Evening star., 1951-03-01
Corning Silent
On School Board
Election Issue
Legislative Unit Also
Remains Neutral on
Home Rule Provision
By Colt HendIey. Jr.

y
School Supt. Hobart M. Corning
and the Legislative Committee OF
the Board of Education again have
refused to express an opinion on
whether the school board should
be elected by the people under a
home-rule government.
Meeting yesterday, the boards
Legislative Committee adopted re-
ports submitted by DR.. Corning,
commenting on certain aspects of
proposed home-rule legislation
and legislation to provide for an
elected delegate in the House.
DR.. Corning told the board mem
bers:
THE superintendent recon-
mends the board approve and
forward to the Commissioners
the accompanying statement,
which omits any recommendation
on the provision for an elected
school board and on provision
which authorizes the president of
the board to call executive ses-
sions."
This is the same stand the
Board of Education has taken in
previous years when asked to
testify in Congress on home-rule
legislation.
Considered Inappropriate.
C.. Melvin Sharpe, board presi-
dent. explained the reason is that
the board feels it is inappropriate
to comment officially on whether
its members should be elected.
But Mrs. James w. Williams,
board member, declared: I'm
in favor of an elected school
board. I always have been.''
Mrs. E. C. Madgeburger, chair
man of the Legislative Committee,
commented, Il used to be but
I'm not any more"
DR.. Corning'S recommendation
was approved by the Legislative
Committee and will go to the full
Board of Education for action
next Wednesday. Also the board
will receive number of other
recommendations approved by
committees yesterday.
The home rule recommended
tions adopted by the Legislative
Committee call for the tenure of
Office of the superintendent to
remain three years as at present,
not 'for a period no longer than
three years" as proposed in one
bill.
The board committee also re-
5ected proposal that members
OF the Board of Education be paid
$40 for each meeting. Members
now serve without compensation.
Difficulty on Bill.
The board members ran into
difficulties attempting to dispose
of recommendation from DR..
Corning that they disapprove a
bill introduced by Senator John
ston, Democrat, of South Caro-
lima. The bill would make changes
in the present Teachers Leave
Act, including giving the teachers
the right to take leave by hiring
a substitute in addition to their
present sick leave, which does not
require that they pay.
Tnno1 @ af tho T1oI
Grafton of Teachers, some time
ago asked the Board of Education
for a hearing on this matter.
Adelbert w. Lee, board member,
declared that complaints are be-
ing made that requests for hear
ings are not being honored."
1--WE ought not to give them
the opportunity to go on the Hill
and say the superintendent and
the board did not give them a
hearing" he added.
DR.. Corning explained the board
already has taken the stand as
he was recommending. He said
nothing new could be brought out
in another hearing, since all per-
sons concerned had been heard
previously.
DR.. James A. Cannon said, cit
is mistake to approve this if
you're going to hear them. We
should hold up until they are
heard"
Mr.. Lee added, "Tfe committee
shouldn't be in a position of TAX
ing action before a hearing. We
shouldn't deny these people the
right to be heard"
by all means, let's hear them" 4"
Mr.. Sharpe put in.
Decide on Hearing.
After some more debate, the
board members decided they would
hear the teachers union at the
next board meeting and then let
the committee act that day and
report to the board so the mat
ter could be disposed of.
A request from the Washington
Post that it be allowed to sponsor
the interhigh championship foot
ball game in the white high
schools, and from the Times
Herald to sponsor the champion
ship game among the top white
high school football team and the
Catholic school champ, ran into
difficulty.
IT don't feel the Board of Edu-
cation should countenance pro-
cedure that will eliminate all col
ored Schools" Woolsey w. Hall
declared.
Mrs. Williams i'm Accord.
I'm in accord with Mr.. Hall, -
Mrs. Williams said. 'It always
has done something to me to try
to teach democracy on a segre-
gated basis"
I'VE should deprive ourselves of