Evening star., 1942-12-11
Office Of Education
Aides Praise Schools
Defense Training
D. c. Program Louded
To Trade Board Unit
Despite Criticism

The national defense training
program of the District schools,
severely criticized early this week
by Chairman Randolph of the House
district Committee, was given warm
praise yesterday by two officials of
the ONCE of education who handle
such programs all over the country.
The situation here is not nearly
as bad as reports would Indicate -
declared Edward Ludtke, southern
] regional agent of the war produc-
ton training program of the United
States Office of Education. He is in
charge of ALLEGATION of funds to pro-
grams in almost the entire southern
half Of the United States.
From my own contacts, I haven't
seen anything developed superior to
the pref1ight training course you
have here" said Willis Brown, spe-
cial representative of the office on
the problem of training both civil
Ian and enlisted personnel for air
service, as he discussed the training
program in the regular high schools.
Speak Before Trade Unit.
The two men were asked to speak
before special meeting of the
Aviation Committee of the Board of
Trade, called especially by Col. Will
liam MacCracken to discuss criti-
cism of the national defense train
ing program as it related to aviation
mechanics
Mr.. Randolph gave the national
defense program tongue laShing
last week end and followed on Mon
day with a personal request that it
be speeded up and reorganized.
The main problem of equipment
for the aviation mechanics course
was already being cleared up before
Mr.. Ludtke declared to the group
at the Harrington Hotel. He said
that Lawson J. Cantrell, assistant
superintendent of schools in charge
of the program, submitted a COM
prehensive requisition for new
equipment to the Office of Educa-
ton three weeks ago.
iiioo 40 DSiii6 k1u'AitI VIII oIiS,li NY
Office noW," said Mr. Ludtke, land
If there is any delay it is the fault
of the Office of Education"
Priorities Troublesome.
He contended that even the Army
Is not able to get the training equip
ment it wants. The District is no
different from any other training
center in the country, he continued
in the difficulties it has encountered
with equipment priorities.
Mr.. Ludtke confirmed Mr.. Cam |
trell's announcement of yesterday |
that lengthy period of waiting for
bids and other slow processes in the |
procurement of equipment will be
considerably speeded up after this |
Asked if he agreed with Mr.. Ran
dolph's recommendation that the |
program be removed from the juris- |
diction of the Board of Education, |
Mr.. Ludtke commented:
II feel that the problems are being |
worked out rapidly already and if |
I didn't think SO wouldn't say So" |
Shifting to the problem of lack of
instructors, he remarked, You |
can't just go out and hire workers
away from industrial plants. The
problem Is not peculiar to your pro-
gram here"
Discrepancy between salaries of |
Instructors and similarly skilled in
dustrial workers, suggested as a !
reason for lack of instructors here, |
Is expected to be ironed out at a |
Board Of Education meeting next
Wednesday.
Program Zone of Finest"
Y feel quite encouraged" Mr.. !
Ludtke concluded. Il find officials |
of the public schools here have given
every possible assistance feel sure
that if equipment is available, you
will have an excellent program"
The same problem of instructors
IS plaguing pre-fiight programs in
high schools all over the country, |
declared Mr.. Brown. He said the
program in high schools here had
been worked out in direct relation
to needs here and is one of the
finest in the country"
He suggested that if the Board of
Trade Committee wished to make
definite contribution, that they
arrange for loan of airplane mo-
tors from airlines for aviation
mechanics programs nj the District
schools. Motors, Mr. Brown said.