Evening star., 1936-11-20
RED RIDER CLAUSE
BARS Z MAGAZINES
FROM DC. SCHOOLS
Officials Rule Articles on
Communism Might Be
Misunderstood.
DECISION is REACHED
FOLLOWING CONFERENCE
Eastern Principal Calls Attention
to News Weeklies and In
vokes Structure.

Current issues OF two news weekies
for class room use have been taken
out of circulation in the District
schools because of identical articles
dealing with communism.
They are the Weekly News Review
and the American Observer, published
here by the Civic Education Service
and having a local circulation of
about 5000. Nationally, they reach
about 100000 subscribers.
The ban was made known in an
announcement late yesterday from
DR.. Frank W. Ballou. superintendent
of schools, after the structure first had
been invoked by Principal Charles
Hart of Eastern High School against
the News Review, which was distrib-
uted Monday.
Under instructions issued in Octo-
Der. officials and teachers may use
their own judgment on articles con-
structed as coming within the limits
Of the red rider" which prohibits
advocacy of or instruction on COM
munism in the Washington schools.
Might Be Misunderstood.
Hart, Ballou's announcement said,
held up the News Review by reason
of an article on page 5, entitled The
Theory and Practice of Communism.
Principal Hart indicates he thinks it
possible that certain assertions in this
article are subject to misunderstand-
ing and might be variously inter-
preted."
The article describes Communism as
"a system of government and industry
under which all the instruments of
production-the factories, the stores,
the banks, the land and transportation
sytsem-are owned and operated by
the state. " 4" No individual can make
profits because he does not own any
thing from which he can make profits.
Under true Communism, there
fore. there is only one class of people
the workers"
Now it is fact" the article con-
tinues, that Russia has made great
industrial progress under Communism.
There has been ne depression Of the
capitalist variety. in that country. Un-
| employment is never problem"
As an offset, however, it adds: This
does not mean though that the living
standards in that country are high
Compared with the standards of em-
ployed Americans, they are extremely
low. Compared with the standards
of Russia before the revolution, they
are generally considered a littls
higher"
Opposing Viewpoints Given.
The political and religious implica-
tions of the system as seen from
opposing viewpoints then are dealt
with.
This Is the conclusion:
Though socialism and communism
have been advocated by small groups
in America for about a century. and
while each form has had a number Of
able advocates, neither movement has
gained headway. The vast majority
of Americans remain democratic and
capitalistic. Socialists and Com
munists are but tiny handful. Com
munists cannot have a chance to ac-
| complish anything in America except
under circumstances similar to those
which We described last week as the
possible opportunity of the Fascists.
IF there should be economic break
down in this country; if it should
come about that millions of Americans
were hungry and without hope for the
future, then they might turn to advo-
Gates of other systems Those Ameri-
cans who wish to avoid change in the
direction either of fascism or COM
munism can best realize their ends
ny maintaining stability and pros
perity and by seeing to it that the
masses Of the people realize in increas-
ing measure their desire for WELL
being and security and opportunity"
Conference Is Held.
The attention of other school au-
thorities was called to the offending
article and after a conference with
officials of the Civic Education Serv-
ice it was decided by the latter to
withhold from local circulation the
Observer, which would have gone out
Wednesday. Ordinarily the two pub
lications would not have contained
the same matter. but this week they
did, it was explained.
The Civic Education Service has OPP
Grated here for several years. Its
editor is Walter E. Myer. former his
tory professor in Kansas State Teach
ers' College, and on the Editorial
Board are Charles A. Beard, noted his
torian; Harold G. Moulton, president
of Brookings Institution; David S.
Muzzey, historian, and Fred j. Kelley,
well-known educator. They get out
also the Junior Review.
The service said today that the
article to which objection has been
raised is similar to others that have
appeared for years and was written in
conformity with a policy of offering
analytical discussion of various forms
of government, showing up shortcom-
ings as well as benefits. Earlier issues
dealt with democracy and fascism.