Evening star., 1950-01-24
Two Critics of Board of Education
Discuss Sousa School Appointment

Discuss Sousa School Appointment
To the Editor of The Star:
AS lifelong resident of the city and
stickler for fair play" I wish to voice
my opposition to the unjustifable stand
taken by those members of the Board of
Education against the appointment of Miss
Eleanor P McAuliffe as principal of the
new Sousa Junior High School, who, ac-
cording to the official report, has shown
qualifications glaringly superior to those
OF Messrs. Koontz and Stutz. II "fair play"
Is to exist anywhere it should be found
In large measure among those who have
to do with the education of the youth of
the country. A few salutary reasons why
Miss McAuliffe should be preferred over the
other candidates are:
l. What better proof could be adduced
with respect to a thorough acquaintance
and familiarity with the Southeast sec
ton OF the city-where the new school is
located-than the fact that three of her
brothers graduated from the Eastern High
School and she herself attended that school
for year and a half? Furthermore, Miss
McAuliHe was born in that neighborhood
and in consequence thereof necessarily
possesses working knowledge of the people
VINO reside there-an, attribute which Is
lacking in the competitive candidates
2. The official report setting forth the
shows that Miss McAuliffe possesses a
higher educational standing and a more
extensive association with high school train
ing than the two other contestants for the
appointment.
3. Miss McAuliffe's efficiency ratings,
which should be all-controlling in any edu-
cational contest, are noticeably superior to
her male competitors.
4. The law governing the conduct of Dr.
Corning INN rti ifu fo;
cannot be questioned, vests him alone with
the power to make the appointment of the
principal of the new Sousa Junior High
School
In the circumstances, it is difficult to
perceive how any member of the Board of
Education, conscious of the power of ap-
pointment vested in DR.. Corning could pre-
fer either Of the other candidates over Miss
McAuliffe. Any other selection would be
an obvious injustice to Miss McAuliffe
and contrary to the best interests of the
public school system.
JOHN E. HOOVER.
To the Editor OF The Star:
The present upheaval over the Sousa
prlnclpalShip Is not a fight between the
Board Of Education and Mr.. Corning. It
is an effort by Mr.. Lee and his henchmen
to bypass the Board of Examiners who for
q
fair. discerning and discriminating group,
to give Washington fine corps of teachers
and administrators. In so doing, they have
earned the confidence and support of the
citizeL.
Mr.. Corning in no way attempted to
set. aside or alter the Judgment of the
Board Of Examiners. He passed on to the
Board Of Education the painstaking con-
clusions of the Examiners as to the best
qualified candidate for the principalship
Of Sousa. His part in the affair has been
minor and thoroughly commsndable.
There is only one action for the Board
Of Education to take. They should i'm
mediately reconsider the candidate for
the Sousa principalship. selected as best
qualified by the Board of Examiners. This
will serve to buttress anew our merit system
OF appointment to the public schools, and
to rebuke Mr.. Lee for trying to destroy it,,
SOUTHEASTER