Evening star., 1937-02-01
A Few Facts.

IA ICW oStSs
AS it is argued that the so-called red
rider" is not intended to prevent and
does not prohibit the teaching Of facts
about communism in the public schools,
but does prevent such teaching in
manner that shows favor or support OF
communism, there may exist some con-
fusion as to why the effect of the red
rider Gas distinguished from its intent)
Is to prevent any and all mention OF
communism in the public schools or to
prevent in the opinion of school au-
thorities, even the adequate teaching OF
modern European history.
Even at the risk of retracing old and
tiresome ground, it may be helpful to
recite a few facts about the red rider and
the effect of it's enactment and conse-
quent Interpretation.
First, what does the red rider" say?
Here it is:
That hereafter no part Of any appro-
priation for the public schools shall be
available for the payment of the salary
OF any person teaching or advocating
communism.
BY its wording the law is so sweep
ingly applied that even the school jani-
tors are forbidden either to teach or to
advocate communism and must certify
that they have not done so before they
can receive the salaries they have earned.
Second, what did the corporation coun-
sel say in interpreting the manifeStly
ambiguous wording of the statute? His
lengthy opinion may be summarized, for
the present purposes, in the following
quotation:
Thus, am of the opinion that the mere
recitation or study of factual data is not
the teaching" prohibited by this statute.
But am also of the view that any shadow
of favor or support of communism shown
by or reasonably to be drawn from such
recitation or study is prohibited.
Third, what did the Controller Cen
eral say? A part of his letter to the
Board Of Education follows:
In view of this specific limitation on
the uses Of apr -opriations for the pay
ment of salaries of those employed in
the public schools >. 1t becomes a duty
of this Office to require, before credit may
be allowed, a showing of fact in support
of each payment of salary to those so
employed, to the effect that the law,
supra, has been duly observed. To this
end it appears necessary that prior to
each such salary payment there be re-
quired for filing here statement in
writing signed by the person to be paid,
in form as follows:
I, ............, an official, teacher, or
other employe of the District of Colum-
bia Public Schools, hereby state that I
have knowledge of the provision appear
ing in the act Of Congress approved
June IA, 1885, .. and further state,
without reservation and for the purpose
OF obtaining payment of salary otherwise
due me, that did not at any time during
the period ............ to ............
l93...., IN any school OF the Dis
trict Of Columbia, or elsewhere, teach or
advocate communism.
Fourth, what has been the result?
The result is that teachers and en-
ployes of the public schools in order to
protect themselves from any possible
violation of an ambiguous statute-since
later hostile Interpretation of the law
or of the trend of their teaching COM
ment concerning communism would
threaten loss of salary and perhaps OF
position and means of livelihood-have
solved their common problem by de-
clining to mention communism or any
thing that pertains to it. No reasonable
person can blame them. Already sub
jected to humiliating badgering, by
insulting and ensnaring questionnaires,
they naturally resent the aspersions un-
deservedly cast on their patriotism and
loyalty by this rider" and their friends
in the community and throughout the
country are urging its repeal.
The quicker 1t is repealed, the better
1t will be, not only for the District teach
ers and this community, but for the
anti-communism cause in general and
for all those everywhere who, like The
Star, have not the slightest sympathy
with the revolutionary, subversive, God
less communism, but who believe also
that the effective assaults of anti-com-
munism campaigns must be direct, un-
ambiguous and intelligently vigorous and
not, as in the case of the red rider, by
crude method of attack which is of
doubtful benefit to the cause and which
Is cruelty unjust and injurious to in
dividuals.