New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-13
Lusk Would
Censor Beliefs
OF Teachers
Declares at Hearing OH 10y
atty Test Bill They Have
No Right to Think of
Change of Government
Measure Meets Opposition
City Club, Organized Labor
and Other Elements
Voice Their Disapproval
From a star Correspondent

ALBANY, April 12.--"Teachers who
are paid out Of public funds to instruct
school children have no right either to
believe in, or to advocate changes in
the state or national government I do
not deny that men and women have the
right to advocate governmental changes
by peaceful means, but they have not
the right to do it while they subsist on
public funds"
This declaration was made by Sena-
tor Clayton r. Lusk, president pro tenn.
Of the Senate, in course Of the hear
ing on his bill which would require
public school teachers to undergo 10y
atty tests and prove their good moral
character
The hearing took place before the
Senate Finance Committee simultane-
ously with hearing on the other Lusk
bill which would require the licensing
by the Board of Regents of all courses
OF instruction given by private schools.
Opposition Is Heard
Opposition to the two measures was
labor, teachers organizations and by
officers of institutions giving courses of
instruction along social and economic
lines. The consensus Of the arguments
against the bills was that they do not
accomplish anything not already pro-
vided for in the criminal anarchy
statute, that they would put teachers
in intellectual straitjackets and that
they are un-American, in that they give
to administrative boards power to
limit the right of free speech and in
denendent thought.
Raymond B. Ingersoll, representing
the New York City Club, was among
those who appeared in opposition to the
bills. He said that he realized that
both measures are prcdicated on the
theory that there is danger of serious
revolutionary activity within the con-
fines of the state
81 think" he continued, chat a study
of the returns cast last November would
amply demonstrate the falsely of that
theory. These two bills contain features
which arc very Objectionable Take, for
instance, the measure which supervises
the opinions of public school teachers.
The bill is so broad that it would dis
qualify teacher because of the adj
vocacy Of entirely harmless political
doctrines.
"ln regard to the measure which
regulates private schools, this measure
IS almost sure to be construed so as to
unduly restrict freedom of education
and thought. 1t affords an opportunity
for serious discrimination
George w. Kirchwey, of the New
York School for Social Work, and AL
gerncn Lee, Of the Rand School for So
cial Science, also spoke against the bill.
The latter intimated that one of the
principal objects of the bill would be
to put the Rand School out OF business
He said that the school never has
taught and does not teach any doc
trincs advocating the overthrow Of or
ganized government by violence or un-
lawful means.
Labor Opposes Bills
William F. Kehoe, secretary to the
New York Central Trades and Labor
Council and vice president of the State
Federation of Labor, also spoke against
the bills He said the State Federation
OF Labor had gone on record as being
opposed to the proposals contained in
the measures.
Archibald E. Stevenson, of counsel to
the Lusk anti BED committee, spoke for
the bills. He said the school teacher
measure would raise the standard of
those giving instruction in public
schools and that it is perfectly proper
to impose this requirement upon
teachers.