Evening star., 1936-12-26
Politics and Education
Dr. Franks Situation Raises Issue Vital to College
Functions.

whole world has pulled TO the surface
and brought into debate aspects of
every field Of human affairs. Mat
ters which have almost been "a much
taken for granted ss the rotation Of
the seasons are now subjected to dis
pute. Among them Is the question
who shall control and manage our
educational institutions, who shall de-
termine what is to Be taught? II is
large question.
Readers who wish to give thought
to this question can make Q begin.
ming by dividing It's scope Into two.
First. schools which teach children
under l6 or II; second, colleges
which teach adult young men and
women.
As to the FIRST, there ought to Be
little argument. Schools for young
children do not, or need not, teach
subjects about which there is con-
troversy. The primary subjects
arithmetic, reading, spelling, writing,
elementary science and the like--con-
sist almost wholly OF bodies Of uni
versally accepted facts. The subject
about which there is most contro-
versy, the so-called political and So
cial sciences, are hardly appropriate
for immature pupils. Where contro-
versy arises. parents should have the
right to determine what their young
children shall be taught. Parents
can commonly express themselves
through local school boards, made up
Of elected oficials.
Age Changes Problem.
Colleges and universities are q dif-
ferent matter. In them students are
mature enough to think for them
selves and therefore mature enough to
be taught all subjects, including the
most controversial. As to what is
most controversial. As to what Is taught
and what view expressed the faculty
members are scholars, devoted to dis
interested search for absolute truth; it
is indefensible that they should be
interfered with by persons or groups
less informed or having bias, whether
these be politicians controlling State
universities " boards OF trustees con-
trolling private ones. To this immunity
college teachers are clearly entitled 80
far as they remain within their func-
ton of teaching and within the sub
jects in which they are specialists. II
they go outside their fields other con-
siderations arise.
For II we grant to faculties COM
plete academic freedom, these in turn
should practice self imposed restraint.
An individual John Jones is free to say
what he pleases on any subject he
chooses, in any forum he likes. What
he says will have the weight and the
audience that John Jones has. and
10 more. He can shoot of his mouth
from any soap box.
Airing Forecast.
But when John Jones is permitted to
add at the end Of his name, for ex-
ample, professor at Harvard Univer-
sity," he gets o hearing which comes
TO him only by virtue Of his association
with great institution What the
term Harvard University" stands for,
what 1t symbolizes to the public, Is q
coral growth. q body Of thought and
authority which has accrued through
three centuries from the contributions
Of thousands Of teachers and tens Of
thousands Of students. When any one
professor takes advantage Of this back
ground to give momentum to narrowly
individual views. not generally shared
by his associates, he may be practic-
inr a Kind nf larrenv ~ aYnroyal In
the name Of academic freedom"
This and other phases of education
and It's control will be aired at the
coming Wisconsin hearings. The whole
subject is very much to the front
everywhere.
(copyrish.. 1861