Evening star., 1936-12-04
MRS. DOYLE SHUNS
DISPUTE ON BAN
Declines to Comment on
Scholastic Editors Charge
of Repression.

Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle, president
of the Board of Education, today de-
clined to comment on charges OF
Maurice r. Robinson, editor of Scho-
lastic, that the board had allied it
self on the side Of repression" in
striking Scholastic from the list Of
publications approved for use in the
public schools.
The weekly paper was disapproved
because Of its alleged advocacy of
pacifism after its use by high school
English pupils had been recommended
by a committee of teachers. Last
Spring the paper was cleared Of .
charge that it was tainted" by . pro-
communistic policy.
Robinson also charged that the
board had failed to give him Z hear
ing before taking action, but Mrs.
Doyle cited the records to show that
he had twice been told of impending
action by the board and had not
responded on either occasion.
Telegraphs Protest.
Robinson's telegram to Mrs. Doyle
said:
"The Washington Board of Educa-
ton at its meeting April ~ adopted
q motion to give me privilege Of ap-
pearing before the board to present
Scholastics side of this controversy
before the board took any action on
the report of the Teacher Committee
on Scholastic. Do you not consider
that the action of the board yester-
day "wednesday without my being
given the privilege Of hearing Is
contrary to regularly adopted motion
of the board? In view of previous
resolution may I ask for . recall
of yesterdays action and an oppor-
tunity for q hearing?"
Mrs. Doyle pointed out that Robin
son had been notified by letter Novem.
Der 40 that the board would act ut
this weeks meeting, but that he did
not respond until the telegram was
received yesterday Afternoon.
"Iis request for bearing will be
presented to the hoard at its next
meeting" she said. IF the board
wants to reconsider 1t may do So"
When advised Of . statement Rob-.
inson sent The Star, the board presi-
dent indicated her interest but de-
clined to say anything. ~
"The shades Of Tom Blanton still
hover over the Washington schools"
Robinson wired. -.
The board, he continued, def
nitely reversed its stand Of LAST Win.
ter and allied itself on the side of
repression against which 1t then 20
valiantly worked"
Il do not believe the board realizes
the implication of its hasty action,
because in taking it they open the
way for repreSsive minorities to de.
stroy freedom of teaching and in
quiry. To be consistent the board will
now be compelled to raid the high
school libraries and eliminate stand
ard books and periodicals that por-
tray the insanity Of war"
Robinson referred to three speeches
of President Roosevelt which, he said,
"they will have to bar" because their
advocacy Of peace ARE stronger meat
than Scholastic has set forth in its
editorials. -
Vows to Fight War.
1.-THE Board of Education has pre-
sumed to forbid an honest discussion
Of the horror and insanity Of war
by students Of the Washington high
schools. May the Lord have mercy
on US and our children. II We are to
teach them only to tight and not to
think, we are simply following the
course Of Russia, Germany and Italy
toward the destruction Of civilised
liberty.
I'm an editorial in Scholastic We
definitely stated the stand Of the edi.
tors on the subject Of war as follows:
We believe that history has piled
up ample evidence to prove to every
thinking person that war - . means
of settling international disputes u
q complete and absolute failure.
Therefore We shall continue to call
attention Of our readers to that evil
dence. We shall tight war and war.
and conditions which
make for war wherever We find them
I'VE still stand by this statement,
and II We are barred from the schools
Of Warrington because Of that state--