The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-07-27
ACADEMIC FREEDOM"

The question of Academic Freedom" is one that
is constantly before the American people 1t IS not
only the subject of numerous conversations, Dut Is
also frequently pleaded as justification for teach
ings which are being criticised, is the subject OF
many magazine and newspaper articles, and Is not
infrequently brought into the civil courts. Lately
interest in the question has been intensified by the
announcement of the National Education assocla-
ton of plans for militant fight for independence
and learning in the nations schools"
An interesting study of the subject was recently
made by the American Institute of Public Opinion
which published the results of 100000 ballots ask
ing "Should schools teach the facts about all forms
of government including Communism, Socialism
and Fascsm?" Sixty-twO per cent OF thsoe answer
ing the question answered it in the affirmative.
summary of the editorial comments on the study
made by the institute reveals that its principal sig
ncance is that it indicates there is no general fear
that the educators are undermining American
principles.
There is no disposition among thinking people to
mt limits upon academic freedom. No reasonable
person objects to the teaching of truth The crtl-
csm sometimes directed at educational institutions
is based upon the fact that certain educators IN
terpret academic freedom" to mean academic
effort to use ones position of authority as means
of undermining loyalty to country or faith IN God
is something entirely different. To accept posi-
ton at the hands of Christian citizens and then to
use that position to destroy in the children of
those citizens the ideals in which their parents
believe is nothing less than a betrayal of trust.
The province of education has been defined IN
now famous sentence by Sir James Irvine, of Great
10 Gov nflQ
ing the boundaries of knowledge rather than for
coonizing the territory it explores" A recent
writer says ''The object of education is to impart
knowledge and to train the reasoning faculties TO
get the truth out of facts What and when to teach
are questions for professional judgment. The lay
man knows that the first step in education Is mas
terry of the mechanics of reading writing and math-
ematics History and geography and the correlated
sciences are prime essentials as the student pro-
crosses. Discriminating taste and will to seek
and scrutnze facts are to be cultivated. With TINS
equipment the student, not training for technical
career is fairly we'll prepared to face life, under
stand and apply what he and reads to clrcum-
stances and environment. =. Democracy needs
the use of all the mental resources it possesses"
With this opinion we agree We insist, however,
that Christian citizens have right to assurance
that the institutions which they support by their
taxes will not seek to destroy the faith and the
ideals of the young men and young women en-
trusted to their pertinent statement IN TINS
connection made IN court decision hahded
down recently by Judge Eugene Hubbard, of Lou
isville, KY Among other things, Judge Hubbard
said: "The future of this country, and OF UNBORN
generations, depends upon our schools, coliegeS'
universities and educational Institutions, and the
training, character thoughts, habits, etc, acquired
while attending said institutions. The public, the
taxpavers are interested in the preservation of
institutions for the good Of all people. christian
Observer.