Evening star., 1942-09-17
Education Board
10 Reconsider
Jackson Closing
Special Meeting Set
For Today After
Parents Protest

For Today After
Parents Protest
In response to pleas by parents
from the Georgetown area, the
Board of Education was scheduled
to hold a special meeting at 2 o'clock
this afternoon to reconsider action
1t took last week to close the Jack
son Elementary School because OF
greatly reduced enrolment.
Charles D. Drayton, a member of
the board, suggested the special
session at a meeting of the board
yesterday after L. M. c. Smith,
father of jackson School pupil,
had appeared to complain that no
notice had been given in time for
the schools Parent Teacher Asso-
citation to protest the closing.
Branding the boards action in
ordering the school closed as "dic-
tatorial, undemocratic and hasty,"
Mr.. Smith declared that enrolment
at the school would increase on
opening day Monday because of
construction OF new homes and
dwelling units in the area during
the summer.
Rewriting Of Course Protested.
The school boards regular meet
ing yesterday was concluded in q
burst Of protests by spokesmen of
anti-alcohol and tobacco groups as
a special committee was appointed
to review the course of instruction
on alcohol and tobacco for the
senior high schools.
The committee, composed of
Health Off1cer George C. Ruhland,
DR.. James A. Cannon, board MEM
Der who proposed the review, and
DR.. Carroll A. Reed, first assistant
superintendent in charge of cur
riculum, is scheduled to meet with
in the next few days. According to
the motion made by DR.. Cannon
and approved by the board, it will
review the course Of instruction and
make "any constructive criticism
the committee considers necessary" !"
In proposing revision Of the alco-
hol and tobacco units in the new
physical education course approved
by the board only last week, DR..
Cannon declared:
This action Is not an Endorsement
OF alcohol and tobacco. I would take
the same action on instruction on
sugar and salt. We should teach
the truth, as scientifically as we
know it, of alcohol and tobacco"
Sees Lack of Information
In studying the proposed instruc-
ton. he said that "as medical
man" he had found lack OF infor-
nation" In the alcohol tobacco
course as drawn up by the teachers
Of the physical education depart
ment. The rest Of the course. on
such subjects as anatomy, physiology
and nutrition, he approved whole
heartedly.
Representatives Of the Anti Cigar
cite Alliance, Inc, of the District,
and the National Civic League stood
up in the back OF the room as soon
as the board had approved appoint
ment of the committee and de-
manded repeatedly, over the voices
Of the board members, to be heard
I'VE do not usually answer ques-
tions," explained Mrs. Henry Graf
tan Doyle, president of the board
I'VE will be glad to hear you, as we
always have, when the matter is ac-
tually up for discussion" She en-
phasized that a motion had been
made only to appoint the commit
tee and not to open a discussion Of
the entire liquor and tobacco Ques-
ton.
Seek Permission to Speak.
Both the organizations will asl
permission to speak before the spe'
cial committee, it was learned aftel
adjournment of the meeting.
instruction showing the harmfu
effects OF these drugs" said DR..
Raymond Schmidt, general super
intendent Of the civic league, II
more needed now than ever"
I'VE can marshal the evidence O
hundreds Of scientific experts" de-
clared DR.. Ellsworth Carpenter, vic,
president of the alliance, who will
prove that DR.. Gannon's statement
ase erroneous, unfounded and de
moralizing to tragic extent, ant
that they serve to promote, though
OF course, unintentionally, addiction
to tobacco and the train of disease
which are inseparably connected
with cigarette and tobacco slavery.
The proposal made to the boarc
last week to close schools during
January was tabled by the Rules
Committee because it was said
serious dislocation" of the schoo
system and relatively unimport-
ant savings" would result. DR.
Cannon, who had offered the plan a.
a means of saving fuel, said he had
received no reaction to it from the
Once of the Petroleum Admins.
traitor.
Other Expenses Cited.
At least $4,000 of the usua
$4,000 January fuel bill woule
have to be spent to protect schoo
equipment, it was explained, and a
least $4,000 of the usual $14,00l
electric light bill also would hav,
to be expended. Problems of ar
ranging salaries, night classes ant
defense meetings also would aris'
from the January closing, it wa
indicated by Acting Superintendent
OF Schools Robert L. Haycock.
The recommendation Of schoo
of1cials to close the Jackson, Mr.
Haycock told the board, was al
economy measure taken on the basi.
of a 120-pupil enrolment last Jun,
IN an eight-room school ofIiciall,
supposed to accommodate 800 pupils.
Adjustments of the school system
to wartime demands ordered by the
board yesterday included approva
for the first time OF enrolment o.
girls in shop courses at the Abbott
and Phelps Vocational Schools; or.
ganization Of a medical-dental as.
ststants' course in the vocationa
schools, and setting up of two ney
dental clinics for students in tn,
Dennison and Chamberlain Voca
| tiOnal Schools