Evening star., 1951-04-04

Imentary School PTA last night on
the text book question.
Wants Full Inquiry.
IT believe it is time to make a
fun inquiry into just what books
and methods. Of teaching are being
employed in the District schools, "
!hef declared.
DR.. Miller said the Board of
Education and D.. Corning are
legally and morally charged with
the responsibility for education in
the District"
They should allow no subver-
sive idealogies in the schools" he
added.
At meetings of the Board of
Education Committee yesterday
preparatory to today's meeting of
the full board, members laid the
groundwork for another contro-
versy that may be overshadowed
by the pending textbook fight.
1t was revealed that c. Melvin
Sharpe, board president. refused
to grant group of Cardozo High
ISchcool parents the right to ap-
pear before the board concerning
the still lingering Pearl Buck in
Icident.
Miss Buck, noted writer. was
banned from speaking at the COM
Imencement exercise at Cardozo by
DR.. Corningn because the Cardozo
officials had failed to clear her
name with him. In addition, her
name appeared in the files of the
House Un-American Activities
Committee and, under the policy
existing, she could not speak in a
school no matter how innocent the
reference in the committee file.
Rule Since Changed.
The rule since has been changed
to allow top school officials to
evaluate such file references of
prospective speakers.
However, the Cardozo principal
and assistant principal were rep
rimanded for failing to clear Miss
Bucks name as the rule required.
Then the assistant principal and
some other faculty members wrote
a letter to the Board of Education
protesting Miss Bucks ban. They
were reprimanded by DR.. Corning
for, among other things, not going
through channels.
A group of Cardozo parents. in
censed over this criticism of the
Cardozo faculty, jumped to their
defense and asked the Board of
Education for the right to appear
The letter, sent to Charles N.
Green, 342 M Place S.W., chair
man of the parent group, was
written by Mrs. Elise z. Watkins,
board secretary, at Mr.. Sharpe's S
direction. 1t said:
"Mr. Sharpe, to whom you,
letter was addressed, has directed
me to advise you, since there is
nothing before the board at this
time on this subject, he is not
granting your request to be
heard"
In the past, the board always
has granted 5 minutes to person.
wanting to speak before it on an,
subject, If the request was ir
writing and filed at least "a hour.
in advance.
On Today's Agenda.
| The agenda for today's meeting
carries one item as follows:
Report on communication from
four members of faculty and one
OF the assistant principals at Car
dozo for the Commencement
Committee and other faculty
members of Cardozo High, ex-
pressing their position in regard
to banning of Pearl Buck as their
midyear commencement speaker" "
At the last board meeting. DR.
Corning wanted to drop the whole
subject and handle it administra-
lively, but board members insisted
he bring in a report on the matter
including the disciplinary action
taken.
In explaining his refusal to hear
the group, Mr.. Sharpe said he
did not think anything was before
the board on the subject until
DR.. Corning had presented his
report. The board has discussed
the matter at each meeting since
the incident occurred, however.
Mr.. Sharpe said he was denying
| the group the right to appear "at