Evening star., 1935-10-25
The Spirit, Not the Letter
OF the Communism Rule
To the Editor of The Star:


The opinion of the corporation coun-
sci on the intention of Congress
in forbidding teaching and advocacy
of communism in the public schools
of the District of Columbia and the
split decision of the Board of Edu-
cation upon the correctness of his
Interpretation leave the superintendent
and teachers in an equivocal and un-
comfortable position. Senator King de-
clares that the corporation counsel has
wrongly interpreted the purpose Of Con-
greSS, which, he asserts, was to forbid
the presentation of the subject. both in
the sense of teaching or advocating it.
In fact, the technical distinction between
the two is but a question of sharp
casuistry. On a dead issue which has
no relation to present day life and rela-
tionShip teaching may be purely objec-
tive without advocacy. One may teach
about the Pelopenesian War without bias
to either Athenian or Spartan. bat it
is practically impossible for a deep Zap
list to teach the relative claims
of immersion and Sprinkling without
evilcing his doctrinal convictions.
For this reason all such subjects
OF instruction are eliminated from
the public school programs. There is no
question today within the whole range
of economic and political discussion
which agitates the public mind so much
as communism. The President of the
United States has warned the Russian
government against its inSidious prose-
lytism on threat of severing diplomatic
relations. Congress has passed law
forbldding its instruction and advocacy
II, tbn cnhaa1c 49, 1o ictr 81 C1I
over which it has exclusive Jurisdiction.
Thirteen States have required teachers to
take the oath of allegiance to the ConSti-
tuition of the United States with the clear
and unmistakable intention of barring
communism as subject of instruction
The American Legion has gone on record
as being in favor of stamping out this
alien invasion, root and branch. The
American Federation of Labor in its
recent session at Atlantic City has reg
istered its hostile attitude in no uncer-
tain terms. The press, the pulpit and the
radio present the subject only to de-
nounce and condemn it. If any one
is in doubt as to the attitude of the
american mind on communism, he
thereby places himself outside the pale
OF the intelligent and the we'll informed.
In such an inf1amed state of the public
mlrd sensible teacher, with or with
out torbidding law, should approach this
question with extreme hesitancy and
caution. This caution is doubly imposed
IN unsupported schools, and most eSpe-
clalIy alter Congress has so forcibly eX-
pressed itself in terms in which a way
1arlng man need not err. After all of
this Salutary warning and in face of the
adverse opinion of the keenest legal
minds on the Board of Education any
teacher who ventures to teach commun-
ism does SO at his or her own risk. Any
teacher who has the temerity to present
communism to his or her pupils. under
the plea OF obJectiVity without advocacy.
Will. undoubtedly, be cited for trial by
an lnquisitive public. This would precip-
ltate renewed discussion of the oues-
tloA IN Congress, which would then pro-
ceed to pass law upon whose construc-
ton there could be no doubt I remem-
Der reading somewhere in "McGurthv's
Reader" of three applicants for a posi-
ton as coachman. They were all asked
what would be their conduct if they
approached precipice. The first replied
that he would never approach nearer
than six feet from the edge. The second
applicant, desiring to show off his skill.
declared that he could drive within six
inches. with perfect safety. The third
replied that he would keep as far away
as possible. The more cautious applicant
got the job. The application is obvious.
Teachers in tax-supported schools should
keep as far as possible from the precipice
of communism. KELLY MILLER.