Evening star., 1935-11-17
"Teach or Advocate" "
The controller general should. If

The controller general should. II re-
quested by the Board Of Education,
clarity" his decision regarding the
teaching" of communism in the public
schools. It is not customary for the
chief accounting oficer Of the Govern
ment, the controller general, to expound
the procedure of reaching a decision. In
this case, however, he is in position
to undertake an Interpretation of the
questioned word used in the appropria-
tion law, the language OF which is not
sufficiently definite. In any case it is not
improper that he be asked specifically
to explain whether he regards the word
teach" as signifying anything more than
a factual presentation by teacher to
a class of students. If in the eye Of the
law to teach" a subject means to advo-
cate an involved principle or practice
there is need of considerable revision
of the curriculum and methods Of in
struction in the public school system.
On the other hand, if it does not mean
advocation there is no trouble whatso-
ever in this immediate situation.
It is not the function of teacher to
advocate any cause or subject or prin-
ciple of life. It is the teachers function
and duty to present facts and the ac-
cepted laws of their relationship and
their operation. 1t is fact that COM
munism is a principle Of government
advocated by certain group OF peo-
pie, and at present in operation in one
of the largest countries in the world.
To state that fact and to explain the
theories and workings Of communism
is not breeding in the minds OF students
a partisanship for that hypothesis OF
government, which is abhorrent to the
American ideal. Indeed, it may be urged
that it is far better for the students
to be given a clear understanding Of the
precise nature of communistic admin
istration from teacher in the school.
and so to recognize its dangers and dis
advantages, than to learn Of the exist
ence of such a doctrine elsewhere from
its deluded partisans and advocates.
1t is altogether likely that those who
drafted the paragraph in the appropria-
ton law which has caused all this dis
cussion and difnculty had in mind
unity Of meaning between teach" and
advocate" The phrase in the law is
significant in that it says teach or ad-
vocate." The alternative conjunction is
perhaps indicative of an intent to in
clude both teaching and advocation. 1t
is in fact badly phrased injunction,
after the fashion of much Of the legis-
lation that is hastily framed and care
lessly edited in the processes Of enact
ment. The courts Of the land have been
kept busy for many years wrestling with
problems arising from antiquities in
the statutes due to slovenly phrasing.
1t would be outrageously unjust to i'm
pose upon teachers who conscientiously
discharge their duties Of instruction In
the District public schools the penalty
of loss of compensation because they
have followed the rules adopted by the
Board of Education based upon an opin-
ion by the corporation counsel Of the
District, which has now been inferen-
TALLY challenged by the controller gen
eral. From whom are the teachers to
take their orders, the Board Of Educa-
ton or the controller general? If from
the latter there should be clearer
definition of the meaning Of the ap.
propriation act than that which has now
been given.