Evening star., 1947-12-07

grain Is COO SIlOl t.I dllScu, tOO lIlQl-
rect and passive
A staee1lent issued by the IA
clergymen rs q group when they
returned-it was emphasized it was
q statement, not a report-said the
problem Of the characterization Of
Germany, which looked so simple, In
advance, looked quite different on
the scene.
1.-THE commission was Of the opin-
ion that q more active course should
be adopted" the statement said.
This is particularly true in the field
of education and youth activities.
The theology which undergirds the
democratic way of life should be dis
seminated among ALL
The other side of the picture, from
the viewpoint engaged in the re-edu-
cation task, shows problems which
account for at least some of the crit
icisn.
For instance. the reorientation
budget, which takes in education
and, to a minor extent, some re-
lated projects, amounted to only ST.
AL ,030 in fiscal 1947. 1t was in
creased to $l,944,000 in fiscal 1948.
DR.. Ockenga believes at least $10,-
100000 year should be allotted for
indoctrination.
Serious Textbook Problem
Other countries certainly are do
ing more than we. But, In the cases
of the Russians and the French, they
are trying to establish what officials
here refer to as cultural beach,
heads" in their zones. A beachhead
implies more expansive action later
This is not American policy.
The textbook problem is a serious
one.
The British and Russians both
have done more than we in the
matter of textbooks. The British
have published 12,6O0oO0 textbooks
and the Russians 17,600,000.
That the Germans are not being
taught anything about the Hitler
period is not conceded to be true.
The subject is not covered in the
texts and some teachers do not
touch it because of what is described
as the difficulty for them to regain
their equilibrium after the cata-
clysmic unheavals they have been
through. Other teachers are said
to cover the subject, using masa-
zines as the basis Of their teaching.
The American libraries DR.. Oc-
kenga mentioned with such absence
of enthusiasm are regarded as
Every valuable" by Col. Edgar
Erskine Hume. chief of the Re-
orientation Branch in Washington.
They are established at 20 or more
information centers throughout the
American zone.
One of the most valuable projects
we could undertake. in the opinion
of practically all, would be the ex-
change of students and teachers
between the United States and Ger
many. The stumbling blocks are the
lack of money and, in Germany. the
lack of accommodations for Ameri-
cans who might 80 there.
Just recently Gen. Clay has agreed
that accommodations could be found
for a limited number of educators
and possibly religious leaders, too,
Between 20 and 30 German stu
dents have come to the United States
this fall, but entirely on private re-
sources.
On the Asset Side
Much has been done In the re-
organization of the German educa-
tional system. No longer is high
school education of the type neces-
sary for university entrance re-
stricted to only 10 per cent Of the
school population. Now not only
primary schooling but secondary as
we'll has been made available for
every child.
On the asset side of the balance
sheet are also these things:
Every elementary and secondary
school child-there are 2,500,000 in
the American zone-can 60 back to
school and has at least one book
The program of denazification of
teachers has been completed. Where
formerly for each teacher there were
more than 80 pupils, the ratio Is now
down to between 80 and 10. Teacher
training programs-a measure of the
utmost importance-are in progress
all over the zone. All universities in
the American zone are operating
There are 48 newspapers owned
and run by Germans, but licensed
by the military government in the
American zone. They have a circu-
lation close to 4,500,OOO.
Many Movies Sent Over
There also are five major radio
stations under our control, but
manned by Germans. The relayed
programs Of the Voice Of America
provide the chief political commen-
tary OF these stations.
There also are three magazines
which we produce for German
readers. One Is the Americanische
Rundschau (American Review. It's
contributors are Americans. 1t is
written for the intellectuals and has
q circulation Of about 10000.
Another Is picture magazine,
Heute (Today). It has q circulation
Of 100000 and 1t is estimated as
many as 100000 copies could be
sold If that many could be provided.
Tha third ie Tis Ne,fe Aus1ese