Evening star., 1934-07-05
TEACHING TENETS
OF NEW ORDER IS
ARGUED FOR N.E.A.
Speakers Differ in Wisdom
of Teachers Interpreting
Issues of Day.
LEGION OFFICIAL HITS
MOVEMENT IN SCHOOLS
Work of National Economy
League Is Scored as Attempt
by Rich to Shift Taxes.

The question of teaching new tenets
OF government in the public schools
revealed a wide split of opinion among
speakers before tOday's general ses-
sion Of the National Education As
sociation's seventy annual
meeting
Russell Cook, director OF the Ameri-
can Legion's Americanism Commits
sion, contended such teaching has no
place in the school room and teachers
should not set themselves up as in
terpreters Of issues Of the day. Other
speakers urged instruction leading to
new social order
Mrs. Russell William Magma, presi-
dent general of the National Society.
Daughters Of the American Revolt
ton. said she believed in more prac-
tical study of applied economics and
government and characterized educa-
tion OF the country's youth as Ameri-
cas- main industry.
Carmon Ross, president OF the
Pennsylvania State Education Asso-
citation, pleaded for a united national
organization of teachers as the only
effective way to fight the battles
of education and oppose special in
terests
Sees New Order Advocated.
an the last few years there has
grown up a movement in which toe
many of our teachers are creating
ideas in the school room for what is
called new social order" Mr.. Cook
told the educators.
The American Legion is opposed tC
that movement" Cook continued. WE
say that 1t is not the mission Of the
teacher to lead the child into believ-
ing We should have a new social order.
but that it is his mission to educate
the child so that it can take its
proper place in whatever social order
exists when it comes to maturity"
He said the American Legion's in
terest in education is based on one
cardinal principle. and one only. The
teachers were told this principle is
that their duty ''is to provide the
groundwork, the education, to enable
q child to do his own thinking and
to form his own views on vital sub
jects."
In the past, the educator, especially
in rural communities, was the pur-
veyor Of news to a large degree and
was looked upon as the leading figure
in the community who could interpret
the big issues of the day" Cook said.
That time has gone forever" he
added. THE teachers mission now is
not to interpret issues. Nearly every
one can do that for himself
I'VE believe the teachers mission
is to educate the child in the funda-
mentals in order that when it comes
to manhood or womanhood, he or she
may assume citizenship responsible
ties. can judge between right and
wrong, and can weigh the conSe-
quences Of an act and be capable Of
discharging his or her duty and raise
a voice in self government in the right
way to protect the principles on which
our republic is founded"
Reviews Legion Work.
He reviewed the work done by the
Legion in the cause of education, and
then proceeded to attack the National
Economy League, which he charged
with fighting the battle of "a group of
big income people who sought to shift
the burden onto the backs of the
average American taxpayer"
During times of economic emer-
gencies We always have a group Of
self-styled economists who point their
fingers first at the school teacher, the
schools and the veterans" he said.
In the language of these people,
school budgets and veteran compen-
sation must Immediately be reduced
or curtailed. They group the vet
erans, or wartime defenders. and
the teachers, or peace-time defenders
OF this Nation. in their attack"
Mrs. Magma took issue with those
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