New-York tribune., 1922-09-25
No Ban ON Jew,
SAYS Head of
Lincoln School
Fifth of Our Students Are
of This Race, Declares
DIR. Caldwell, Replying
10 AssembIyman Ullman
Democracy the Big Ideal
No Group May Dominate,
Some Must Be Turned
way, He Explains

DR.. Otis W. Caldwell. principal of
the Lincoln School of Teachers Col
leee, replied by letter last night to
charges by Assemblyman Sol Ullman,
OF the 9Th Assembly District, that Lin
coin School discriminates against Jews.
DIR. Caldwell denied the charges by
presenting facts to contradict them.
In explanation of his reply, Dr..
Caldwell said he considered the
charges Of Assemblyman Ullman had
been based on a complete misappre-
hersion- of the facts and that with
these in his possession ne believed the
Assenlblyman would recognize their
Importance as we'll as the correctness
of the policy pursued by the school
trustees.
The letter follows:
Dear Mr.. Ullman: Your letter,
which appeared in the New York City
papers Of Friday afternoon and Satur-
day morning, was not delivered to me
until Saturday. / am making the
following reply with hope of cor
recting the misunderstanding which
seems to have been the cause of your
communication.
ruin OA otuueHtS 3SWG
"The Lincoln School includes Jew
ish pupils as we'll as pupils represent
ing ali other representative racial
groups. Approximately one-fifth of
Lincoln School students are Jews, and
It has had approximately that pro-
portion OF Jewish pupils throughout
the five years Of its existence. / hope
the school may be fortunate enough
10 continue TO have as many splendid
Jewish children as it has enjoyed hav-
ing during its first five years. The
board of trustees includes Jewish
members, whose counsel is invaluable
in determining the schools policies.
The office staff includes Jewish men,
bers. Indeed, on the day when your
letter came our office was crippled
because the Jewish members were alb
sent with our approval and on pay.
since the day was q sacred holiday
for them. This has occurred before,
and such members of our force have
not been asked to make up this time
by working on other holidays, which
for them are not sacred
"There are, however, some more
fundamental aspects of this question
which | trust we may see alike. This
school exists as an experimental in
etitution. it was designed for the pur-
pose OF trying TO help in the improve
ment Of American public education. In
oqler TO do this the composition Of
tlM school must be representative, and
tds'be representative it must include
pupils from various groups of modern
society.
No Group TO Dominate
"The school cannot possibly take
care Of all the children of various
groups for whose admission applca-
tions are made. If any one group we're
dominant in the school, not only would
IT, become non-representative, but it
also would probably become undemo-
cratic. If it should become undemo-
cratic It could scarcely hope to prove
~ much assistance ia solving the prob
lens of education in such democracy
as ours. Also it is likely that if the
school were to be composed chiefly
from any one racial group that group
would not regard it as a good institu-
tion for its own children.
American education faces unusual
and unprecedented opportunities as
well as corresponding responsibilities
Public school pupils are the descend
ants Of peoples of various races which
have had courage TO leave the Older
countries and come to America More
OF our American children go to schoo
than do the children of any other coun.
D. try on earth, and nowhere else in the
5 world are the children so truly the de.
W scendants Of those representing all ma,
~ tions who are brought together in .
new grouping OF people of hope, not
only for themselves, but above all OF
hope for their children.
Denies Race Consciousness
1T would be a splendid thing If VIZ
could develop an educational systen
IN which such people may have thei,
full opportunity, regardless of national
ity. When | meet men or children
do not think of individuals MS Jewish
Scotch or Irish. / hope all of US ma,
cease 70 think of such things and tha
we may think rather Of individua
merit. II is MY opinion that neithe
our Jewish children nor those of othe
races are conscious of who is and VIII,
Is not n jew.
Surely our experimental school mus
include all kinds of people as it nov
does, and must not be dominated h,