Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-24
A QUIET DAY
BY JOHN McKELWAY

In a lew more years JOIln ~
Koontz. principal of Anacostia
High School. should begin. to
resemble a principal.
BY then the pressures of his
job-the telephone. the thefts
the failures, the meetings, the
reports. the ever-watchful COM
munity-should work little lines
into his face. He might even
start gazing at the window and
worry a great deal about public
education of the masses.
But for the moment. a very
young-looking John Koontz. 40
is bouncing. His is a peculiar
JOB requiring this bounce along
with tact, and patience. and snap
decisions. and the ability to rage
like a wild man at the right
time and at the right person.
Mr.. Koontz is a native of the
District. former teacher of physi-
cal education and social studies
and principal at Anacostia for
the last three years.
+ Starts a Typical Day
i A few days ago he arrived at
Anacostia at his usual time. 7:3o
am. shaved with an electric
razor in his Office and began his
day.
/ He Joined a special breakfast
downstairs in the cafeteria for
members of the Key Club" a
social organization at the school
for boys. Afterwards. he intro
duced - correctly - members OF
the Eastern Kiwanis Club which
sponsors the boys group and by
9:10 was up on the stage of the
auditorium with visiting digni-
taries and addressing what is
probably the most difficult OF
all audiences. 1t was all boys
They can make surprising sounds
if bored for a moment.
I But the assembly came of
without incident. Mr.. Koontz
told the boys about a cleanup
campaign and asked their help
He said boys always leave the
trash around. He added
/ "I've found that when pies are
thrown in the cafeteria boys will
throw them"
+ He actually pleaded with them
to come out for baseball, tennis.
track and golf.
BY GAS am. the assembly was
over. Mr.. Koontz babe goodbye
to the Kiwanis Club members
and a burst of action started
Just by his appearance in his
Office.
The first order Of business was
a mournful looking boy who had
left the principals Office the
day before without permission
Mr.. Koontz asked for explana-
tons in a stern way and getting
nothing much but mumbles
assigned the boy to detention
hall.
Then came cadet officer. APP
parently, he had ridden young
err cadet with colorful language
The younger cadet told hi;
mother. The mother. recently q
widow. told the principal. After
almost yelling at the cadet off,
Ger to watch his language, Mr.
Koontz then called the younger
boy in and sent the officer out
The boy. intelligent with a CHR
on his shoulder, was told to help
his mother through a difficult
period and to straighten up as a
cadet. Out he went.
Mr.. Koontz then called Suit
land High School in Maryland
and asked them to try to keep
their students out of Anacostia
A number of Suitland students
had been spotted in the building
the day before.
"They come by TO look the
girls over" said Mr.. KoontZ.
Wallets and Shirts
The baseball coach was next
with two new baseball gloves
Together. the two men tried to
decide whether the school or
school system should pay for the
equipment, After a number of
telephone calls. Mr.. Koontz sad
ly informed the coach the item
would have to go on their budget
About this time, the principal
was informed that two wallets
had been stolen in the gym
nasium.
And the baseball coach told
Mr.. Koontz he would like to get
out of an afternoon meeting on
tennis. He wanted to practice
baseball.
A suspect came in In connec-
ton with the gymnasium thefts
This was thick boy in a sweat
shirt. He denied taking the