Evening star., 1936-12-03
PAC|F|ST POLICIES
Of SCHOLASTIC"
BRING SCHOOL BAN
Board Drops Magazine From
Approved List With One
Dissent.
MRS. MCNEIL DENIES
EDITORIAL INFLUENCE
Ballou Prefers Publications With
Only Factual NATURALIZATION
on "The Crisis" Deferred.

Scholastic" weekly publication
for pupils, which has been under fire
ever since the question of communism
In the schools has been under discus
sion, yesterday was stricken from the
approved list" by the Board of Edu-
cation. but not because of its alleged
friendliness to communism.
1t was removed from the schools
because of two of four svowed policies.
both of which were regarded by board
members as too pacifistic. These poll
cies would pledge young Americans to
refuse to participate in any war not
declared by Nationwide referendum.
and to resist CONSUMPTION without an
equally complete CONSUMPTION of the
capital and profits of industry"
The four declarations were
al. We will not fight in any war
unless the mainland Of the United
States is invaded by foreign foe or
unless by international agreement
against an aggressor state.
%. We will not fight in any war
which has not been declared by M
jority vote in a Nationwide refer
endum.
IS. We will not accept conscription
of our bodies for the Army or Navy
without an equally complete conscrip-
ton of the capital and profits Of in
dustry
- We will maintain TO the end our
right to determine our own conduct by
independent thinking"
Every member of the board joined
in the opposition to the publication
except Mrs Mary A. McNeill, who
argued that school children. like
adults, were not necessarily guided by
the editorial policy of the publications
they read.
Opposes Censorship"
ct believe we are undermining a
fundamental American principle
Mrs. McNeill said, when We prescribe
what our children shall read"
| George NJ. Whitwell raised the OBJ
lection to the weekly at the last board
meeting. pointing out his opposition
to the policy of propagandilng the
schools in behalf of pacifism.
DR.. Frank W. Ballou, superintend-
ent, joined in the objection. explain
ing that he preferred publicat tions
that present only factual material and
have no editorials or editorial policies
whatever.
| A committee of teachers and OIL
GERS had recommended that the pub
| lication be purchased for use Of high
school English classes. 1t would have
cost the system about $4,000 a year
to obtain the necessary number Of
subscriptions. it was explained.
Argue Ban on Crisis"
Prior to acting on Scholastic,
the board spent nearly two hours
hearing arguments for the approval
of The Crisis. published by the
National Association for the Ad-
vancement of Colored People, and
Opportunity. published by the Ma
tional Urban League. Their removal
from the approved list had been asked
by DR.. Garnet C. Wilkinson, first as
sistant superintendent in charge of
colored high schools Both publica-
tions were charged with making op-
probrious references to members of
the colored race. The Crisis also
was charged with containing matter
Objectionable for use in the education
Of children.
The magazines we're defended by
William H. HASTE, attorney; D. A.
wilkerson, assistant professor of edu-
cation at Howard University; Roy
wilkins, editor of The Crisis, and Eu-
gene K. Jones. executive secretary of
the Urban League.
Each of those who spoke was ques-
toned by Whitwell on their stand on
communism and long argument re-
suited when DR.. j. Hayden johnson
declared communism was not an issue
In passing on the publications. The
board deferred final action.
Miss Simmons Appointed.
Miss Edna Simmons was appointed
an assistant In education at Wilson
Teachers College to succeed Miss
Elizabeth Andrews, who was made An
administrative principal in the ele-
mentary schools some time ago.
| Upon the recommendation of DR..
Ballou three men were invited to join
the Community Center Council to
enlarge the membership Of that or.
ganization. Those invited are John
Locher of the Central Labor Union,
Harold Fangboner of the Junior Board
of Commerce and Rev. A. F. Elmes
| of 624 M street.
The first of a series of more than
a dozen reports on the character edu.
cation experiment, which was ter
minated by Congress after two years,
was submitted by DR.. Ballou. It OUT
lined the purposes of the experiment
and the documents used In carrying
it on.