New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-28
T. RS Neutrality
Plea Stricken From
Schools War Text
Action by Supt. Ettinger Fol
lows Letter From Colonel.
Who Explains Change of
Views Within Sixty DAYS

At the request of Colonel Theodore
Roosevelt, William l., Ettinger, Super
lntendcnt of Schools, has ordered eX
plunged from the textbook on the war
used in the high schools of New York
City quotation from Colonel Roosc-
welt urging the neutrality of the United
States. The quotation is from maya
zine a rticle W rtten by Colonel Roose-
welt month after the outbreak of the
war. 1t was used in the textbook in
connection with President Wilson's APP
peal that every man who really loves
America speak in the true spirit Of
neutrality, which is the spirit OF impair
TALLY and fairness and frendlness to
all concerned.'
In letter to superintendent Ettingcr
Mr.. Roosevelt said that he had held
for only d brief period after the out
break Of the war the views expressed
III the magazine article. and he asked
that the quotations be eliminated from
the tcXt-boo because it no longer is
a true expression OF his opinion. There
upon Nh Ettnger sent the following
instructions to all high school nrin-
cipals:
Changed Views Early in War
AS eX-President Theodore Roosc-
welt is of the opinion that the quota
graph of page So of the War Syllabus
for the high schools does not correct
y represent the views which he has
! held. except for a brief period of
sixty days after the beginning of the
war, please delete forthwith from all
copies in your possession the excerpt
reading as follows:
"The following month President
Roosevelt wrote in a magazine ar
ri SC ,,,1 Il III
we should remain entirely neutral,
and nothing but urgent need would
warrant breaking our neutrality and
taking sides one way or the Other.
The country as whole agreed with
them
The textbook is entitled "a War SyI-
labus Intended for the Use of High
Schools 1t was prepared by a com
mlttee Of perlntendents and princi-
pals to serve as a basis for instruction
on the history and issues of the war
and has been in use for about a month
This Is the second paragraph of page
80. which caused Colonel Roosevelt tc
call for the use of the blue pencil
The Germans invaded Belgium Au-
gust a, 1914; that same day our OIL
cial proclamation of neutrality was
issued. Two weeks later President
Wilson sent an appeal to the Ameri-
can people in which he said: every
man who really loves America will
act and speak in the true spirit of
neutrality, which is the spirit %f i'm
Partially and fairness and friandli-
ness to all concerned.' The follow
ing month cXPresidcnt Roosevelt
wrote IN magazine article: at is
certainly desirable that VIC should
remain entirely NEUTRAL and nothing
but urgent need would warrant
breaking our neutrality and taking
sides one way or the otl}r-" The
country as a whole agreed with them
Text of Letter Withheld
Nh Ettinger received note from
Colonel Roosevelt yesterday thanking
him for expunging the obicctionabl.
passage. Mr.. Ettnger declined to give
out the text Of Colonel Roosevelt's let
ter saying that he had completely com
piled with the request it contained, ane
that the matter was a closed incident
to him,
On the. committee which PREPARED
the syllabus were District Superin
tendent Ruth G. McGray, chairman;
District superintendent John Il. Rob
erts, District superintendent dward "
Stitt District Superintendent Cecil a
Kidd, District superintendent Arthur
{. Perry, jr., Principal Olive NJ. Jones
anu iNHclpdi NlHtIlSlld y. KlDDltS
They were assisted by the following
teachers: Anne T. Bridgcman. Morri,
High School; Roland Damn, Richmond
Hill High School; Irwin S. Guernsey
De Witt Clinton High School; Favett,
+. Meyer, De Witt Clinton Higl
School; Helen G. Preston, Newtor
High School; William W. Rogers
Curtis High School; Mabel Skinner
Washington Irving High School, anc
Mary j. Way, Girls High School.
The syllabus contains one hundred
pages with illustrations. There ar,
seven chapters on the war. dealing
with the fundamental cause; the com
ing of The Day the story of the war
German atrocities and violations o
law why the United States entered thu
war, the part of the United States il
the war, and American ideals, as ey
pressed by President Wilson. 1t ais,
contains chronological list of event.
and a photography.