The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1915-07-15

the great industries of the country
1t is such "pernicious activity as this
that has made Prof. Nearing obnoxi-
Gus to the Penrose-Vare- McNichol
machine operating In Pennsylvania
and which has made the state infam'
Gus in political, industrial and civic
history. His dismissal from the fac
ulty of the state university is the
eliminating step in the program of re-
actionism being carried out by the
merchants and manufacturers all over
this country.
We have, prior to this incident, call.
ed the attention of our readers to this
plan of crushing out of our school sys-
ITEM all tendency to progressive ideas.
Last week, we printed an account OF
the indignation meeting in Missoula
over the discharge of Prof. Craighead.
simultaneously, there appeared in
other papers stories of the resignation
from the University of Utah of seven
teen of the most competent professors,
because of attempts to limit their free
dom of speech In Washington, Prof.
Hart, of the history department of
the state university, has been asked
to resign, because of his radical teach
ing. In Reno, New, the citizens have
risen in revolt against president of
the state university, foisted on the
board of regents by the Southern Pa
cific Railway company. In Wisconsin,
the state university is fighting for its
life against reactionary policies in
augurated by the captialistic legis-
lature.
These are not mere condolences.
Everywhere, from Washington to
Pennsylvania, the effort is being made
by the dominant business interests to
control the policy and to dictate the
character of our institutions of learn
ing. Wherever possible, they are get
ting control of the city, county and
state boards of education. No books
are permitted in the schools except
those fostering the capitalistic ideals
and methods. No instructors are en-
gagged who are known to be independ-
ent thinkers and teachers.
Organizations of teachers for mutual
benefit and protection are being as
determinedly fought as are those of
manual laborers. In the city of Butte
and the state of Montana, teachers
are being refused positions because of
their economic and social philosophy
and the attempt was openly made in
Butte this spring to discharge teachers
against whom the only complaint was
that "they were enthusiastically inclin
ed" In the meantime, the cry is be
ing raised eve must have no politics
in the schools" and under this CLOAK
of patriotic non-partisanship, oul
schools are being converted into the
most powerful tool the master class
can WELD for the enslavement of the
working class,-the dictation of the
education of the youth of the land.
A graver danger threatens the
democracy of our schools. 1t is time
that the working class awoke to 6
sense of what it means for men anC
women to be denied the right to teach
the truth in our public schools and uni
versities. 1t means that the mos
democratic and fundamentally neces
sary institution in any republic has
passed out of the control of the people
and been converted into a vicious
despotic machine for the drilling o
slaves in the service of an oligarchy
Let the people of the United States
consider the fate of Scott Nearing ant
take warning while yet there is time
Montana Socialist.