Evening star., 1935-10-21
Surrey Shows Radical Topics
Just Touched IN Schools Here
George ]. Jones Declares
They Are "Micro.
scopic'' in Extent.
Teaching About Com.
n,ur1isn, and Socialism.
Is Held Elementary.

Completing q revised outline of 81
courses on history, geography and So
cial studies for the public schools OF
the District of Columbia, George J.
Jones, head of that division Of the
local school department, explained
today that teachings touching upon
communism or socialism are micro
scopic" in their extent.
Pointing out first that neither of
these theories of government ever
have been taught, but rather that
they are being taught about" MIR.
Jones identified each Of seven courses
and the points in the courses where
such subjects are involved In each
case, the space allotted to them Is
very brief, with the class time avail
able being about one full period per
semester as an average.
II am confident" Mr.. Jones said
today, that not one teacher in the
department has ever advocated or in
any way supported these radical doc
trines in class room teaching.
Teaching about communism and
socialism, however, Is something en-
tirely different. The courses in civics,
economics, modern history, American
history and national and world prob
lens do include study about COM
munism and socialism.
Studied in Elementary Way.
Socialism is studied in q very ele-
mentary way in the junior high
schools. Communism Is not men,
toned in the course Of study for ju-
nior high schools, but is mentioned
for the tenth-year course in modern
history in the senior high schools.
THE government of Russia is not
mentioned for study prior to the
twelfth grade course in national and
world problems.
"It Is better for high school boys
and girls to learn the meaning OF So
cialism and communism in the class
rooms than from the radical orators
on the street corners.
"If pupils are told that communism
and socialism cannot be discussed they
will wonder why not. II they are
merely told that there are grave dam
gers in communism and socialism they
will wonder what these dangers are.
"Our policy has been to regard
junior and senior high school boys
and girls as thinking. reasoning hu-
man beings and we have endeavored in
some of our courses to give them some
understanding of the meanings and
outcomes of communism and socialism
Shaped by Teachers.
With regard to the outline of the
2l courses, Mr.. Jones said that they
are shaped by the contributions Of
many teachers and that fully $50 in
structors have advanced some thought
to them.
The courses where socialism or
communism enter in some small de-
gree follow:
Seventh grade history Of the mod
ern world as a background for Amer
lean history. This course studies his
tory largely through study Of biog-
raphies, and Karl Marx is one Of the
many individuals listed for considera-
ton.
Eighth-grade history of the United
States. A stated objective Of this
course Is to instill an appreciation Of
the United States form Of government
as contrasted to European forms, thus
making some information necessary
on European forms.
Tenth-year modern history. One Of
the lessons of this course deals with
problems growing out Of the World
War, both economic and political. In
the consideration Of political there Is
reference to Communist and Fascist
governments.
Required course in American history
In eleventh or twelfth year. This
contains q lesson dealing with the
progressive movement, one Of the sub
titles being to contrast programs Of
socialism and the I. w. w.
Civics for the twelfth year. Stu
dents Of this course are required to
submit individual reports On some