Evening star., 1950-01-19
Board Blocks
Corning Choice
For Principal
Votes 5 to ; Against
Miss McAuIiffe as
Head of Sousu
By Colt HendIey, Jr.

An impasse was reached today
over who will be the first prin-
cipal of the new Sousa Junior
High School. following rejection
by the Board of Education Of
the candidate recommended by
School Supt. Hobart M. Corning,
At meeting yesterday that
saw bitter words pass between
members. the board voted 5 to 3
against DR.. Corning's candidate,
Miss Eleanor P McAuliffe, now
assistant principal at Paul Junior
High School.
1t was the first time in the
memory of old-time school en-
ployes that a superintendent's
recommendation had been cast
aside. II is regarded as further
evidence of growing rift between
the board and DR.. Corning.
Construction of the Sousa
Junior High Schol is completed
now, and the building is expected
to be occupied by the end of next
month.
The impasse is caused by the
fact that, under the law setting
up the Board of Education, the
school board may approve or dis
approve candidates recommended
by the superintendent, but it may
not initiate action to appoint any
one to a position.
Next Step Weighed.
When asked what he intended
to do. DR.. Corning said he did not
know at the moment. He re-
peated that he considered Miss
McAuliffe had the most to offer"
OF the candidates and said it was
the first time in his 40 years in
public education that such a sit
uation had arisen.
c. Melvin Sharpe, board. prcsi-
dent. declared he wanted it un-
de1stood definitely that the aues-
ton of Miss McAuliffe's qualifics-
tions had not entered into the
argument behind closed doors
when the matter was debated.
The Board of Education holds
personnel committee meetings. at
which appointments are recon-
mended. in closed session. No
board member would give details
OF what the argument was about.
This much is known. There were
eight candidates for the position.
Board members felt DR.. Corning
had not picked the right one.
Miss McAuliffe, DR.. Corning ex-
planned. has an exceptional rec
ord Of service with the schools
since she began teaching here IS
years ago. She is the sister of
Maj. Gen. Anthony c. McAuliffe,
the hero of Bastogne. who told the
Germans, nuts" when they
asked the Americans to surren-
der. She lives at 1878 Columbia
road NV.
Lee Among Directors.
Adelbert w. Lee, chairman of
the Personnel Committee, refused
to recommend her appointment,
but the other two committee mem
bers, John H. Wilson and Mrs.
Philip Sidney Smith, approved
committee report over his protest,
DR.. James A. Cannon was the
other board member supporting
her appointment when the vote
was called in the full board meet
ing.
Voting with Mr.. Lee against
Miss McAuliffe were Mrs. E. C,
Madgeburger, Albert E. Steinem,
DR.. Phillip T. johnson and Mrs.
James w. Williams. Mr.. Sharpe,
who was presiding, did not vote.
DR.. Cannon prevented Mr.. Lee
from making a minority report to
reveal why he did not support DR..
Corning's recommendation, after
heated and repeated objections.
Earlier in the meeting, Mr.. Lee
criticized DR.. Corning for failing"
to keep abreast of legislation af-
fecting the schools. This brought
forth an outburst from DR.. Gam
non, who shouted:
We've got to have a showdown
some day soon on just what the
prerogatives of the superintendent
are. We are continually inter-
ferring with the administrative
duties of the superintendent
The exchange came during dis
cussion of bill, already passed
by the Senate, which would limit
to $1,000 the combined pay an
employe of the Federal or District
Government could receive for
holding two Government posi-
tions. \
DR.. Corning pointed out it would
mean the end of night schools
and summer schools. Regular
daytime teachers hold most of
the teaching positions in both
night and summer schools, he said,
and it would be impossible to get
teachers for the summer and
night classes if they could not
hold both jobs.
In other actions, the board re-
tired the following teachers: Mrs.
Vena M, Spence, 4021 Ninth
street NV, a home economics
teacher at Macfarland Junior
High School, after So years; Miss
Frances E. Hutchinson, 6700 Forty
fifth street, Chevy Chase, Janney
Elementary School, after Al
years; Mrs. Katherine L. Hut
Crimson, 6701 Forty-sixth street,
Chevy Chase, Grant Elementary
School, after 26 years.
Also Mrs. Lottie L. Fahren-
bruch, TIA Takoma avenue, Ia
koma Park, drawing teacher at
Central High School, after 40
years; Mrs. Catherine r. Chris
topher, 1866 Somerset place
NV, a home economics teacher
at Coolidge High School, after 81
x,oo NE,.s yYs1lzA II