Evening star., 1947-05-21

PIA
Cancels Illegal
Council Session
| President Elect Acts
| After Hearing chorge
| By Retiring Leader

By Retiring Leader
A special meeting Of the Arlington
County Council of Parent Teacher
Associations scheduled for Friday
might by President-elect Harry
Clayton Cook has been Cancelled
after q charge that it would be
illegal"
The cancellation was announced
last night by Mr.. Cook within a
few hours after Mrs. Art Brown, re-
tiring council president, declared
the meeting would be illegal and
no business transacted there
may be considered an action by the
county council .
Mr.. Cook, who was elected last
week. but who has not been for
mally installed as head of the co,n-
Gil, declared "the publicity which
has become attendant upon our
group has made an unpleasant sit
uation for both the former presi-
dent and myself"
My purpose In calling meet
ing was to stress definitely the
fact that both the former oficers
of our group as well as those who
were recently elected feel that no
iparent-teacher group has the privi-
lege Of taking any stand on any
political issue whatsoever" Mr..
Cook said.
Cites Only Purpose.
Il would like to take this oppor-
tunity Of stressing the fact that the
only purpose in calling the meeting
was to emphasize the unity Of our
organization in taking this stand
against involving any parent
teacher group in political questions.
Through the publicity ''' the
main purpose of the meeting has
been fulfilled and the meeting Is
Cancelled"
Mrs. Brown, wife of the associate
editor OF Nations Business, maga-
zine of the United States Chamber
of Commerce, said today that can
ceiling the meeting was a very
courteous" thing for Mr.. Cook to do.
She recalled, however, that the
notice sent out by Mr.. Cook stated
that one of the purposes Of the meet
ing would be ito take stand re-
garding political issues upon which
voters > will cast their ballots
on May a."
Mrs. Brown also reiterated that q
council meeting previously sched-
uled for May % to receive deferred
reports and install officers, will be
held.
Issues Involve School Board.
The issues to which MIR. Cooks
notice referred are those which will
come before voters in referendum
Tuesday, when decision will be
made on the method of selecting
school board members and on bond
issues for schools and public works.
Teh PTA Council at its April meet
| ing Endorsed a school bond issue but
took no stand on the other two
items.
Proponents of a change in the
mode Of selecting the school board
and of the school bond issue charge
an attempt was to have been made
lat the meeting called by Mr.. Cook
to put the council on record as op-
posing the bond issue and any
change in the school board selec-
ton method.
The proponents also charge the
slate headed by Mr.. Cook Is pro-
school administration" and, as y.
result, against any change and the
bond. issue.
Political Aspirations Charged.
Meanwhile, the Greater Arlington
Association, organization supporting
the existing appointment method Of
naming the school board, today
charged that the bond issue and a
change is being advocated pri-
marily by aspirants to public office"
Charles O. Pratt, association
president, said these aspirants in
clude Mrs. Florence Cannon and
Mrs. Charles Planck, candidates for
the county board, and Harrison
Mann, candidate for the House Of
Delegates. -
Mr.. Pratt said also that recent
statements by DR.. Oscar r. lie Beau,
president of the Citizens Commit
tee for School improvement, are
"tantamount" to an announcement
of candidacy for the office of SUPER
intendent of schools, now held by
Fletcher Kemp.
"The emphasis DR.. LIE Beau has
recently placed in statements to the
press on his numerous and varied
teaching assignments is tantamount
to announcing his candidacy for ap-
|pointment as superintendent Of
schools should this group succeed in
placing the yoke Of politics on eur
schools" Mr.. Pratt charged.
IS Attend Debate.
Approximately IS persons last
night attended a debate on the
school board question at Claude A.
Swanson Junior High School, spon-
sored by the PTAs of Stonewan
Jackson, Walter Reed and Robert
E. Lee Schools. Speakers advocat-
ing change were Mr.. Mann and
Mrs. John H. Woodworth Of the
Citizens Committee. Advocating
the present system were William p.
Ames and Maj. Jack Pearson, repre-
senting the Greater Arlington group.
The Citizens Committee today
announced an election rally at 8
|p.m. tomorrow at the Swanson
School. Speakers will include DR..
Ivan Booker Of the National Edu-
cation Association, Mrs. Cannon,
Mrs. Chester Jones of the Arling-
ton-Alexandria League Of Women
Voters, Mrs. Ruby Simpson, Arling-
ton Civic Federation president, and
Irwin Schmitt, former Iowa super
intendent OF schools.
The committee also announced
that its weekly program Of Station
WARL has been changed from 1:35
pm. Saturday to 6:45 pm. SUM-
days. The next broadcast will fea-
ture talk by Dr.. Booker, it was
announced.
Everett Corter Named J.
4