Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-12

OF Cadets Due
For Breakdown
Corning to Halt
Hostility Among
School Stoffs
By jones 6. Deone

nlgn SCnOOi caQeL membership
by some teachers and principal
is due for a breakdown by thu
District school system.
Two Board Of Education mem.
bers charged yesterday that
cadet enrolment is being ham
pered by administrative laxity
and even open opposition from
some teachers. Supt. Hobart M
Corning admitted one principa
had been spoken to, and tn,
superintendent promised to pro.
duce a new. tighter code of cadet
administrative rules demanded
by the board members.
Walter N. Tobriner and Rober,
r. Faulkner raised the criticism
and they were joined by Rowland
F. Kinks in calling for a crack
down. Mr.. Tobriner made SINH
lar complaints some time ago.
Mr.. Tobriner charged that "ir
some schools the cadet corps
Is neglected. looked down upon
and frowned upon by the student
body"
Deadline on Excuses.
He complained specifically
that one principal had recently
sent letter to non-cadets, stat
ing that. because he was required
to furnish written excuses to bal
ance the number of non-mem-
bers. the students should fur
nish the excuses by a certain
date.
DIR. Corning said this had come
to the attention of school off,
Gals and that 1T has been called
to the attention Of the person
involved"
cit won't happen again." DR.
Corning added.
The superintendent also re-
ported that all principals re-
Gently were informed every boy
henceforth is to be told he must
continue in the corps until anC
unless he is excused. Principals
have been told they cannot inter-
pref the law as allowing boys tt
enlist for a year. he said.
Mr.. Tobriner. some time ago
had complained that some
schools were so interpreting the
law. He pointed out that the
law actually requires all boys tc
be cadets unless a parent sup
plies a request in writing that
the boy be excused.
Threat Of Low Marks.
The accusations about hostil.
teachers came from Mr.. Faux.
ner. He told his colleagues h,
had been informed. that one o.
more teachers had told student.
the cadet corps was taking vi
too much time and had ever
threatened lower marks in ordeI
to discourage membership.
Teachers should not tell boy
the cadet corps is bad" MI
Faulkner asserted.
DR.. Corning said he had no
heard of any such cases, but h,
said they would be dealt will
sternly if they occurred. He sait
officials are working hard t,
correct any abuses.
Wherever any lukewarmnes
has been discovered, officers ant
teachers have been called IL
about It," the superintendent
asserted, although he added:
| Il can't say assistant Supt
Norman j. Nelson's efforts hav,
100 per cent yielded results a
the moment"
Mr.. Kinks said 1t was a simpl,
matter to issue an order to prin.
cipals and complained that "thi!
thing shouldn't drag along"
If it can't be done in 80 days.
he continued, '"I think some
appropriate action can be taken.
Induction a Factor.
DR.. Corning blamed 1.-THE post.
war psychology" and the atti.
tude of students facing Undue.
ton for the corps decline ir
popularity.
Mrs. Frank S. Phillips asked
why boys should be required tt
belong to the corps when M
such activities are required Of
girls. But the corps was de.
Tended by Col. West A. Hamil.
ton, retired Army officer, anC
by DR.. Harold A. Haynes, as
sistant superintendent in. charge
OF the colored schools, who sale
his division was having nc
recruiting problems.
Board President c. Melvin
Sharpe also defended the corps
noting that Representative
league, Democrat, of Texas had
once told of making ex-cadets
sergeants at a wartime Undue
ton center, simply on the basis
OF their cadet training.
Col. Hamilton and DR.. Corning
both pointed out they are former
cadets.
Report Asked.
Following the discussion, Mr.
Tobriner proposed that DR.
Corning supply the board with:
l. A uniform set of rules for
each principal on handling ex-
cuses from membership.
2. His attitude on whether the
board should allow cadets to be
excused from physical TRAINING
"a privilege which was granted
until World War II.
DR.. Corning expressed doubt
about curtailing physical educa-
ton. but promised to report on
h0th Siyhiccfc