Evening star., 1944-01-06
Board Of Education
Studies Plan 10 Alter
Nursery School Setup
Decision on Proposal
To Accept Powers
Deferred Two Weeks

Board Of Education members to-
day are studying details of pro-
posed reorganization of the public
nursery school program before &C.
| cepting responsibility for it from
the District Commissioners.
Il want to study the facts Adel-
bert w. Lee, board member, said
in suggesting that action on the
Commissioners transfer of power
to the board be delayed till the
meeting January 10. The Com
missioners acted on recommends
ton of Robert L. Haycock, SUPER
intendent Of schools, and other city
officials last week in asking the
transfer.
Mr.. Haycock explained that cut
ting the number of administrative
positions from five to three and
consolidation Of nursery school
dietetic and medical services with
those of the other branches of the
system was expected to save at least
80 per cent in the administrative
cost. The cost was cited last month
by Henry j. Sullivan, assistant re-
gional director of the Federal Works
Agency, as high"
Miss Pearse Praised.
Mr.. Haycock and Mrs. Henry
Grattan Doyle, president of the
Board of Education, paid tribute to
Miss Dorothy D. Pearse, director of
the day care program under the
Commissioners, for her efforts and
for her "unselflshness of attitude"
regarding the change. Both of them
emphasized, along with Mrs. Henry
P. Chandler, chairman of the
Committee on Services to Children
of Working Mothers, present at the
meeting. that mainly change of
scope" has prompted the proposed
shift OF responsibility and that no
criticism of her work is intended.
Board members took time out of
the administrative business to ex-
press their admiration for and con-
fidence In the work of a fellow
member, John H. Wilson, who re-
ported to them that hts resignation
from the board had been asked of
him in an open letter from the Ma
tional Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People, District
Branch
Mrs. Doyle stressed that the min
utes of board meetings during the
eight years of Mr.. Wilson'S men,
bership were adequate testimony of
his excellence as a member. DR..
Robert A. Maurer, vice president of
the board, also voiced confidence in
Mr.. Wilson.
Follows Disagreement.
The letter came to Mr.. Wilson
after he differed at a board meeting
from the opinion of another mem
ber, Charles H. Fearing. jr., that
colored school personnel should have
been included in recent din
ner held by the Board of Trade
to honor the retiring superintendent
DR.. Frank w. Ballou.
The board yesterday approved
abandonment as soon as possible
OF IL portables still in use at public
schools and asked that the Commits
sioners seek funds from the Federal
Works Agency for replacement OF
the portables with permanent build
ings. Portables there are "dilapi-
dated" leaky and cold, Mr.. Hay
cock said in recommending the
action.
Rule changes held over for action
until January 10 included the pro-
posed dlscontinuance of school au-
thorities' attempts to control high
school fraternities and sororities as
a school responsibility, and dis
continuance of any direct solicita-
ton OF teachersufor flower or gift
funds for individual personnel.
The board changed the boun-
daries OF the Stuart and Eliot Junior
High Schools attendance areas to
relieve overcroWding of Eliot