Evening star., 1936-02-22
STRONG APPROVAL
|FORESHAD0WED|N
| EARLY COMMENTS
Virtually Every Member
Wants to See Teaching
Bars Removed.
FORCES ARE Modified
FOR HEARINGS TUESDAY
School Heads Legislative Com
mittee Recommends lndorse-
ment of New Yorkers' Bill.

Vigorous approval by the Board of
Education of the second Sisson Bill"
which calls for repeal of the legisla-
tive rider forbidding the teaching and
advocacy of communism, was fore
seen today when the board began
marshalling its forces for appearance
at the hearings on the measure Tues
day morning.
Henry Gilligan, chairrlan of the
school boards Legislative Committee,
which late yesterday voted to recon-
mend that the board approve the red
rider repeal bill within an hour of its
introduction by Representative Fred
Sisson of New York, is writing the
first draft of his Committees report.
This first draft viii be submitted to
Henry I. Quinn and John H. Wilson,
the other menlbers of the school
boards Legislative Committee, for pos
sible suggestions rs to its final form
before the committee report is pre-
sented to the full board at special
meeting Monday afternoon.
Approval of the committee report
is definitely seen in the outsaoken
comments of virtually every member
of the Board of Education expressing
conviction for repeal of the legisla-
tive rider.
Hear of Second Bill.
The arst "Sisson BILL" calling for
clarification of the red eider by modi-
flying it to prohibit only advocacy Of
communism, Vas to have been the
subject of heatings before the sub
committee on education of the House
District Committee at 1890 am.
Tuesday. The Legislative Committee
of the Board of Education met at the
Franklin Administration Building late
yesterday afternoon to consider that
measure. Scarcely had the commit
tee conveyed, however, than it was
apprised by Mrs. Henry Grattan
Doyle. school board president, Of the
introduction during yesterday after
noon of a new measure by Representa-
tive Sisson which called for outright
repeal.
Members of the Legislative Commit
tee, who had been considering how
far they should recommend repeal in
their report on the Qualification" bill,
at once seized upon the opportunity
to express unanimous support of the
new repeal measure. Quinn made
the motion that the committee recom-
mend support of the new bill. Will
son, the new colored member of the
board, seconded the motion.
The committee also agreed to rec
ommend that Mrs. Doyle direct the
school boards presentation of its case
for repeal at Tuesdays congressional
committee hearings. Mrs. Doyle has
been one of the boards most out
spoken opponents of the red rider.
Assailed as Unnecessary.
"The legislative rider on commu-
nism." Mrs. Doyle said today, "is one
of the most unnecessary pieces of
| legislation ever enacted by Congress.
1t completely ignores the oath Of of
flee which all school employees, in
Guiding notably teachers, take when
they first enter upon their duties.
The requirement of the controller
General that all school employees sign
certificate to the effect that they
have not taught or advocated COM
munism before they can draw their
salary each pay day, is just as un-
| necessary. The controller generals
requirement on one hand casts aside
as inconsequential the employees oath
to support the Constitution Of the
United States. and then solemnly ac-
/ ceptS the sincerity of the signed state
ment that communism has not been
advocated"
Ballou Pleased.
While committee members, as well
as the board president and Robert A.
Maurer, the other board member
present, were voicing support Of the
repeal measure, DR.. Frank w. Ballou,
superintendent of schools. expressed
his happiness that SiSson had intro
duced a bill that was stronger than
his original measure.
At the close of the committee meet
ing, Sisson himself advised Gilligan
than his second bill would be substi-
tuted for the original measure. There
fore, Tuesdays hearings will be en-
tirely on the repeal proposal.
When the boards Legislative Com
mittee reports at Mondays special
meeting of the Board of Education,
it will recommend that list OF civic
and educational organizations which
have opposed the red rider from the
start be transmitted to the Congress
sional Committee considering the re-
peal bill.