Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-04
WHARTON BARKER
DEFENDS WILMER
Can't Silence Schools Criti-
cism Through University,
Opinion of Trustee
VIEWS ARE APPROVED
Penn Professor Offers to Dem
onstrate Basis of Charge
to Education Board

Anv effort to silence Dr T.tghlncr
Wilmer. in his criticisms of the boar"
of Education and the PhUad'Il"H'
schools, by invoking the aid Of the M
yersity of Pennsylvania trustees. WohIH
be a failure. In the opinion OF NhaI'""
Barker.
Mr. Barker. one of the oldest members
OF the University trustees ana 'eauer u
the free speech fight during the Nearing
controyersy several years ago, thor
oughly approves Doctor N'iin'r az
tions.
Doctor wilmer is head Of the nsyChol-
osy department at the University. lie
has aroused the philadelphia Board or
Education by his criticism o' IN" way
the city schools are conducted one
member of the school board. Th0mHS
Shalcross. Jr.. has suggested that an
effort would be made TO stop the VIII
mer criticisms through an appeal I" thc
University trustees,
Mr.. Barker said
Doctor Wilmer does not. because he
is a professor at the University Of HCnn-
Slyania. thereby lose his responsibility
as a citizen Of Philadelphia, Of PENN
sylyania or Of the United States. TO
criticize the actions Of any body OF pIi-
lie servants. Nor is he because Of his
position. required to refrain frOw pro
senting recommendation for action that
he believes would correct wrongs he
crlticzes.
Has Rights as citizen
81 do not believe that the board Of
trustees Of the University Of PennsvI-
vania would deny TO Doctor Witmer his
rights as a citizen nor do I believe that
the trustees as a board would attempt
to reprove him.
Dr. Wilmer appreciates that the
crisis. economic, social. political and
religious. developed by the war requires
such reorgRnizat ion Of the public schools
as will liberate both teachers and pupils
SO he has spoken
''The question OF whether trustees OF
the University have either the mower
or the inclination to suppress discussions
OF any question with absolute freedom
was settled when the University adopted
BY unanimous vote of its trustees the
resolution that embodied as a University
principle HuNley's famous statement of
academic freedom.
"The great seal of tho United States
has these inscriptions From many one
and Facts accomplished produce a new
order of the ages And unless citizens
appreciate the Importance of these in
scriptions, which are in fact commands.
government by. for and of the people
F. will perish. and citizens will not ap-
preciate these commands unless the
schools, colleges and universities. public
and private, discuss and develop vital
Issues
Fail in Reading
Professor Wilmer has invited the
Board OF Education to attend a psy-
Geological clinic to be held al the Uni
yersity on Saturday, April IL, at 0
O'Clock, at which he will demonstrate
the intelligence of children "whom we
are teaching to read after the schools
of Philadelphia have made a failure OF
It,"
a He declares also that he will give the
people a demonstration of some of the
educational inefiCiency of their school
system. which is great enough in spots
to constitute a social menace" He pro-
poses to hire a hall IL the Board of F.du-
cation refuses the use Of one OF its
auditoriums, providing the citizens will
provide the audience.