Evening star., 1948-02-13
School Officials
Attack MiIIer's S
History Plan
Boord Members See
Lengthy Courses as
Barrier to Colleges
BY Colt HendIey, Jr.

Oy SON fsSh0tCys ~.
District school officials believe
that passage of the Miller resolu-
ton, setting up new American his
tory teaching standards in public
schools here, would prevent gradu-
ates of District high schools from
entering most colleges and univer-
stiles. a@
The resolution, introduced by
Representative Miller, Republican,
of Nebraska, is pending in the
House. DR.. Miller is chairman of
the District Subcommittee on Ed
ucation and has been active in in
vestigating public school textbooks
here for suspected un-American
qualities.
All but one of the six Board Of
members attending
Legislative Committee meeting yes
terday joined in condemning the
resolution. Adelbert w. Lee was
the dissenting board member.
Other Courses Cited.
The objection to the resolution,
one of a number raised by board
was that if as much his
tory were taught as DR.. Miller de-
sires, high schools would be unable
to give the other subjects required
for college entrance. In addition,
the resolution conflicts with the
basic authority of the Board of Edu-
cation, board members contended.
The board members also de-
nounced similar bill, introduced
by Representative O'Konski, Repub-
lican, of Wisconsin, with Mr.. Lee
again dissenting. During discus
sion of this bill long -smoldering
feud between Mr. Lee and School
Supt. Hobart M. Corning fiared up
and Mr.. Lee accused the school
superintendent of exceeding his
authority"
Mr.. Lee touched off another squab-
BILE later when he observed that
DR.. Corning should not be allowed
to express opinions in public about
things being considered by the board.
He was referring to recent speech
by the school superintendent in
which DR.. Corning discussed need
for higher teachers salaries so that
more qualified persons would be at
tracted to the teaching profession.
The board is considering further
teacher pay raises now.
Mrs. Doyle Backs Corning.
"Do you mean that I am not
allowed to express my personal
opinions?" DR.. Corning asked.
mot when the matter is before
the board" Mr.. Lee answered.
Il must know my perogatives,"
DR.. Corning exclaimed. Can ex-
press my personal opinion, or must
I turn down speaking engagements?"
Mrs. Henry Grafton Doyle, board
president, came to his defense,
saying:
"''Dr. Corning is our professional
adviser and is entitled to his opinion
and has the right to express it. We
wouldn't think much of a physician
who diagnosed appendicitis and then
was not allowed to tell you about 1t.
The matter was dropped after
good deal more argument.
Report Up Next Week.
DR.. Corning's report on the Miller
resolution will come up for full
board action next week.
The report said that, in general,
there is no difference between
school officials and DR.. Miller. All
believe the ideals of this country
should be promoted, DR.. Corning
said. This is being done In the
school system here, he added.
The resolution calls for one year
of American history in the Junior
high schools, four years in the
senior high schools (Which may in
clude the one junior high year, and
two years study of the Constitu-
tion.
THE balance of the whole secon-
Diary school curriculum would be
destroyed If five of the regular IL
units of the 10th, 18th and 18th
grades were devoted to history and
the Constitution and three more to
English" the report said. This
would leave only four units to be
distributed among the sciences,
mathematics, languages, business
subjects. fine arts and the manual
arts and vocational fields
Candidates for admission to coll
lege could not possibly meet the re-
quirements for the United States
Military and Naval Academies or
for the engineering schools in the
colleges and universities throughout
the country. AS matter Of fact,
candidates for colleges in general
could be certified only to institutions
that do not have specific subject
entrance requirements, of which at
present there are still a few the
report continued.
Further, the school officials de-
clared the determination of courses
of study by congressional enactment
would deny the basic authority and
responsibility granted the Board Of
Education in the Organic Act of 1906.
Mrs. Doyle characterized the Miller
resolution an amazing" bit of rea-
soning, a bad precedent and the type
of bill that Is unnecessary"
In discussing the OKonski bill.
Mr.. Lee rebuked DR.. Corning for
sending a report to the corporation
counsel's Office last summer in which
he said the bill was "repugnant" to
board members and school officials.
since the board had not acted on
| the matter.
| DR.. Corning admitted he had
made mistake in saying the board
objected. The report was Intended
to convey the thoughts Of his office,
he added.
| The O'Konski bill has many fea-
| lures of the Miller resolution with
the added proposal for the creation
of a ,000-a-year post for a Dis
trict counsellor of education who
| would act as a censor" Of gAmeri-
canization courses in the public
schools here.
III NJ euoue Of luwyers