The Washington times., 1934-06-16

this matter - IaS,..on
of Planned Ei'le "OOln'O"
Production. Planned Produc-
ton has been getting plenty Of
publicity outside the schools
ever since the depression began
and we realized that millions
were starving in the midst OF
abundance.
Promptly writer's began to
make books, editors began to
fill columns with discussions Of
whether we should or shouldn't
control our boundless output OF
oats, coats, pigs, peaches, oil,
coal-or what have you?
Copious data also began to be
broadcast showing the dire re-
suits of what happened when
there wasn't any control. There
not to be ducked or contra
dicted-were American stories
of gallons of surplus milk and
crates of fruit spilled into our
oceans and rivers; Of surplus
corn burned as fuel in the
Middle West-while tenement
dwellers starved.
Such a ghastly lesson that
Soviet Russia, trying to save
it's future generations from a
similar catastrophe, decided to
tell its children what it was
all about. So presently, in the
grade schools of Russia, there
appeared a small volume called
1.-THE Russian Primer.
The Russian Primer was in
tended for the use of children
of IL to IA years Of age. In
simple language it. tells the
story of Unplanned Production,
and what happened when a peo-
pie permitted it. The quotations
are taken from our own Ameri-
can writer's, the incidents from
our American scene. There was
no jeering criticisms Of Amer
lea, no communistic propa-
ganda. 1t was a plain story, for
young minds, of bad houSekeep-
ing.
Within few weeks the grown
up minds of America were
gravely studying that little Rus
sian school book. No one
worse luck!-could deny a thing
that was said, or find fault
with the manner of its telling.
It was all only too true.
But what could America do
about it? What was the answer
to our stupid, wasteful, cruel
career of Unplanned Produc-
tion?
We're still looking for IN
answer. beginning to make
serious efforts toward finding
it. And the struggle to find it
is making great national his.
tory. So, recently. some enthusia-
aStic and alert young teachers
in various parts Of Southern
California said to each other:
Shouldn't the youngsters
know about what's going on,
just as they know about the
World War, or any other phase
in modern history? Shouldn't
they take their part in all this
fine discussion and investiga-
tion; be urged to think about it
all for themselves, make opin-
ions for themselves?
An exciting idea! Would
the youngsters themselves take
to it? They would! They did!
Forthwith, America - her pros
and cons - became Red Hot
News in every current events
class-aS exciting even as Bill's
batting score or Sally'S swim
ming record.
And then some one intro
duced the Russian Primer!
Why not? There was the
simplest statement available
of the whole subject. based
on findings by our own Amer.
lean writer's. Surely no one
could object to that!
BUT SOME ONE SURELY
DID!
Immediately, from every con-
Servative American home, from
PIT. A. meetings, religious
organizations, patriotic societies,
rose the Mortified howl Of,
They're teaching Communism
in our public schools! They're
teaching our children to Sneer
at America. training them to
betray America. turning them
into radicals, anarchists"
And now the teachers, in
various parts Of Southern Cali
fornia, are being investigated"
and "reprimanded."
Should they be? Have or
haven't they done a vicious
and destructive thing?" Was
it "traitorous" to introduce
the Russian Primer into the
courses?
SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T
ST TUDENTS OF HIGH.
SCHOOL AGE BE ALLOWED
TO LEARN THE TRUTH
ABOUT THEIR COUNTRY. :.
BE ALLOWED TO DISCUSS
AND POSSIBLY CRITICIZE
ITS PROGRAMS AND INSTT-
TUTIONS. BE ALLOWED TO
COMPARE ITS METHODS
WITH THOSE OF OTHER
NATIONS?
What do you think?
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