Evening star., 1949-03-10


that Mr.. Pearson's Sunday evening broad
cast is Immediately followed by Airwick on
the same station. E. L. CROKER.
Upper Darby Pa.
Correcting "Heresy" of Communism
To the Editor of The Star:
It is gratifying to see The Star view the
case of Judith Coplon in the light of getting
at the basic causes of why seemingly loyal
Americans choose to engage in espionage.
Certainly some of these people are more
to be pitied than censured for, as with Miss
Copon, they have everything to lose and
nothing to gain. 1t is sad testimony on con-
temporary life in the United States that so
many have subordinated the interests of
their country to those of a foreign power.
We who see the light should be thankful
that we never have fallen victims of such
ill-conceived notions as those which led to
the ruin of many other Judith Coplons.
In roofing out the evil, we ought to keep
In mind that neither hysterical ranting nor
suppression of subversive activities by law
will succeed in leading all the misguided
liberals back to the fold. Only by under
standing the evil nature of communism as
practiced in the Soviet Union are the gull
liberals" going to return to our side. Our
job should be to assist In every way in
spreading the good word" While we can
not condone the activities of Miss Coplon,
and punishment must be meted out, we
nevertheless should make every attempt to
find the reason why.
This is problem which requires sound,
rational approach. Those who preach the
doctrine of communism are heretics in our
modern society and certainly need help in
correcting their beliefs.
CLIFFORD ]. HEATH, Jr.
An Ex-Teacher's Criticism
To the Editor of The Star:
AS a former teacher of Is years of expert
ence, three of which were in the Districts
public schools, DR.. Strayers report on the
educational setup here has been of great
interest to me. big Amen would be an
appropriate comment on practically every one
of his criticisms and recommendations. Dr.
Strayer should be congratulated on the fine
piece of work he has presented in this survey
and the public should be grateful that, at
last some one in position to do SO safely
has publicly exposed features of the District
schools which have caused the schools to
be far inferior in the process OF educating
the citys youth than the amount spent war
rants their being.
First of all, this school system is one in
which teachers are carefully screened" not
as to their teaching ability and interest in
loyalty to those in power, or In their backing
by some one influential in the political set
up The examination system, which DR..
Strayer says keeps teachers out. is complete
farce. It is generally predetermined, even
before candidate goes up for examination,
whether or not he will be admitted to the
ranks of permanent teachers. The examina-
ton questions, on the whole, are ridiculous
of a minor detailed nature. The questions
are neither indicative of ones knowledge of
what is taught in the schools nor of his
ability to teach. Hundreds of good teachers
who have been eliminated from or denied
permanent positions in Washington's schools
could vouch for this statement.
Teachers as Clerks.
DR.. Strayer's report reveals that too much
of the teachers time is consumed in clerical
duties was frankly told by number of
faculty members in one high school to which
I was assigned and in which taught for
one semester, but refused to stay longer,
that my teaching was not important in that
building. 1t was further brought out that
the principal of the building would never
visit class to see the quality of teaching
and work done with the pupils. All that
mattered, so was informed, was that got
reports and clerical work in to the clerk OF
the school promptly and in correct form.
this school clerk actually being the rating
authority of the school. The "last straw
was for one of the vice principals OF this
particular high school to suggest that 1t
would pay me to stand In" with the school
-S.-f-, t~l4 - NSaA{