The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-10-26
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES-

LAR and away the most striking and signif-
L cant event in American education during
the last year was the vigorous and ringing re-
port Of the commission on social studies of the
American Historical Association.
Written By George S. Counts, Charles Aus
tin Beard and men of comparable reputation
authors and scholars. it opened deep rift
between educational reactionaries and pro-
gressives.
This challenging document said nothing
about the ventilation OF school rooms or the
latest card indexing system for fling scholastic
reports, but it did bring education right out
into the open and sharply up against the issues
of our age. The text Of the report was the
unequivocal declaration that: The age of in
dividualism and laissez faire in economy and
government is closing and a new age of COL
lectivism is emerging"
Many who heartily sympathized with the
tenor and content Of this report feared lest
its effect might be highly temporary-a fash
in the pan soon to be forgotten in the hurly
burly of tabulatng grades and quizzing re-
luctant sophonores. Such persons will be de-
lighted to know that their fears have proved
ill-founded
MOST OF the men who signed the famous
1VA report of last spring, together with other
sympathetic and distinguished educators, have
launched the most promising and realistic edu-
cational journal Of our generation. It is en-
titled The Social Frontier
The chairman Of the board of directors is
Professor William H. Fitzpatrick of teachers
college, Columbia university, and the editor is
George S. Counts. The more progressive men,
bers of the faculty Of teachers college are
heavily represented on the board of directors.
On the front cover is printed in bold and
prominent fashion the ringing words from the
report which were cited above, this being only
one of the many proofs of the continuity be-
tween this journal and the commission on So
cial studies. The opening editorial frankly
recognizes the transitional character OF the
present age and the part which education
should play in the reconstruction Of society 1t
states clearly the alternatives which we face.
The contents of the first number are indeed
gratifying. There is an outspoken blast in be-
half of academic freedom which discusses par
ticulsrly the Shields case in North Carolina
and the dismissal of Professor Ralph E. Tur
ner, perhaps the most distinguished member Of
the commission-another black mark against
Chancellor Bowman and his Mellonized uni
versity faculty of the University of Pittsburgh
THE editors declare quite correctly that mo
l. teacher can serve the society Of tomorrow
if he must be bound by the theology of yes
terday."
John Dewey outlines the part which must
be played by education in social reconStruc-
ton. Charles Austin Beard indicates the diff
Guilty of maintaining political democracy in the
face of the economic concentration produced
by the corporation and holding company, while
Henry Pratt Fairchild contributes an intelli-
gent and persuasive plea for a new deck, in
stead of new deal with the same old cards.
One need not contend that the ideas in this
new journal have never been heard before.
They have indeed been set forth many times,
but usually by refugees who have been hound
ed from reputable academic halls.
What we can say is that never before in the
history of American education have such
things been said openly by some of the most
distinguished and most reputable educators in
the modern world Professor Snedden should
be able to scent whole truckload Of subtle
malignity" and insincerity in this remarkable
and commendable new publication.