Evening star., 1935-12-16
THOMAS OPPOSES
RENEWAL OF BAN
ON RED" TEACHING
Schools Should Give All Data
on Subject, Senator
Says.
TEXT BOOK REPORT
WILL BE READY SOON
Maurer Confers With Officials
After Study of Volumes
and Periodicals.

Senator Thomas, Democrat, OF Okla
hnn1a in charge of District appropria-
tions in the Senate. will oppose re-
newal of the rider prohibiting the
teaching or advocating Of Com
munism in the public schools, he
declared today.
Meanwhile, formal report on text
books now used in the schools was
being prepared by Robert A. Maurer'
chairman of a special committee
named to make a study of the volumes
which are under fire by the Executive
Committee of the Federation of Cit1-
zens' Associations. The report will be
submitted to the Board of Education
Wednesday.
Although making it clear he would
be opposed to advocating either
Communism or FaScism in the schools
Senator Thomas took the view that
to tell children they could not be
given information on the subject
would merely increase their interest
Wf1dG are SCLlOOIS 4OL IAlC OAAo
homan inquired. They are to teach
history, science, literature and allied
subjects. One of the purposes OF an
education is to develop the mind, SC
that students may think and draw
conclusions from facts. That is why
they are taught higher mathematics
and languages. 1t is not so much
because these subjects will arise in
everyday life, but to discipline the
mind.
students Should Have Data"
Communism is a theory of gov
ernment, a theory based on equal
ownership of all property, and that
property is held in common for the
benefit of all. I am not advocating
Communism, but explaining the the
ory. Why should not students have
an opportunity to know what the
theory is? AS long as the philosophy
is concealed, some might 60 of on
a Communistic tangent. But knowing
what it is, they will be able to appraise
it along with other forms of govern
ment and reach conclusions. Com
nunism, fascism and democracy are
facts. Unless students are familiar
with them, they are unable to judge
Senator Thomas said he did not
think any one should be required to
sign pledges against giving instruc-
ton on the subject. After the ban
had been written into the current
appropriation act in its final stages
of enactment. Corporation Counsel
Prettyman's Office took the view that
teachers could give instruction in the
subject as long as they did not advo-
cate it. When the question went be-
fore the controller generals Office,
however, it was held that under the
language of the proviso teachers and
all other school employees would have
to sign written pledges that they had
not taught or advocated communism
before they could be paid. At pres
ent the school employees are required
to sign these papers for every semi
monthly salary payment.
Maurer Sees Officials.
The books under study by Maurer
were objected to on the ground they
teach or advocate communism.
Maurer conferred with other school
officials at the Franklin Administra-
ton Building today preparatory to
making his report.
In addition to a small number Of
books specifically cited by the fedora
ton the committee has gone over
many other volumes used in the high
schools in classes in which communism
may be mentioned
A study also has been made of
periodicals purchased for use in the
schools.
Last week DR.. Frank W. Ballou,
superintendent, submitted a series of
four reports to the Maurer committee
in which he accepted responsibility
for approval of the books after they
had been selected in routine method
by the standing text book committees.
After his own approval, however, he
said the books also were approved by
the Board of Education.
Associated with Maurer on the spe-
cial committee are Mrs Philip Sidney
Smith and DR.. j. Hayden Johnson
Each made independent investigations
before the whole committee acted as
a unit. 1t is the result of the joint
action that Maurer will submit
Wednesday. 1t is not expected that
the board will take immediate action,
but that the report will be held for
study until some subsequent meeting.