The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-01-05
Prejudice Can Be Prevented
Religious Racial Obsesons Well Hatred and Be
oed Declares Noted Propaganda Analyst December Issue of
"Jewish Veteran'-Traces Historic Epdemcs Inspired
by

teachers in schools throughout our
nation were aware Of the problem
and were dealing with 1t in innum-
cradle classrooms.
Springfield Plan
What has made the Springfield
demonstration notable lies in the fact
that it represents an attempt to
integrate school activities at every
age and grade level with all man >
ner of adult activities in the COM
munity all to the end Of utiliz-
ing intelligence and axioms of fair
play in arriving at judgments in
volved IN issues which separate peo-
pie. The difference between facts
and opinions is taught. Six plus
seven equals thirteen is fact; thir-
teen Is unlucky is an opinion.
Recently, the city of Pittsburgh
has taken steps to make this same
COMMUNICATIVE attack.
Psychologically. the problem In
volved in intolerant attitudes to-
ward bankers. or labor unions. or
Jews, or Catholics, or Negroes or
any "out group" is exactly the same
as medieval attitudes toward dis
ease or natural phenomena.
Tomato "Scare"
It was not easy to get out of the
minds of people the opinion that the
Jews were responsible for the Black
Death. Up until 100 years ago 1t was
not easy to get out of the minds Of
people the opinion that tomatoes
were poison. A campaign of educa-
ton was required to prove to and
convince people Of the high food
value of tomatoes.
This, every advance in scientific
knowledge has had to run counter
to superstition and ignorance and
prejudice; it has come only through
education.
I recall the story Of the group Of
citizens in Lancaster. Ohio, who a
century ago, petitioned the Board
Of Education for the use of the
school building to discuss the new
invention known as the steam 10
connective.
The Board of Education considered
the request ard then gave its de-
cision: IT God in Hts infinite wis
dom had intended men to be hurtled
through space at the outrageous
speed Of fifteen miles an hour. He
would have said so in His Holy
Scriptures. Petition denied"
AS facts superseded ignorance, as
clear thinking lessened superstiti-
ton, the pre-judgments against the
steam locomotive disappeared.
Americans now in their flfties
recall similar pre-judgments against
the "horseless carriage"
And consider the Wright Brothers
and the airpiane. The most eminent
men of science had proven" that a
heavier than-air- machine could not
lily. All the respectable authorities
declared a flying machine was i'm
possible.
When the Wright Brothers flew
their plane most Of the newspapers
ignored the story. Most editors dis
missed 1t as q fake or q hoax. They
"knew" a flying machine was Inn
possible.
Wright Brothers Ridiculed
Even the home town editors OF the
Wright Brothers In Dayton, Ohio,
pooh-poohed the achievement Of
the local boys; they didn't consider
flying news. It couldn't be. Even
when the brothers flew their plane
over pasture near the city. In plain
sight OF passengers on passenger In
ter-urban cars. 1t wasn't news. one
Is reminded OF the story of the
comment OF the old lady who once
saw giraffe for the first time:
There amt no such animal" Only
O campaign OF education proved TO
pople that human flight was posi-
BILE and practicable. (The story Of
the pre-judements against the
Wright Brothers flying machine Is
told In Fred O. Kelly's recent "Bt-
ography Of the Wright Brothers~.
AS In the field Of mechanics, where
an attack on prejudice has brought
marvellous increases In the efficiency
OF transportation and communica-
ton. 50. too. In the treatment Of dis
ease spectacularly successful results
have been obtained by the humane-
scientific method which prevents or
destroys ignorance and prejudice.
OF course. this educational method
Il not popular at the start. Witness
the ridlcule and contempt which
pioneers Ike the Wright Brothers
met; witness the fierce opposition