Evening star., 1948-01-01
Letters to The Star

Letters tC
Want Progress II Education
- the Editor Of The star:
The members Of the Arlington branch Of the
American Association Of University Women are
deeply concerned about the situation resulting
| from the action Of the incumbent school board
| OF Arlington County. namely, bringing suit
| concerning the legality and validity Of the
| referendum authorizing an elected school board.
| The executive board, authorized by vote OF the
| general membership wishes to make clear the
| stand Of AAUW.
It would seem that the referendum was placed
before the voters Of the county after due notice
| and publicity were given the issue. The vote
returned Is interpreted as the expression Of the
will Of the people. A majority indicated the
desire for an elected school board.
It would appear that the time to question the
| legality or validity Of the referendum is long
past The intervening months between the
decision to have an elected school board, and
the selection OF the members Of that board.
might well have been the time for question.
| To wait until the newly elected board may be
| blocked in its planning for the ensuing year,
| indicates petty politics, rather than true
interest In good public education.
We are interested primarily IN acquiring for
| the children Of Arlington County the finest
| education possible today. We are interested in
| the position OF the Arlington County teachers,
| and chance for them to enjoy pride and
| security In their profession. and pride In the
results shown in the Arlington County school
system This they cannot do In the present
situation. We feel that the future is dependent
upon the quality Of the basic public school
education.
We are not concerned with individuals or
personalities. We feel the prime issue is the
continued progress in education, to be accom-
plished in the manner usually expressed in
democracy-by the choice of the people. This
continued progress, which because Of the rapid
growth OF Arlington County demands prompt
action and long-term planning is an utter Inn
possibility in the present state OF confusion.
Therefore we Fundamentally support the
newly-elected school board.
VIVIAN cADY,
President, Arlington, Va, Branch American
Association of University Women.
Personal Letter from Germany
TO the Editor Of The Star:
The following excerpts are quoted from a
personal letter recently received from Mrs.
Dorothea Greene, . former UNRRA officer
who now is ahiliated with the Preparatory
Commission Of the International Refugee Or
ganization and the Organization for Rehabili-
tation Training. established relief agencies in
Germany:
Once again I am bolstering my courage for
another winter here and for my fourth Christ
mas within the deepening shadows of despair.
Three years ago I was so appalled, by condi-
tions, thought that they could not worsen
Today one gets the feeling that the whole of
this cursed land is emitting only that which is
evil. Everywhere Is corruption, and every
where there is misery. Civilizations moral
code cannot stand up, cannot bear the weight
OF hunger and cold. The morale of both the
DIP and the German is very low Winter is
here Coal and fuel are very scarce, elec-
trtcity is rationed. Three days q week, all over
Germany, there is light for an hour in the
morning and then again at six o'clock in the
evening. Other days 1t Is on and off at odd
hours. With heat, light, food and clothing all
scarce, 1t is hard to make life bearable, to
say nothing about 1t being pleasant.
"This past week visited some of the camps
that I was formerly connected with. I came
away heartsick. The DPS are beginning to
show effects of the cut in rations. Many Of
them are very shabby. Clothing that has
been worn for several years. that has been
made to do for every occasion, and that was
second hand when issued, is now in a sad state.
I met friend Of mine in one OF the camps
He looks wretched. In the past few months
he had lost from Is to 20 pounds. commented
on the fact that he looked Ill. He replied:
The food, Mrs. Greene, it is not so much.
Black Market Booming.
'The black market still hourishes. True,
~s.~ L.
there were before, but they are more valuable
I was offered a new Underwood typewriter,
portable. for 10 cartons of cigarettes, or Gig
arettes and food, or cigarettes and American
dollars: The green ones A scrip dollar is
worth $18 to $40 in marks, and one can buy
almost anything for food-rugs, dishes, glass
ware. pottery. electric fixtures, jewelry, diam
onds, etc. When you realize that all of these
things come out of German homes and not
from current production, you get q clearer
picture Of just how desperate the situation is.
"The hausfrau in my billet does my laundry,
cleans my room each day and presses my suits
and coats. This week paid her one package
OF cigarettes, two patties of peppermint, two
Baby Ruths Il hope that you know Baby
Ruths), two tea balls and 10 marks. She
brought back the 10 marks and said that I
had overpaid her. She asked that, If possible,
I get some soap for the laundry, since she had
none. had forgotten it. gave her two bars
Of cheap yellow SOAP all that the PIX had. She
was so pleased. She said that now had paid
her for three months for whatever laundry I
had. I could not get her to take the 10 marks.
"One night we had trouble with the car and
had to have it towed home about five miles.
, The German who towed it asked for replace
ment of his gas and some cigarettes. No marks.
And so it goes all over Germany. I am told
that pound of fat, any kind, formerly valued
at $50, is now priceless. There is no sugar or
sweets, no coffee, tea, almost no meat, no fruit,
milk, eggs or vegetables. Black bread and
potatoes, turnips and limited amount of cab
hare are fha common