Evening star., 1951-01-18
By Colt HendIey, Jr.

~Sss
The Board Of Education today
apparently was embarked on a
new course of peace and amity-
temporarily, at least-following an
appeal from c. Melvin Sharpe,
board president, for constructive
approach to school problems.
Mr.. Sharpe made his appeal
yesterday at the first board meet
ing of the new year. He also took
the opportunity to call for consid-
Grafton of number of new prof.
ects, one Of which would COM
bine the junior and senior high
schools in the senior high build
ing.
His speech was delivered as the
board opened its meeting in the
Franklin Administrative Building.
It averted an expected showdown
among board members, which has
been building UP because of the
running fight between School
Supt. Hobart M. Corning and
Adelbert w. Lee, board vice presi-
dent.
Board Applauds Speech.
Board members applauded Mr..
Sharpe after his speech. The re-
mainder of the meeting was
marked by laughter. much good
feeling and only one real ex-
cursion into nowhere over whether
certain personnel changes should
come through the Personnel Com
mittee or direct to the Board OF
Education.
DR.. James A. Cannon. one OF
DR.. Corning's main supports and
usually an opponent of Mr.. Lees,
declared after the speech:
Il came here with three reso-
lutions. I was so impressed by
your (Mr. Sharpe's) very fine re-
marks, that, as evidence OF my
wanting to do what you say, I'm
not going to present the resolu-
tons"
Once before DR.. Cannon didn't
present the resolutions. That
was at the boards meeting just
before Christmas. That day.
after listening to students sing
Christmas carols, he said he
would refrain because the Christ
mas spirit had touched him.
Prepared for Showdown.
DR.. Cannon lost that spirit
shortly afterward. when Mr.. Lee
first publicly suggested the board
should consider whether DR..
Corning should be given another
contract. He came to yesterdays
meeting ready for a showdown.
DR.. Cannon did not reveal just
what his latest resolutions would
have called for, but they would
have been in defense of DR.. Corn
ing and would have touched of
anew the controversies that have
been racking the board.
"The Board Of Education has a
duty to perform in the creation
and enforcement of its deter
mined policies and rules, and
delegating such operating activi-
ties through the superintendent
of schools and his administrative
staff" Mr.. Sharpe declared.
Much misunderstanding and
unjust criticism has resulted from
this phase of operation in the
school system. The
line of demarcation as to where
policy begins and ends and ad-
takes over is ap-
parently a point which must be
clarified and determined by the
Board of Education through study
and cooperation between all
parties in interest"
Offers Projects for Study.
After asking board members to
refrain from any personal refer
ences at future meetings and to
conf1ne themselves to discussion
Of issues, Mr.. Sharpe set forth the
projects he said he wants the
board and DR.. Corning to study
n the coming months. They are:
/. Combine the junior high
schools in the city with the high
schools. This would allow all or
some of the 20 Junior high build
ngs to be used for the expected
influx of grade-school children.
The junior high program would be
carried on in the senior high
buildings, as it was in Central
High School before that building
became Cardozo High School. It
night save construction of many
lew schools.
2. Create thirteenth and four
eenth grades in the high schools
n effect, Junior college system.
3. Expand the curriculum of the
wo teachers colleges, Wilson and
Miner, so that students could