Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-14
Communism Is Spurned
AS Ideal i'm Schools
To the Editor Of The Star:

10 the EQltoT OI Inc 5thI'
Your editorial in Tuesdays Star on the
subject of academic freedom in the public
schools of the District Of Columbia was
safe, sane and sound in tone and tenor,
as your editorial opinion always Is. You
stand four square, as all genuine Ameri-
cans do, for freedom Of thought and
utterance as part of the fundamental
creed of democracy. Any other policy
would reverse the traditions OF $50 years;
but freedom of speech must not be
allowed to degenerate into license which
would jeopardize the foundation Of free
institutions. 1t is especially dangerous
to have such heresies inculcated upon
the impressionable minds OF youth.
It was the clear and unmiStakable in
tention Of Congress to prevent Com
munistic propaganda in the public
schools OF the District Of Columbia. The
corporation counsel has interpreted this
act with sane judgment and common
sense. Pupils in the public schools must
be indoctrinated with the spirit Of in
tellectual freedom in harmony with ma
tional security, but they must never be
taught to tolerate any wild and untried
theory OF government calculated TO de-
stroy American ideals and traditions.
Communism Is q fact which looms large
In the world today.
Every teacher OF social science in
schools of every type must bring Com
muniSm to the attention Of his students
or be confronted by them with 1t. 1t
would be as absurd to try to prevent its
presentation as to interdict the multiple
cation table. But there is world OF
difference between presenting Com
munism effectively as an object OF study
and understanding and teaching 1t SYM
pathetically as q program Of action.
Communism is the most militant
branch OF Socialism and is imbued with
the missionary spirit TO carry its mes
sage and mission to the nations and
supplant democratic institutions. Com
muniSm and democracy are antlthetlcal
terms. Every theological faculty must
recognize the existence OF atheism and
agnoSticism as" objective facts which
must necessarily be brought to the at
tention OF inquiring students; but they
would not dare dream Of inviting
atheists and agnostics to present such
topics. On the other hand, men Of ma
turity of thought and judgment and
tested soundness in the Christian faith
dIlU uOClIlllC SiANSS AASAS
sizes only as examples to be avoided.
Crime, murder lynching and kidnapping
are facts which force themselves upon
the attention of every student and
teacher, but the antidote must be given
along with the poison. We cannot
present the claims of vice and virtue
to youthful minds and allow them to
decide according to their own will and
Judgment. Communism cannot be
given an equal chance with democracy
to gain the favor Of American youth.
Congress has determined that no
known Communist who avowedly be-
lieves in its mission to supplant democ-
racy shall be placed on the pay roll to
teach and preach this insidiouS doctrine.
Wherever Communism is effectively
presented it must be held up like all
other vices as an object to be Stunned
and avoided. This is no infringement
upon the freedom Of speech. If any one
wants to advocate Communism he is at
perfect liberty to do so within the al
lowed limits of the law; but it must be
done outside of the school room and
without Government support. Any other
policy would be suicidal and would spell
the end Of patriotism.
KELLY MILLER.