Evening star., 1924-07-03
CHARGESATTACK
MADE ON SCHOOLS
Attempt to Discredit Their
Work Alleged by Secretary
of N. E. A.
ANNUAL REPORT FEATURE
DR.. H. S. Pritchett and DR.. N. M.
Butler Arraigned.
ANNUAL REPORT FEATURE

OutltT dTTdlSueU.
Charges that DR.. Henry S. Pritch-
EFT, president of the Carnegie Foun-
dation, and DR.. Nicholas Murray But
Ter of Columbia University have gone
out of their way to discredit the
work of the schools were made by
J. w. Crabtree, secretary of the Ma
uonal Education Association, in his
annual report submitted to the sixty
second annual convention of the or
ganlzation at a session of the general
assembly today in the Central High
School auditorium
In the annual report of the secre-
tary for 1929 said Mr. Crabtree, at
tention was called to an organized
aTort to reduce school privileges.
reference was made to the influence
OF the annual report of the Carnegie
Foundation by it's president, Dr.
Henry S. Pritchett. Instances were
given showing that a part of the
plan was to attack outstanding
leaders in public school education.
The year has added materially to
the certainty of a united opposition
to the further development of the
schools. The president of the Car
negie Foundation has again repeated
his criticism of the work of the pub
lie schools. Many a leader has dur
ing the year felt the force of well
organized attacks on this program
and policies.
DIR. Butler Accused.
Nicholas Murray Butler of Column
bia University, whose life record as
to lack of knowledge or appreciation
OF the common schools of the nation
Is much the same as that of DIR.
Prltchett, has gone out of his way
to dlscredit the work of the schools
a .af@ Al
Association he made the amazing
statement that, 1T would surprise a
great many excellent persons to be
told that the school upon whose
maintenance they are pouring out al
most unlimited sums raised by public
tax were doing all they reasonably
could to implant a spirit of lawless-
ness in those who came under their
influence. And yet says DR.. Butler,
that is the sober truth This address
was read into the Congressional Rec
ord by Massachusetts congressman,
and has been mailed out to all parts
of the country under his frank. The
fact that DIR. Buffers statement is
erroneous and the fact that he is not
recognized as spokesman for the
public schools by those who represent
the schools will not prevent laymen
from being influenced by it. Whether
this address is widely distributed to
injure the public schools or to dis
Sition to the prohibition amendment,
also a feature of the Ohio address, it
is certain that those who are fight
ing the schools seek, by quoting DR..
Butler, to prove that the schools are
responsible for lawlessness through
out the country.
Sees Use Of Catspaws.
1t is now surmised that some of
the heartless interests opposing the
further development of education
largely to keep taxes down to the
minimum are making catspaws Of
some of those who offer objections
from religious point of view. This
particular opposition fears the rights
of parents are being taken over by
the schools, and that the costs of
schools and school buildings are be-
yond reason. These people are led to
oppose department of education be-
cause it will develop unduly the costs
Of education and increase the tend
ency to give the schools greater
authority over children. If true that
there is d connection of this kind and
that an element is being used it Will
be definitely known in due time and
the connection will Immediately be,
come Ineffective. Tax-dodgers Will
bear watching. They are choking the
life out of schools in more than one
community.
There is no fight directed toward
the private or religious schools.
There should be none. These insti-
tutions have their place and receive
the encouragement of this association.
There are thousands of teachers In
private schools in the membership of
the association. These schools should
have the respect of public school au-
thorities. Great contributions to hu-
man betterment are made by both
religious and secular private schools,
as well as by our great system of
public education. Our chilGren and
Cch 1S nd
more. The big interests work great
injury to private schools in attempt
ing to prejudice them against the
public schools. The teachers of pri-
vate schools and all other teachers
realize that in a democracy the foun-
dation for success is a democratic
education. The public schools are ad-
mlrably adapted to give that training;
harmony with the same ideas. There
is no fight on between these forces
themselves. Nine-tenths of our pub
lie school teachers appreciate the
mission and Importance of our pri-
Nate educa t1onal enterprises and nine
tenths of our private school teachers
value and understand the necessity
OF public school education
These big interests should not be
permitted to drive the wedge which
might separate them.
Hits "MOney-Hearted Rich,
Great credit is due to wealthy men
and women who have contributed
generously to the support of worthy
school enterprises and projects
There is a class, however composed
of the money-hearted rich and an ar
rogant aristocracy which is violently
opposing the adequate support of the
schools. This element is now receiv-'
ing unexpected help. 1t has the
active help of a fault-finding group
The opposition to the policies of the
association, as well as to the progress
of the public schools, therefore comes
from both extremes in society. These
radical fire eating factors not only
attack policies, but they question mo-
tives and reflect on the good name of
officers of the association and of GER
tain leaders in the profession. 1t Is
always a Question as to whether such
criticism should receive attention or
whether it should be ignored. 1t is
certainly embarrassing when small
group gossip is permitted to serve as
the foundation of widely circulated
criticisms Perhaps the view of Miss
Nelson, state superintendent Of pub
lie instruction of North Dakota, that
the more you step on mud the
broader it becomes is the wiser view
to take. Where statements are clear
ly libelous in character 1T may not
ha on aary r,oaffar for the officer tO