Evening star., 1947-06-26
Lee Voted Down
.0nUn.Anlerican
TexibookCharqe
Boord Of Education
Members Foil to
Support Contention
BY Colt HendIey, j.

Board Of Education M Member Adel-
bert w. Lee, after renewing his
charges that certain texts used In
the public schools here are un-
American, remained without the
support Of the other eight members
Of the board today.
Mr.. Lee again brought charges at
the board meeting yesterday that
Building Citizenship" by r. o.
Hughes, q civics textbook, was not
fit to teach to high school students.
Again, other members Of the
board refused to go along with him.
II think the book is an inspiring
exposition Of good government and
citizenship" Mrs. Philip Sidney
Smith said.
Supported as Motion.
DR.. James A. Cannon then asked
her to put that statement in the
form OF 4 motion and the board
voted its approval with Mr.. Lee
voicing the only no"
George E. G. Hayes, before the
vote was taken. said he thought 1t
unfortunate that 4 member Of the
board, through counsel, holds
himself up As a paragon Of virtue
to the discredit OF other board
members: He was referring to q
speech made over Station VOL by
Franklin r. Miles, local attorney,
Tuesday night in which Mr.. Miles
accused the majority OF the board
members Of not being "aggressiyely
interested" In doing anything about
subversive practices In the public
schools.
Mr.. Miles was present at the
meeting as a spectator and identified
himself as Mr.. Lees attorney.
Bill introduced.
Shortly before the board met, q
bill calling for the creation Of q
$4,000 a year job as counsellor for
education" in the District was intro
duced in the House by Represent
ative OKonski, Republican, OF Wis
consin, with the objective Of exclud-
ing subversive teachings on history.
The draft Of the bill listed at the
bottom the name Of Franklin r.
Miles.
Pro-Communist remarks made by
a lecturer at Western High School
are said to have inspired the pro-
posed legislation. It was referred to
the House District Committee.
Mr.. Lee opened the debate by say
ing he was surprised and amazed"
to find that School Supt. Hobart M.
Corning's report on an investigation
of textbooks, which was approved
by the board at It's previous meeting,
actually quoted a passage which
advocated revolution.
DR.. Cannon interrupted to accuse
Mr.. Lee OF continuing the unfair"
practice OF taking d sentence or SO
out of the text and giving another
to 1t. DR.. Cannon referred
to Mr.. Lees reasoning as dis
honest"
Questioned Chapter Read.
"1 resent the remarks of DR.. Can
non," Mr.. Lee snapped. IF we can't
present views, the board has no rea-
son to exist. My honesty and In
tegrity on the board speaks for
itself"
Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle, presi-
dent of the board, then sent out for
copies of the book and read the
chapter In question to the other
board members.
The controversial passage read:
Revolution means a change in gov
ernmer1t which overturns authority
already existing and puts in It's place
other authority. Is revolution ever
justified? Yes, If there is no other
means of overthrowing wicked or
selfish rulers and putting in power
right principles and wise and honest
leaders"
1t went on to say that in this
country, people express their pref
erence on election day and said this
Is the proper way for free and in
telligent people to support the cause
they believe to be right a."
Recordings List Submitted.
During a more routine part of the
meeting, Mrs. Smith, as chairman
Of the Buildings, Grounds and
Committee, submitted for
a list of phonograph rec
ords for use In school courses.
She commented that the list was
excellent except she thought more
complete symphonies should be in
cluded, such as the works of Bee
thoven and Shostakovich, the Rus
sian composer.
There was moment of silence.
Then DR.. Cannon commented:
"Shostakovich sounds al,little sus-
picious, Mrs. Smith" Most Of the
board members jointed in the
Man in D. {. ; Days a Week