New-York tribune., 1922-06-19
School History
Books Assailed
AtlOO Points
Committee Says Writer'S Are
=: :. Not Unpatrioiic. Red or
''' Pro-British, but Their
Judgment Isn't Much
Would Cut Down Candor
Omit Manners of Jackson
:. and Go Easy on Colonial
Smuggling, Its Advice

The committee appointed eight
rionths ago 10 inyestigate the history
textbooks used in the public schools
here made public Us report 70 the
Board Of Education yesterday. The
authors OF the books under fire are
cleared Of the charge Of acting from
unpatriotic. pro-Bri;ish or Socialistc
motives. but l76 pages of the report
axe devoted 70 pointing out TO them
-rt things they wrote that they ought
not 20 have written ard the things
they did rot write that they should
have written.
In all nearly 100 objections sub
nitted % the committee are sustained,
chiefly because the committee con-
-Eders the inspiration of the young the
paramount duty Of the textbook writer.
Some Of the committees findings al
most can be characterized as cryptic.
FOR example. the report says that the
f.A.ement that Nathan Hale was a
Yale graduate falls far short Of any
educational value. And again, the
1osn r,ittoe sees 10 reason or iilustrat-
ing the Jay Treaty with a portrait OF
MS. Jay.
Would Spare Our Feelings
On the whole. however. thinking men
will have little difficulty IN under
standing the document The commit
tce Is obviously wise IN holding that
The people well may be spared the
humiliation OF learning that Alexander
Hamilton called the people great
beast And % IS easy 90 sympathizt
with the committees delicacy IN sug-
.gestinc that historians overlook the
White House receptions IN the days
o. Andrew Jackson. 81 which "the
crowd IN its oagerness TO see the
President upset the pals Of orange
punch. broke the glasses and stood in
muddy boots on the satin-covered
chairs"
The committee Is taeiful in its
every utteranco, FOR that matter. In
stead Of speaking Of Patrick Henry
a. gay, unprosperous young lawyer,
o. one writer does, the committee sug-
gests that his eioQuence and earnest
ness be emphasized. Jackson. says the
report, should be called intense and
honest, instead Of rude and uncul-
tured. Instead Of saying that Samuel
ADAMS
cal boss, the historian would DO we'll
70 bring out the Bostonian's incor-
Tuptibility. Certainly he should not
Use such an expression as stole away"
IN reporting his escape across the
fields from Lexington just before the
battle.
Censures log Rolling
Another word censured by the COM
mittee IS log rolling" Instead Of
saying that jefferson and Hamilton re-
sorted 20 "log rolling" 10 put through
the formers desire for a capital in the
South and the lstters for Fderal as
sumption OF state debts. the writer
should have said they reached a com
promise.
Another fault which the committee
finds prevalent IL a tendency 20 be SEN
timental over Benedict Arnold. On this
point the report Is specific
The account OF Arnoids conspir-
acy." y declares, should contain a
vivid portrayal OF the consequences of
tfason 90 the traitor. Attention
should be called 20 the fact that the
best British officers would have moth
ing % 90 with him. Advantage should
BE- taken % the opportunity 20 COM
pare his conduct with that OF Wash
.ngton. Schuyler, Stark and others who
had grievances against the Congress. .
Not only should advantage be taken
.of such opportunity 20 show the con.
sequences Of sin but the committee
finds that some writers have failed tc
use chances 10 point inspiring lesson'
from the heroism Of our forefathers
Three Of these are specifically men.
toned.
Cites Allen, Hale and Lawrence
Every history should help the stu