Evening star., 1923-06-05
DEPLORE ATTACKS
ON j. S. HISTORIES
Teachers Association Claims
Bickering May Disrupt
Classes in D. G. Schools.

Claiming that the courses in Ameri-
can history In the Washington high
schools are in danger of disruption
due to the attacks on Muzzey's text
book. a resolution deploring the mar
row partisan spirit" of its critics was
adopted by the High School Teachers
Association at a meeting yesterday
afternoon. The resolution. which will
be sent to the National Education AS
sociation. reads:
Concerted attacks have been and
are being made throughout this coun-
try by individuals and organizations
against widely used text books of
American history in our high schools.
These attacks challenge the
scholarship. integrity and patriotism
of leading professors of history in
American universities, and reflect
upon the Judgment. independence and
loyalty of teachers of American his
tory in our high schools.
These attacks have their origin in
many groups. each desiring TO en-
phasize its special field of historical
interest or some prejudiced view
point.
tacks are % to destroy the friendly
relation that has been establis ed
between England and this country
and CD to make our political. eco
| nomic and social history secondary to
military history.
"In most cases the persons making
the charges are wholly unacquainted
with grade and high school curricula
tho aims and modern methods OF
teaching history.
The object of teaching history is
70 give the truthful picture of the
past. with due regard to the age OF
! the pupil for whom the work is in
tended. and therefore the truth
| should not be distorted for any pur-
| pose whatever: and both sides of a
controversial question should be ade-
| quately presented from an academic ic
point of view, so that students of his.
| tory shall be trained in habits OF
/ open minded tolerance.
| The courses in American history
| as now organized. are in danger OF
| disruption from the hysteria incited
| by the circulation of these unjust anc
| unfair publications.
! 1T is resolved. Cd That the Higr
School Teachers Association of Wash.
| ington. d. c.. deplores the narrow
| partisan spirit which has inspired anC
| promoted these attacks, and the lacI
| of confidence in American scholar.
| and teachers:
"(2) That it reSents the questioning
| of the Americanism of teachers OF
! history in American schools:
"(3) That the history teachers who
! are in the field should themselves b.
the judges of the content of the
courses: and
! "4) That il urges the National Ed
| ucation Association 10 take sucf
measures as it may deem best to de,
fend the teaching profession against
| whatever forces now threaten its
academic freedom or professional
/ standing
| Mr.. Jones. head Of the history de.
| partment of the high schools made Z
| statement at the meeting, in which
! he declared:
! "Statements to the effect that Muz.
| zeyS History is ruled from use il
| the New York schools are false
| Books may be ruled from schools BY
| the school authorities: not by the
! commissioner of accounts. School au
| thoritieS did Investigate history texts
in New York through an investigating
! committee of twentN-one
The subcommittee that investigated
| MuZZey's text found no fault with tn,
text whatever. ! had letter from
! each member of the subcommittee, in
| which MuzZey's History was highl,
| commended. The MuzZey text is to
| day the most widely used history text IL
/ the New York schools. This attack b,
! the commissioner of accounts is JUS
| a part of the nation wide propaganda
70 clear the field of all texts now il
use and ii is an attack on eigh