Evening star., 1952-10-15
'PTA Joins Fray
verChargeby
Board Member
But Business Group
Drops Plan to Ask
For Faulkner Custer

Fof f0uIknef OuSter
The District Congress of Parents
and Teachers today jumped into
the fray started by Board Of
Education Member Robert r.
Faulkner's charges of a social
istic trend" in the schools.
At the same time. another group
the Connecticut Avenue Busi-
|nessmen's Association - ducked
out.
The PTA congress asked it's "a
member associations to consider
seeking a change in the method
of choosing Board of Education
members. The congress also sent
a message to the School Board
challenging Mr.. Faulkner's state
Unconstitutional without naming
him.
The businessmen's association,
meanwhile. decided to drop
suggestion by it's president, Horace
j. Meyers. that it seek Mr.. Faux
ner's custer. The decision was
made after q tWo-man committee
reported last night on an inter-
view with the School Board
member.
Meyers "Not Convinced"
Mr.. Meyers also announced he
would drop a personal campaign
against Mr.. Faulkner-although
he stated he was mot convinced"
about the board members views.
The PTA congress today mailed
QUESTIONABLE to member asso-
Citations in the city's white schools
asking whether the groups favor
changing School Board selection.
The congress asked for replies by
January /.
Board members now are ap-
pointed by the judges of the United
States District Court for the Dis
trict of Columbia. The PTAs were
asked whether they would" prefer
selection by the Commissioners or
popular election.
The organization also asked
whether it should ask Congress
to make the change or, instead.
merely take a stand when the
Commissioners make the move.
Commissioners F. Joseph Dono-
hue and Renah F. Camalier have
announced they favor such step.
Programs Defended.
The message also specifically de-
Tended school lunch programs.
physical education, music and play
programs and libraries. All were
criticized by Mr.. Faulkner in re-
cent statements.
The businessmen dropped the
matter last night after several
members said PTAs, not business
groups, should be the organizations
to act if action was needed.
Samuel Rosenberg. chairman Of
the two-man committee which re-
ported to the Connecticut avenue
businessmen last night. said Mr..
Faulkner denied saying he opposed
school lunches or cafeterias or the
penny milk program.
He did give us very definite
ideas about the present Board Of
Education, and he wanted a lot Of
things changed" said Mr.. Rosen-
berg. He added that the board
member opposed some dancing
classes and wanted gyms used for
regular classes where there is a
classroom shortage.
Would Reclaim Schools.
Leo G. Hessler. the other COM
mittee member. said Mr.. Faulkner
wants to reclaim some of go dis
carded school buildings, now used
for storage and other purposes,
to meet the classroom shortage.
He also quoted Mr.. Faulkner
as denying he called anything
socialistic outright. Instead, said
Mr.. Hessler, the board member
declared that 1T appeared to be
a socialistic stand, If such prac-
ticeS were continued"
Mr.. Hessler didn't specifically
state what practices the board
member had in mind.
Mr.. Meyers, after the report.
declared:
II gather Mr.. Faulkner is not
opposed to cafeterias, physical
education or the like. Naturally.
I am not convinced, because Of
the marked contrast between his
views as previously reported and
the temperate views reported by
our committee"
Accepts Findings.
But he added he had confidence
in Mr.. Hessler and Mr.. Rosenberg.
and he declared:
Il will accept their recommen-
dation and proceed no further"
Mr.. Meyers said he was happy
lin the thought that perhaps this
type of thinking will not find it.
self in the halls of the Board Of
Education"
From here on, I would say only
time can tell us more" he added.
Mr.. Rosenberg observed that
maybe they'll be little more
careful with wild ideas later on"
Mr.. Meyers. as a prostscript.
praised the committee members
for going into the lions mouth"
Mr.. Faulkner, informed of the
outcome, refused to comment.
Campbell and BroyhiII