical Inspectors.
Carrying out the plans for med
ical examinations of all senior high
school students as part of the ex-
panded physical fitness program,
DR.. Ballou announced to the board
that flVe additional medical in
spectors had been assigned to the
schools by DR.. Joseph A. Murphy.
chief OF the high school medical
inspection division of the District
Public Health Office.
The board delayed action on ap-
proval OF the course of study in vo-
cational agriculture, which has AL
ready been set up in Phelps Voca-
tlonal School, to give members 2.
chance to read through the course.
After the meeting DR.. Holmes added
that such a course might in the fu-
ture be set up at Anacostia Senior
High School, as we'll as at the Cham
berlain and Abbot Vocational
Schools.
In the place of DR.. Charles E,
Blsh, assistant principal of Roose-
velt High School, who has reported
Tor military duty, the board an
pointed William w. Rogers, teacher
at Roosevelt, as assistant principal.
The hours of Cardozo High School
were heightened by the board to
handle increased pupil enrollments,
They were changed to 9:l5 am. to
$40 pm.
Priorities Affect Course.
Although pre-induction courses
In radio and electricity can be-
inserted in the curriculum of all the
nigh schools, according to DR.,
Holmes. instruction in machines can
probably be offered only at Nc
Klnley and Central and in auto
motive mechanics at Mckinley and
Abbott.
The other schools, he explained.
have no such equipment at present
and no chance of getting priority to
buy such equipment. The electricity
and radio courses, however, he said.
can be given without use of ma
chinery.
The courses will be voluntary"
DR.. Ballou said, with DR.. Holmes
adding that the problem of making
them compulsory may be studied
later. AS the plan stands now. each
high school boy will elect one of
these pre-induction courses. If the
courses have not been inserted in
the curriculum by December, DR..
Holmes added, they undoubtedly
will be by the beginning of the
second semester in February.