New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-05-23
" Educators
Urge FairPlay
For Teachers
,.,.al to Commissioner
4c Graves in Letter Asking
definition of Rights at
Trials Under Lusk Law
serecy Is Condemned
,,;;uer. Call Attention to
plight Into Which State
school System Is Drifting

100 that the Iusk law affecting
49,, !, the public schools be so
@..3 - enforced that the teach
-.v know their rights under It,"
g.,~ r. Linvillc president OF the
w York City Teachers Union, yes
-, cen. to Frank P. Graves. State
.~-;.sjoner Of Education, letter
-, nv trenty-seven educators, call
\ u. attention to the plight into
-. n. educational system OF this
.... !. drifting -
~. si,n.rs without exception. are
.s.-, o. the teaching force, Of Co
.-,,, Uairersity Union Theological
S.-i.sry and college of the City OF
y.r York, ana include William c. Bag
>, william Adams Brown. Morris z.
80, John Dewey. franklin II. CID
...r. William H Fitzpatrick, Dean
7,sI Klapper. Of the College OF the
~ Of New York. T.. r. A. Seligman.
y I Thorndike and Harry A. Over
--te'
Ne further urge that the machin-
~ FOR tying teachers be III accord
re with the traditions OF American
I'd English procedure IN matters Of
,,..ce.' the letter concludes. after
.a.ing that the educational law Of
e, STATE which provides that teach
=, nay be removed for cause makes
.3sip!a the dismissal of disloval
,.:,ers or o. those who advocate
IN o. government by other than
';:l means. ne letter also says:
Want Rights Defined
Ne appeal TO YOU TO use Your Of
81 power IN the administration OF
=. law 70 remove the uncertainty as
p the fundamental rights Of the
.;her and TO eliminate the atmos-
g::s Of suspicion that has developed,
3 .tat the teachers may be free to
.rote themselves TO their duties with
s. beng tampered by fear-a fear
g.il hss been promoted not only oy
. presen, law. but also by the secret
.eeedlngS Of the advisory courc.l,
rich meets behind closed doors and
3es not confront the accused with the
ne OF the accuser.
he advisory council has no intcr-
"a Of foregoing its work Of assist
!: tine state Commissioner of Educa
% in ascertainlng the qualifications
teachers before they are granted
't!aea;es as TO loyaIty and character,
.aibald I. Stevenson, one OF the Eve
.1bers OF that body, said yesterday.
irge part of the councils work. he
A'teo, was 10 ascertain the teachers
Ass from character viewpoint. the
fstlgation into their political be-
Z; beng of secondary Importance.
4 IS impossible for Commissioner
ares TO attend to all these matters
-,glf' said NJ. Stevenson. Our
VI IS to assist HIM. ! may add that
question Of teachers loyalty does
= concern this council nearly so
sca as teachers general fitness
Character
Council Continues Hearings
The cogncil meets again this after
'ooa q; the Bar Association. in &C
.oFaa'ts with its weekly program OF
asa-ng teachers and their witnesses
e;srding their qualifications. Only
eacaers with records are being ex
mined at the hearings.
HleA traNne, state organizer for the
l4'ican Federation of Labor, is ex-
'ea',ed 10 attend to-day's hearing. as
'aal' The demand by Abraham LET
oFi~' delegate from the Teachers
mon to the Central Trades and Labor
6.rcll INA. NJ Troyro r,e: r.