South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-13
TEXTBOOK BATTLE
RACES IN GOTHAM
Committee TO Decide Whether
Histories Are Pro-English
Start Row.

DAdIL lAbWs
NEW YORK. Jan. IA commit
tee OF 81 school teachers and prin-
cipaIs soon viii submit report 20 the
board OF superintendent OF the Gin
connati department or education set
ting forth their findings IN a curious
controversy which has reached
heated stage here and Is likely 10
spread 20 other cities. The report
OF the committee Is to determine
whether or not. IN the opinion OF its
members. after due Investigation,
history. as IL is being taught In the
public schools today Is a deliberate
lv inaccurate picture OF Americas
past. manufactured for the purpose
Of exalting England and undermin-
ing the patriotism OF American
youth Charges that some OF the
textbooks used In the schools were
ro-Britlsh" and poisonous 20 the
mind Of the coming generation" first
appeared last summer. and have
been kept alive by a small but active
ErOup OF persons. whose effort IS 10
force the school authorities 20 place
q ban on the books which are all
legged 10 be offensive The four text
books charged 20 contain ant-Amer-
lean propaganda are,
Barnes American History for
Grammar Grades" by Everett
Barnes. a public school principal Of
Brooklyn
Harris History OF the United
states by Prof Albert Bushnell
Hart. head OF the history department
90 Harvard
our United States by Prof
William r. Guitteau. superintendent
o.. the schools of Toledo.
"A History OF the United states,
for Schools" by Andrew G. McLaugh-
Jam. head Of the history department
OF the University OF Chicago and
Claude 81 Van Tyne. head of the
history department of tine University
of Michigan
Demand CcnsOring.
Besides barring these books from
iue schools the agitators demand
GeIetiOus iu other works. Cne of
these is small volume containing
Eurke's speech on Cancellation with
America, and preface by Prof c.
s. Ward Of the Taft school at
Waterbury. Conn The following is
the passage from Mr. Wards pre-
ace which is specifically complain
ed OF LAS long as there turks in
the back of American consciousness
"a suspicion of tyranny IN 1875, so
Iong viii misunderstanding prevent
the Englishspeaking nations from
working in accord 10 develop Anglo
saxon freedom. II every high school
student knew that the governmental
oppression that caused the Ameri-
can revolution was made I'm Ger
many our democracy would be more
secure Not until the younger gen
eratiOns have learned 20 distinguish
between the English freedom Of
17T5 and the slavery they may have
from Prussia will America return TO
that unsuspecting confidence in the
mother country which is vital 20 the
future progress Of democracy
throughout the world. The Ameri-
can revolution was not an attempt
OF England TO tryannize over the col
onies. but a quarrel fOmented by
German king as part OF his program
Of despotic ambition"
Against the other works. the
charges by the agitators are based
principally upon five points:
I. Elimination OF the account OF
he heroic death OF Nathan Hale.
.. Reference to John Hancock as
a "smuggler"
3. Praise bestowed upon the
bravery of the British soldiers who
charged the earthworks on Bunker
Inn.
4. The statement that the acct
dental explosion OF powder on the
British ship Scraps aided in giving
victory TO the Bonhomme Richard
under John Paul Jones.
.. The application OF the nick
name WAR Hawks 10 Henry Clay
and John Calhoun
What Committee May say.
This information comes from a
member of the committee who is Of
the opinion that a large majority Of
his fellow members will hold. that
rharges OF the agitator are worth
little or no consideration. As against
The charges Of the aEitators. ma
GRITTY of the committee holds opin-
IONS which may be summarized as
loIiows
The passage IN Mr. Wards preface
Us an accurate pres NATION or the
-tuation which existed in the colo
Mes I'm the Declaration OF indie
pendence George III is mentioned as
the offender. and not the British
PEOPLE as a nation.
The story OF Haitian HaIe's death
omitted. as episode I'm many text
Iooks where condensation is de-
handed
The allusion 10 John Hancock rs
smuEsier' is undoubtedly an Of
f.nsc against good taste. but the fact