The New York herald., 1921-12-23
RED IDEAS BLOTTED
BY SCHOOL CENSORS
Teachers After 2 Volumes
Having Passages Oh
Socialism.
Boards WORK EDITED
History of United States
Must Tell More of War
Truths.
PREDICTION QUESTIONED
Magruder's what Then? The
Socialistic Stage Disliked
in Text.
PREDICTION QUESTIONED

School teachers investigating al
legged pro- British sentiments in school
text books will inquire into other
books which might influence pupils
away from what the educational au
thorities construe as true American
ism.
The censorship committee of twen-
ty-one appointed by DR.. William L.
Ettinger. Superintendent Of Schools,
viii look into volumes skimming the
border line Of radicalism or fostering
socialistic ideas in the minds Of young
scholars.
In two text books the committee will
demand certain specific changes. The
books are History of the United
States" by DR.. Charles A. Beard. and
American Government In 1921" by DR..
Frank Abbott Magruder.
Texts to BE Used in Schools.
Various school principals and history
teachers had urged that these volumes
be amended before being listed as ac-
ceptable in classrooms in this city.
Their criticism thus was on another
tack from that Of various anti-British
organizations to have text books de-
lcted of anything favorable to the Eng
lisf cause.
Both books have been gone over thor
oughly In committee meetings. the au-
thors consulted and the publishers in
formed of what changes would be re-
quired.
DR.. Charles A. Beard resigned from
the political science department of CO.
lumbia University in the war. presum-
ably as a protest against the QUOTING OF
two other professors for alleged pacifist
utterances. He is now one of the In
structors at the New School for Special
Research at 465 West Twenty-third
street At one time he was connected
with the Rand School.
The criticism against Prof. Boards
book is mostly concerned with what the
author omitted from the text rather
than with what 1t contained. Members
OF the committee felt that in dealing
with the Socialist party Prof. Beard lett
out some material that should have beeii
included. particularly regarding the So
cialist attitude toward tho war. Both
author and publisher have agreed. it Is
said. in the next edition to tell the
whole story OF the Socialist party"
"Prediction" Resented.
Regarding the Magruder book there
are more specific complaints. one OF
the main objections is that the author
in reviewing the earlier stages of the
growth of the United States ends his re-
view by q section headed THE Social
istic Stage" in which the following
prediction occurs:
1.-THE question now facing the people
is whether capital can be regulated. If
a group of millionaires or bankers COM
bine their capital to control the entire
production of certain commodities or
services and advance the prices. the
masses of people will naturally use their
power the State, to prevent this. II
regulation fails. what then?-the social
istic stage"
In discussing the "Capitallstic Stage"
which in the physical makeup of the
book precedes thu section devoted to the
"Socialistic Stage" the author sums up
as follows:
1.-The result Is the downfall Of busi-
ness competition and the formation OF
nationwide and even worldwide mo-
nopolies. Thus most people must work
for wages, and If monopolies were not
controlled by the State the wages Of
the workmen could be determined by
the capitalists. The condition of en1-
that OF slaves
The members of the committee, who
have been unanimous in requesting GER
tain corrections. take the stand that 4
high school history is not the place to
disseminate radical doctrines, no matter
how privileged these statements might
be outside of the classroom. In this
attitude, it is said. they have the sup
port OF the majority of teachers and