The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1913-11-06
Capitalist Paper
A FEW GLEANINGS OF FACT
FROM A MAZE OF
HYSTERIA.
UNBIASED HISTORY OF SCHOOL
CONTROVERSY.

We had supposed at the inception of
the agitation aroused in this commune
| ity over the employment of j. E. Sin
clair as a teacher in our schools, that
the principal, if not the sole object,
was to keep politics out of the schools.
This paper objected to his employ
ment on that ground and for that rea-
son, stating at the time that the so
cialists have a right to teach and
should not be singled out from other
teachers so long as they keep their
propaganda out of the school room"
The objection made against Sinclair
was based on the fact that he had in
newspaper article expressed two
sentiments opposed to the divorcing of
politics from the school, these senti-
ments being that Socialist school
boards should employ Socialist teach
ers only and that teachers were want
ed who were in the profession as a
part of the party propaganda. Herein
was the foundation of the whole mat
ter. The Times, along with various
citizens strongly objected to these
sentiments as being incompatible with
a public school system. At the time
when these objections were voiced, the
board had not, publicly, at least, ex-
pressed its attitude as to these princi-
pies.
Board Repudiates Objectionable Senti-
ments.
After the agitation had progressed
for two or three weeks, the school
board called an open meeting for the
consideration OF the matters at issue.
At this meeting both Mr.. Morris and
Mr.. Grimm, the Socialist members of
the board, publicly disavowed the doc
trine of teaching Socialism in the
schools, and further promised positive
ly that if the teacher complained of
should attempt such teaching or should
depart from the specified course of
study he would be Immediately dis
missed. At that meeting the only
action taken by the large gathering of
patrons present was to pass a resolu-
ton calling for the divorcing of poll
tics and religion from the public
schools, and favoring the teaching of
patriotism in the schools. The mem
bers of the board expressed approval
of this resolution. In the issue fol-
lowing this meeting, having in mind
the pledge of the board and seriously
fearing the effects on our schools of
prolonged political agitation, we made
this statement:
Having taken a somewhat active
part in the agitation of which the
above conference was the elimination,
The Times desires to state it's attitude
in view of what developed at the meet
ing. Our share in the protest was in
spired solely by the belief, based on
Mr.. Sinclair's writings and our under
standing of the boards attitude, that
we were in imminent danger of having
the Socialist propaganda introduced
into our schools. The two Socialist
members of the board have stated
positively and in the presence of
large number of patrons, this will not
be tolerated, but that Mr.. Sinclair will
be required to teach strictly in accord
ance with the law and the course Of
study. We wish now to state that so
long as the board in good faith carries
out that pledge the matter is ended so
far as this paper is concerned. This
does not imply that we have altered