The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27
DR.. Tildsley Declares There Is
No Place for Them in New
York Schools.
LINvILLE ATTACKS BOARD
Lively Debate Is Heard at
Luncheon Of Public Edu-
cation Body.


of the system at luncheon yesterday at
the Hotel McAlpin. where the PuUlic
Education Association staged a debate
between the radical and conservative
factions OF Father Knickerbockers edu-
cational body. Neither DIR. Tildsley nor
Henry Linville of the Teachers Union.
who led the radical wing OF the discus
sion, minced their words. and there might
have been reason for anxiety concern
ing the tummies OF those present II tho
theory that mild and harmonious con-
versation Is necessary for the proper d.
gestion of food had not already been ex-
ploded by the functions of modern times.
The Teachers Union. as Is well known.
has been told by the Board of Educa-
ton that 1t mustn't hold any more meet
ings in the public schools unless its
speakers tame their utterances. Mr..
Linville made UP yesterday for the lost
opportunities OF the meetings he hasn't
been allowed to have. and by the time
he got through the Board OF Education
knew exactly what the T. u. thinks OF
1t. Tn the course OF his speech he said
that the associate superintendent in
charge OF high schools. Dr. Tildsley. had
stated in 1917 that "a teacher who is a
Socialist has no place in the public
schools and should be dismissed
No Place for "Red" Teacher.
whether said that at that time 1
do not remember" DIR. Tildsley began
his reply, but l do desire to state to-
day most emphatically that In my Judg-
ment there Is no place for n MARKHAM
Socialist as a teacher in our New York
city school system. MARKHAM socialism
means the destruction by violence of
private property, the overthrow OF the
family and of all those institutions upon
which our national life and welfare are
founded. No persons who adheres to tho
left wing of the Socialist party should
be allowed to become a teacher, and IL
such a one should be discovered in
our schools he or she should be COM
PEELED to leave"
DR.. Tildsley said that to prove he
was not fitting against windmills' he
would quote a letter printed in the
Call and signed by. among others,
Scott Nearing. Louis Lochner. David
p. Berenberg-until a year ago a
teacher In a Brooklyn high school and
now in charge at the Rand School Of
training teachers for Socialist Sunday
acknowledgements Glassberg. the teach
err Of history at the Brooklyn CONNER
cial High School who was recently
suspended under charges OF Bolshevist
sympathies, and Jacob Lawn. q teacher
in Brooklyn elementary school. THE
letter is a declaration OF party policy"
Dr. Tildsley said. land It starts out
by declaring that the signers believe in
the abolition Of all social reform planks
now contained in party platforms and
that the party they stand for must
teach, propagate and agitate exclu-
sively for the overthrow Of capitalism
and the establishment of social democ-
racy.'
II thing there are quito a number
OF MARKHAM Socialists in our school sys-
tenn" the speaker added, but I cannot
state the number exactly. In my judg-
ment all candidates for licenses in the
subjects of English. history, economics
and civics should be questioned by the
board OF examiners as to their views
on MARKHAM socialism. and II shown to
be followers of the theory as set forth
In the communist manifesto they should
not be licensed by the board"
Mr.. Linville. VINO opened the argu-
ment. said first that the Board of Edu-
cation was directly against the idealism
for which President Wilson Is battling
He then went after the Board of Fdu-
cation. After saying that former Sup
erintendent OF Schools Maxwell told him
thirteen years ago that ANY teacher
who criticised a superior should be pun
ished, whether his criticisms were true
or not" the speaker remarked:
ITO show you that though times
| change the school system goes right or
will remind you that four weeks age
the Assistant Corporation Counsel
Mayer. declared at the trial of Ben.
jamin Glassberg that it made no differ
once whether what Mr.. GlassberR said
in his classes was true or not, he should
be punished Just the same for saying II
In that place"
Mr.. Linville referred to tho pamphlets
which the Board Of Education issued
to be used in teaching children about
the war as being full of hate for the
Germans. hate and misrepresent ation OF
the Russians and containing an elabo-
rate brief for compulsory military train
ing Of adults" 1T was clearly stated
that IL any teacher failed to instruct the
children in these matters with enthu-
siasm he should be dismissed" said the
speaker. And the profteer supported
National Security League has been asked
to approve the course In civics and econ
omies being developed by the board OF
superintendent"
DR.. Tildsley agreed with Mr.. Lin
Vile that there was too much autoc-
racy in the Board of Education" and
that as body II showed room for
Improvement, Dut IL was as ROOI, ne
said, as New York city deserved at the
present time.
Hopes for Higher Pay.
THE Board of Education represents
the philosophy of life OF the New York
public, and is as good as they are en-
titled to in consideration OF the average
intelligence Of the citizens.' The teach
ers, he said. might be better II they
were paid more. Men and women of
sound judgment and optimistic outlook
are needed and such cannot be obtained
at the present salaries II the Governor
signs the bill raising the salaries of high
school teachers men of the type needed
may be attracted to the work"
Charles p. Rowland presided. Zecha-
riah Chafee, assistant professor of law
at Harvard, wittily ridiculed the fears
of the reaCtionaries over free discussion
In the schools. What II the children
do hear a few advanced theories from
some teachers?" he asked. children
don't accept without question all their
teachers say. There are their parents
and various other agencies to correct
misstatements. What are we afraid of
anyway? With the army and navy and
the police and the parents at our backs,
surely a teacher here and there can't
do much harm. After all. what we are
afraid of Is not Russia or any teachings
sbout Russa-we are afraid of an eco
monte change which will take away
property from those who have inherited
it,"