Evening star., 1935-12-13
HELD
LOCAL SCHOOL AIM
At BOOK PARLEY
Mention of Communism De-
CIared microscopic" as
Texts Are Discussed.
APPROVAL is GIVEN
BY EDUCATION BOARD
DR.. Ballou Believes D. C. Leads
Country in Teaching Pupils
on Americanism.

Mention of Communism II the pub
lie schools Of Washington is micro
scopic." but the teaching of patriotism
and Americanism is so constant and
universal that it is accepted as a mat
ter of course and seldom mentioned
by the pupils.
These two assertions were made
today when the special committee Of
the Board Of Education making a
study of questioned text books held
its first public meeting. Because no
advance notice was given of the meet-
ing there were only half dozen per-
sons present aside from the school
authorities.
Approval of Books.
Responsibility for the approval Of
text books was accepted by DR.. Frank
w. Ballou, superintendent, who also
asserted the Board of Education itself
acts on all texts chosen. DR.. Bal
lou presented four separate statements
outlining the procedure of adopting
and approving texts, and in each he
showed that he himself had acted
and that his action was approved by
the board.
George j. Jones, head of the history
department in the white high schools,
was questioned by Benjamin L. Gas
kins, board member, regarding the
mention or teaching Of Communism.
Jones reiterated a previous statement
that the mere touching of the SUBJ
ject in all courses was microscopic.
Mrs. Philip Sidney Smith. a mem-
Der Of the special committee, asked
that DR.. Ballou prepare formal re-
port on the teaching of Americanism
and patriotism and developed the fact
that such instruction reaches not only
the students of history but every pupil
in the system.
Teachers Accept Oath.
Mrs. Smith also brought out the
fact that the teachers oath to sup
port and defend the Constitution Of
the United States against all enemies,
foreign and domestic" now a question
in several States, has been accepted
here for many years. The original
oath has been required by law, it
developed, since 1888 and the present
oath is revision made in 1917. prob
ably because Of the World War.
DR.. Ballou also outlined the pro.
cedure followed In adopting Modern
History" by DR.. Carl Becker; Chang
ing Civilizations in the Modern
World" and AN Introduction to
American Civilization" by Harold
Rugg, and "our World Today" by
Stull and Hatch. All of these, he
said, we're recommended by the stand
ing Textbook Committee. made up Of
teachers, supervising principals and
heads of departments.
After the recommendations Of the
committee, DR.. Ballou said, the texts
we're studied by the first assistant sue
perintendents and, when approved by
them, were in turn approved by the
superintendent. He then submitted
them to the board, recommending
their approval and such approval was
given.
The books mentioned were cited by
the Executive Committee of the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations. which
also pointed out that selected read
ing to accompany the courses in
cluded q number of books that ad-
vocate Communism.
Listed Books Excluded.
DR.. Ballou reported that the listed
books in each of the texts are excluded
as collateral reading unless they are
approved by the board Such lists
are made up by the school authorities
and the Public Library, and all other
books, whether mentioned in the texts
or not, are excluded from assignment
to pupils
The superintendent also reported
that although the books in question
are on the approved list, that all
courses provided more than one text
for the pupils. The books thus selected
range from the more advanced for the
brighter pupils to the elementary,
selected for the pupils with less men,
tai alertnesS. 'Modren History" he
said, is not prescribed course, but
Is selective for senior high schools.
During the course of the meeting,
Mrs. Minnie Frost Rands, 143O Floral.
street, member Of the PARENT
Teacher Association of the Shepherd
School, asked that the board arrange
its courses Of study so that children
will be friendly with other nations,
rather than have them taught to
hate" certain people because Of their
form o. government.
IF you were a pupil in Washington
now" DR.. Ballou said, you would
know that our pupils are taught to
hate nobody. In the general course
of instruction they are taught to try
to understand the peoples Of other
nations and to understand interna-
tional questions clearly"
Earlier DR.. Ballou said he did not
believe any school system in the
United States paid as much atten-
ton to and spent as much time on
instruction in the Constitution, Amer
icaniSm and patriotism as the Dis
trict system.
He promised to present the Text
Book Committee with an analysis Of
such instruction.