Evening star., 1944-06-08
Maj. Smith
Is Relieved Of
Teaching Duties
Physical Instructors
Work Unsatisfactory,
School Board Finds

The Board of Education has re-
assigned Mai. Allan c. Smith, physi-
cal education instructor, to non
teaching duties for the duration of
his temporary appointment, expir-
ing June 80, because officials re-
ported his services in the classroom
''ilave not been satisfactory"
The action was taken at the board
meeting yesterday on recommended
ton of DR.. Chester w. Holmes, as
sistant superintendent, who declared
he has been getting reports from
high school principals since May II
ION the quality of work" of Maj.
Smith. When asked whether Maj.
Smith would be reappointed in the
fall, Robert L. Haycock, superin-
tendent of schools. replied,
"We have not discussed it."
Bar Changes in Corps.
The board also passed a detailed
resolution forbidding any change at
present in the 60-year traditions of
the corps and providing future
change only by majority vote of the
board.
The present directors of the white
and colored cadet corps, 1t. Col.
Wallace M. Craigie and 1t. Col.
Harry o. Atwood, we're commended
for developing a high state of
proficiency in drill, morale and
discipline"
The recommendation of DR..
Holmes, adopted by the Personnel
Committee and voted unanimously
by full board membership, declared:
Maj. Smiths teaching techniques
cannot be considered in keeping
with approved pedagogical practices
for public schools of the District" !"
No "Class Activity"
j. Dallas Shirley, head of the
physical education department, was
ordered to confer with DR.. Holmes
to decide the nature of Maj. Smiths
next assignment. The duty will
not involve any class activity what
ever" and will be under the "active
direction" of Mr.. Shirley.
Mai. Smith, Army Reserve officer
on inactive status, has been teaching
his special physical education tech
niques since March at 10 selected
junior and senior high schools. He
was temporarily removed from class
activity Monday by DR.. Holmes,
after a conference with Mr.. Hay
cock, to await consideration of
principals reports by the Personnel
Committee.
Two uniformed cadets, 1t. Col.
James Minnicks of Western High
School. and Pvt. David Ellis of Gen.
trail High SCHOOL, were sitting with
other spectators in the back of the
boardroon when members discussed
the corps. Asked by G. Melvin
Sharpe and DR.. James A. Cannon to
speak, Col. Minnicks stepped for
ward aied declared:
"I personally would hate to see any
revision"
Members Applaud Cadets
The members asked the officer to
enumerate each drill victory symbol
lied by several bars and buttons on
his tunic. Pvt. Ellis then declared:
I'm the corps have found inter-
esting things to do, when otherwise
I might have been doing-I don't
know what" +
Members applauded the cadets
and after the meeting crowded
around them to shake hands. John
H. Wilson, member, revealing he
had been winning company cap
tain years ago, declared:
II am satisfied with the corps"
The Veterans Rehabilitation Ad-
ministration should be asked to rec
ommend returned veterans to serve
as full-time cadet instructors, DR.
Maurer suggested during the dis
cussion. He said trained Army in
structors had been effective when he
was principal at Central, but stipu-
lated that they be young enough"
to understand the cadets. DIR. Gan
non added that tests must be ap-
piled to insure such officers be "tem-
permentally fit" to teach.
Proper Balance"
Besides emphasizing mo change"
at present in drills, uniforms, med
ais or training, the cadet policy stip-
ulated that the compulsory physical
education courses and the voluntary
cadet training be kept "in proper
balance" Principals are still en-
titled to excuse cadets from exercise
classes during the heaviest drill
periods. it was explained.
The board also decided to turn the
Patterson School, to be abandoned
in the fall for larger structure,
over to the Commissioners instead
of hiring an extra set of teachers to
maintain it specifically for the chill
dren on the Bellevue Naval Reser-
vation. Capt. Ira Griffin, u. S. N,
of the public works department of
the Navy Department, had asked
that the building be moved several
blocks to the reservation and opened
again by school personnel.