The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-11-12
SCHOOL SYSTEM
is lie FACTORY
civil LIBERTIES
Children Coached in Art
of Misrepresentation
Especial TO the Daily Worker)

NEW YORK, Nov. 1l,-Charglng
that Principal Gilbert ]. Raynor, of
the Brooklyn commercial high school,
had carefully coached the pupils who
were witnesses against Benjamin
Glassberg, the history teacher who
was dismissed during the war for re-
marks which the spies in the New
York school system considered "un-
American" the American Civil Liber-
ties Union has arranged meeting of
protest at the Community church. It
was indicated that American Legion
interference with education would be
roundly scored.
Said Lenln Was Not German Spy.
Among remarks for which Glass
berg was suspended without pay was
the statement that he did not think
Lenin and Trotsky German spies, that
accurate information about the Boil
sheviki was being Withheld, and that
there was plenty of evidence to prove
that the Bolshevih were not such
cut-throats as is usually represented
by the capitalist press.
That the evidence given by mem
bers of the class against Glassburg
was the result of careful coaching on
the part Of Raynor has been known
for long time. From Upton Sin
clair, who has made careful study
Of the spy system as it is practiced
in the public school, has come the fol
lowing description of how the boys
in the history class were prepared
for the trial It is description that
none of the school authorities con-
nected with the case have ever dared
to question:
Boys Told to Lie.
"The principal summoned before
him, one at time, two Jewish boys
and ten Gentle boys and questioned
them as to what had happened in the
class, trying to get them to say the
worst possible things against Mr..
Glassberg. A stenographer was
present and took down what the boys
said; then, according to the testimony
of one Of the boys, a most eager OPP
ponent of Mr.. Glassberg, the principal
made an arrangement Of little bits
Of what the boys had said, and made
it into a statement. The boys were
summoned several imes-for period
of eight weeks this coaching and re-
hashing Of the charges went on, and
meantime Mr.. Glassberg was suspend
ed without pay, and could not get a
copy of the charges to which he was
legally entitled.
Un-Ameriean to Tell the Truth.
1.-THE statement, when finally pre-
pared, was an obvious perversion of
everything which even the most hos
tile of the boys alleged. This was
at time when lne principal news
out of Soviet Russia was ''the ma
tionalization of women; and here
was a teacher. questioned by his
students. and telling them the plain
and obvious truth. Also, num-
Der Of the boys told how the principal
had attempted to intimidate them be-
fore they went upon the witness
stand. To quote one case: DO you
know, boys, that Mr.. Glassberg was
charged with conduct unbecoming
teacher; therefore it means that you
boys who are going TO testify for Mr..
Glassberg are UN-AMERICAN.'"
1t has since been discovered that
the Official record cards of students
who testified in favor of Mr.. Glass
berg were marked with such phrases
as "Glassberg witness" testified for
Glassberg."
The Liberties Union and other
groups are trying to force the rein
statement OF Glassberg in the schools.