Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1941-01-16
Ask For Dismissal /.
OF All Proceedings

During the past several weeks the
press of Minnesota has commented
generally adversely to the manner IN
which the State Board of Education Is
conducting its affairs. The criticism
has been mainly with respect to the
director of vocational training. and
DR.. John G. Rockwell, commissioner of
education. On Jan. 8. the Minnesota
executive board of the Women's Inter-
wrote a critical letter on this subject.
signed by Mrs Hugh B. Wilcox, state
president. to Mrs. Raymond Gould;
Minneapolis member of the State Board
of Education. Mrs. Wilcox's letter.
which was also sent to other members
Of the board and Governor Stassen,
follows:
Members of the Women's Inter
national League for Peace and Free
dom have followed with deep inter
est and increasing concern the &C
tons of the State Board of Educatio
since July 1st, 1910, in their attempt
to GUST from their positions, first d.
Eugene Carstater and, on Novembe
Both, DR.. John c. Rockwell. The
have studied the records carefully, a
far as they have been made public
and have come to these general con
clusions:
/. The flimsiness of charges
against the two men is clearly
shown in the record, and in the
case of DR.. Carstater by his rein
statement on December 7th, on
unanimous vote of the Civil Serv-
ice Board. This action completely
removed the grounds for the orig
inal charges against DR.. Rock
well. No others have been made
public.
2. The continuance of the attack
on DR.. Rockwell without specific
charges, repeatedly demanded by
his counsel, together with the re-
fusal of the board to listen to his
prepared statement of defense,
constitute fragrant violation of
civil service procedure.
8. Within the State Board of Edu-
cation itself its conduct has con-,
tinually disregarded simple dem
ocratic procedure by systematic
cally excluding the one minority
member, Mrs. Colvin, from its
secret meetings and caucuses.
4. The injection of the racial is
sue into the hearing for DR.. Rock
well was more than unfortunate
and regrettable", as stated in the
Governors telegram to the N. A.
A. c. p; it was most unworthy
a state official and justly de-
served the singing rebuke it
drew from the Commissioner.
5. The line of questioning at the
hearing, involving many minor
cases, clearly reflects the intent to
force political conclusions and the
dangerous political influence in
the case of groups outside the field
of education.
6. The hand of the Governor in
the case is equally clear, not
only by the fact that the four
majority members of the board
are all his appointees, but by the
regular attendance at board meet
ings during this period of Mr..
Ted Evans, assistant in the At
torney Generals office. His ca
pacity seemed to be superad-
viSory.
On the other hand we common
DR.. Rockwell:
l. For his meticulous adherence
to the principles and practices of
Civil Service.
2. For his unprejudiced and en-
lightened racial attitudes.
3. For his splendid work dur
ing the past six years as Com
missioner of Education with par
ticular reference to his pioneer
work in the field of nursing edu-
cation, characterization of school
control and management, adj
vancement of civil rights for
teaching staff members, equali-
cation of the burden of taxation
for school maintenance, and ex-
tention of the educational system
to all the people of the state, in
Guiding the Indians and various
types of the handicapped and
underprivileged.
4. For his unceasing protection of
the best tradition of academic
freedom for the whole education
al system, including now the saw
ing of the vocational educational
department from the various
abuses which might creep in with
improper political control of vast
amounts of federal aid money.
In view of these conclusions we joi
with the voices of outstanding leader
in the educational field nationally
and with local leaders in all fields, an
the public generally, in support {
John G. Rockwell. On behalf of tn
board of the Women's In
League for Peace an
Freedom, Minnesota Branch, we de
mand' that proceedings against D.
Rockwell be Immediately dismisse
with full apologies.
In addition we wish to point on
the danger to the continuance G
democracy it's elf involved in thi
threat of political control of the yer
citadel of democracy-our free edu
cational system.
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