Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-12-13
COMMUNISM in
new YORK PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM

A history of the workings of the
Communist Party unit in the faculty
of Brooklyn College, together with
the attempts of that unit and its
parallel organization among the stud
ents, a branch of the Young Com
munist League, to spread the Moscow
party line was pieced together this
week by DR.. Bernard D. N. Greban-
Ter, Assistant Professor of English
at Brooklyn College, testifying at the
hearing of the joint legislative sub
committee investigating the New
York public school system.
Professor Grebanier, in testimony
elected by Paul Windels, counsel for
the subcommittee, described the du-
ties of members of the faculty unit
of the Communist Party, told of the
dues paid, stressed the secrecy OF
membership required and recalled eff
forts by the members to organize
Traction" in the College Teachers
Union.
Nine members of the faculty of
Brooklyn College have, at various
times since 1884, been active in
campus unit of the Communist Party
DR.. Grebanier charged in testimony
before the subcommittee.
The hearings, expected to continue
for quite some time, are the result of
the appointment by the State Legisla-
ture on March 20 of joint commit
tee to investigate the entire public
education system of New York State.
The subcommittee, under the chair
manship of State Senator Frederic r.
Coudert, Jr., with a imilar assignment
in New York City, but thus far con-
centrating on subversive activities in
the city schools, has been gathering
material at private hearings for sew
eral months which is now being made
public. The hearings are being held
in the New York County Court House
in Foley Square.
Prefacing the testimony, Mr.. Win
dels declared that the Subcommittee
had afforded opportunity to all per-
sons named as belonging to the Com
munist Party organization either to
affirm or deny that they were men,
bers of the Communist Party organi-
cation.
In a statement in reply to this,
DR.. Bella Dodd, legislative represen-
tative of the Teachers Union, de-
clared that Mr.. Windels' statement
evaded the truth.
"The facts, Mr.. Dodd said, "are
that teachers subpoenaed to closed
hearings were denied the right Of
counsel. Mr.. Windels refused to
promise them copies Of their testi.
mony. The teachers, therefore, made
statements demanding a free and
open hearing. The teachers have moi
had opportunity to affirm or deny
accusations made against them il
open hearing. They continue to de-
mand that right"
In furthering the Communist move
ment, DR.. Grebanier said members Of
the Communist unit carried on diff
ferent tasks. He himself wrote bool
reviews for New Masses, Communists
organ, and participated, he said, in the
work of two anti-Nazi organizations
the League of American Writer.
and the Society of Race Tolerance
Mr.. Windels offered in evidence as
showing work of other members Of
the unit an advertisement which ap
peared in the New Masses during
1888 listing the name of Howard Sci
sam as a lecturer. DR.. Selsam il
Assistant Professor of Philosophy al
Brooklyn College.
In regard to dues to the Commun
list Party, DR.. Grebanier testifie,
that he paid dues and assessments
amounting to $500 a year, more thar
10 per cent of his annual income
Weekly dues were SIS, and in addition
there were dues for "internationa
solidarity" fund raising drives TO
the Daily Worker and a "Red Front
fund to be subscribed to. If anyon,