Evening star., 1939-07-03
Convention 10 Act
On Teachers Charge
OF Injustices
Fear of Punishment
Influences Instructors,
Committee Declares
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 3.-Some
$4,000 teachers from all parts of the
United States put the needs and
technique of their profession under
the microscope as the 77th annual
convention of the National Educa-
ton Association opened here today.
Indications that fireworks would
highlight some of the sessions were
seen in reports to be submitted to
the teachers before their convention
closes Thursday.
There is, for instance, the report
of the Committee on Academic
Freedom, which found that teachers
IDEAL carefully with controversial
subjects because of fear of punish
ment.'
And that of the Committee on
Tenure, which, after a years prob
ing of certain instances, wants au-
thority to investigate all cases of
unfair treatment and unjust dis
charges of teachers, and will seek
an appropriation of $4,000 to exc
cute this work
Potent Forces Seen.
The Committee on Academic Free
dom. in its report to be submitted
by Chairman Henry Lester Smith,
dean of the Indiana University
School of Education, said few teach
ers were dismissed, denoted or
otherwise disciplined for exercising
academic freedom but indicated
potent forces were at work causing
the teachers to deal carefully with
certain matters.
"The subjects which are most
dangerous to teach,' the report said,
"include religion, sex, politics and
economics"
1t added that groups who are be-
lieved to be most active in limiting
academic freedom are schoolboard
members, parents, school admin
istrators and church groups.
The committee in survey found
that "in general, teachers, lawyers,
young people, college graduates and
liberals were willing to grant teach
ers somewhat more academic free
dom than were schoolboard men,
bers. real estate and insurance men,
older people, non-college graduates
and conservatives"
ReappOintmentS Forced.
The Committee on Tenure report
ed it had forced the reappointment
of 81 of % discharged teachers in
Oklahoma City, and listed this as its
outstanding achievement in 1888.
The report said that not only had
the positions of all the discharged
teachers but one been regained, but
the case inspired political action
which resulted in the election of a
new schoolboard pledged to correct
conditions which caused the dis
charges, and led to grand jury in
dictments OF the schoolboards attor-
ney and two board members.
The teachers were discharged mot
because of their incompetency or
failure to perform their duties the
report declared.
apparently the majority of them
were discharged because they were
6CllVe TleUlDeIS Vi lIle CldSSIOOIl
Teachers Association and because
they had been active in attempting
to protect their fellow teachers from
mistreatment by the schoolboard.
Reuben T. Shaw Speaks.
underlying these discharges also
Is a resentment against teacher or
ganization, teacher tenure and polit-
ical freedom of the teachers"
Presiding at today's first general
session was Caroline S. Woodruff,
immediate past president of the N
E A., and principal of State Normal
School, Castleton, VT. Reuben T,
Shaw, now president of the associa-
ton and head of the science depart
ment, Northeast High School, Phila-
delphia, was the principal speaker.
and his subject, Responsibilities of
Our Profession
On this afternoons schedule was
an open meeting of the Committee
on Resolutions, to receive suggestions
from any delegate.