Evening star., 1947-05-10
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For Talks Asked
Citizen Executives Soy
Corning Should 0. K.
Those Permitted

Grafton of Citizens Associations to-
day sent the Board Of Education a
resolution demanding that the
School Board assume full response
bility and set up regulations gov
erning the delivery Of lectures to
public school students.
The federation board acted at a
meeting last night as the aftermath
of the Western High School speech
given last Tuesday by Russian born
Mrs. Sa1ura Lewis. The talk on
"Life In Russia" precipitated a
four student walkout and launched
two Congressional inquiries.
In reporting the Executive Boards
action, Federation President Clif-
ford Newell said the board "in-
sisted" that action must be taken
"as reluctant as we are to keep any
sensational matter before the pub
lie"
1--WE deeply sense our RESPONSE
bility," he said, ''in doing all we
can to protect the children of our
citizens here ir Washington from
being given wrong ideas in their
impressionistic age"
Asks Corning o. X. Speakers.
The board demanded that lectures
90 given only after permission by
the superintendent of schools. DIR.
Hobart M. Corning. the superin-
tendent, told the school board We'd
nesday that all school principals
have been instructed to submit to
him for advance approval in the
future any programs which include
outside speakers.
The Federation Board resolved:
THAT we demand that the Board
of Education shall assume whole
responsibility and promulgate regu-
1ations governing the delivery of
lectures and addresses to the stu
dents of tie public schools of the
District of Columbia.
"And that such lectures and
addresses tbe given only with the
permission Of the superintendent of
schools after proper investigation
concerning the subject matter of
such lecture or address, and the per-
son who proposed to deliver such
lecture or address to the students,
and under whose auspices such per-
son is acting in making such address
or lecture and what, If any, remu-
neration is paid therefore and by
what person or organization such
compensation is paid"
Awaits Dirksen's Return.
On Capitol Hill, House District
Committee, aide said the committee
will await the return of its chairman,
Representative Dirksen, Republican,
Of Illinois before deciding how far
to pursue the committees investiga-
ton of the Lewis speech at Western.
Now before the committee. is a
letter from Corning, in which he
described the speech by the Russian
born woman as wholly contrary to
the philosophy of education under
which we operate"
Mr.. Dirksen is expected to confer
with chairmen of his fiscal and
judiciary subcommittee before de-
gliding on the next move. In addt-
tion to the letter, DR.. Corning sent
the committee the three-page report
he submitted earlier to the EJard of
Education on the Western High in
cident.
Pupils Back Principal.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel A. Danow-
sky, principal of Western High, had
a unanimous vote of complete con-
idence" from his student body.
The vote of confidence in Mr..
Danowsky, who arranged the speak
ing engagement by Mrs. Lewis, came
at student assembly yesterday at
which the students greeted their
principal with an enthusiastic burst
of applause.
In response to Chairman Dirksen's
request for an explanation of the
incident at Western, Mr.. Corning
said the entire affair shocked the
whole school system" He also wrote:
THE reported utterances of the
speaker at the Western High School
assembly are repugnant to all who
are working with youth in the
Washington schools and the un-
fortunate train of circumstances
which brought about her appear
ance before students in that school
is sincerely regretted by all of us.
Faithful Service Cited.
Perhaps the most shocked and
regretful person connected with the
schools is the principal of Western
High School who made the arrange
ments for the appearance of Mrs.
Lewis, but who had taken the pre-
caution to advise her that she must
not speak on political ideologies
and issues.
THE sincere regret which Mr.
Nathaniel A. Danowsky, principal of
Western High School feels Is char
acteristic of and in tune with his
10 years of very faithful and loyal
service in our schools. His was an
error of judgment for which he has
been criticized by this Office. but any
censure of him is directed toward
his mistaken judgment"
Four Students Absent.
The four students who walked out
on Mrs. Lewis and subsequently
were commended on Capitol Hill for
their action were absent from school
when the Student assembly con-
vened at Western yesterday. The
school Office said no word had been
received from them.
Student council officers gave this
account of what happened at the
assembly:
Larry Gallen, president of the
council. interrupted the applause
that greeted the principal and
"edged" Mr.. Dsnowsky aside. He
explained to the assembly. that four
students had gotten together and
drawn up a resolution expressing the
view that Mr.. Danowsky was in nc
way to blame for what happened at
the last assembly.
Text of Resolution.
William Walker. who composed
the resolution. then read it to the
assembly. The text of the resolution
follows:
Whereas, the reaction on the
part of certain public groups has
indicated that they may believe our
principal, Mr.. Nathaniel A. Danow-
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