Evening star., 1937-02-07

% ", II LDIOO ALI q,
body existed to prescribe what should
AMI should not be taught in the
schools
THE Senate report of May IL,
1885," said Mrs. Doyle, "reads: The
repeal of this provision would not
give to the Board Of Education Of
the District or the teachers authority
or encouragement to advocate COM
munism. In the opinion of the COM
mittee the effect would be exactly
to the contrary. II the Senate sup
ports the view Of the committee and
this law Is repealed, the Board Of
Education will have full responsibility,
which it should militantly exercise
in preventing the use Of radical text
books in the schools and the employ
ment of teachers intoxicating subver-
sive doctrines into the minds Of the
school children Of Washington
No Instance Of Violation.
"The school board is prescribed by
law as having the responsibility, and
fully assumes the responsibility, Of
not having any teacher who advocates
communism in the public schools"
said Mrs. Doyle. There has not been
a single instance where any of the
5000 teachers Of the public schools
have advocated communism or indi-
Gated any sympathy with that system"
Ciy,oi1or re xyniaad hu
Henry I. Quinn, attorney and member
of the school board. 1.-THE Kennedy
substitute" he said, Twill just get us
into another stew. Who knows what
an un-American doctrine is in the
conception Of some Of these super
patriots?
This new clause" Quinn contended,
would result in a continual furore in
the public school system. Every one
with political grievance will be con-
tending that some subject or some
textbook Is un-American because it
doesn't wave the flag in the way they
think it should be waved
IF the red rider substitute abolishes
the semi-monthly statements signed
by teachers it will relieve the schools
Of an administrative burden, of course"
he continued. But it is an outrage to
leave a cloud over our public school
teachers when there is not the slightest
proof that any of them has ever ad-
vocated communism in their class
rooms.
Its shame that the House should
take this tack after the Senate has
voted outright repeal Of the thing
Against Compromise.
Mrs. William Kittle, president. Vote
less District of Columbia League OF
Women Voters, said:
The Voteless District Of Columbia
League Of Women Voters stands for
outright repeal Of the Red Rider. The
league is unalterably opposed to any
compromise"
Mrs. Richard Hogue, president,
washington branch of the American
Association Of University Women:
THE Washington branch of the
American Association of University
women Will under no circumstances
support any such amendment to H. r.
l48 as Mr.. Kennedy Is said to be
contemplating.
We believe that If this bill were
thus amended it would constitute a
vicious and wholly un-American in
fringement upon the province of the
responsible school authorities. and
would only prolong the unparalleled
situation which has been created in
our school system by the Red Rider.
H. r. l48 should be passed in its
original form-a straight repeal of
the rider"
Kennedy himself still thinks the red
rider should be repealed. But I am
satisfied. after talking with many
members Of the House" he said. that
they will not support my bill for that
purpose. Since the red rider is so
wrapped in misunderstanding there is
only one thing left to do-destroy the
effect Of the rider now and kill it
later"
Has Preferred Status,
Kennedy's red rider" repeal bill
has a preferred status on the House
calendar and will be the first measure
called up tomorrow when District leg
lslatlon IS considered. Various par
liamentary tactics are expected to be
adopted by its opponents to forestall
consideration, and a lively battle is
anticipated.
In addition to the Kennedy bill
there are five other District bills on
the House calendar which can be
called up tomorrow. The most i'm
portant Of these is the Norton bill to
modernize and humanize juvenile
court procedure. The District COM
mittee favorably reported this measure
Wednesday. Another would amend
the Police Department salary act to
provide two classes of detectives, and
third would increase the penalties
for persons convicted of felonies. A
fourth would authorize construction
Of new building for the recorder Of
deeds.
A prolonged battle over the "red
rider" however, would prevent con-
Sideration Of these bills until the next
District day in the House, February %.