Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-12-16
Judging School Textbooks

Criticism of some of the textbooks used in
our public schools is nothing new. It develops
periodically in many of our cities. Magruder'S
American Government" for example, widely
used in American public schools for years, is now
under attack by School Board Vice President
Adelbert Lee. He thinks it is Slanted in favor of
socialism A comparable criticism of the book
by school board member in Houston Texas,
last year, brought ban on its use there. Sub
sequently, the ban was lifted and the use of the
book resumed.
In reading the book it is possible to under
stand why Mr. Lee objects to it. But this is not
to say that his objection is valid. The author of
a textbook, which must undergo the scrutiny of
scores of professional educators before winning
their approval does not enjoy Mr.. Lees freedom
In the expression of personal prejudice. The
author must hew to the hard line of objective
discussion, line that one does not associate
with Mr.. Lee. But Mr.. Lee is an official of our
Board of Education and has every right to speak
his mind on textbooks or anything else that
concerns the schools
The problem, in such cases, is not the criti-
csm. The problem is in finding an intelligent
method of dealing with the criticism. For the
advantage is all with the critic. BY citing
passage out of context, by stringing together
sentences lifted from paragraph without fol-
lowing the authors own arrangement of the
suspicion that book is utterly unfit for training
young minds to think for themselves. And the
suspicion extends beyond the book to the school
officials who approved it and to the members of
a board of education who concur. Everybody,
in other words, is placed on the defensive.
Some years ago the Michigan Department of
the American Legion appointed Committee on
Evaluation of Institutional Materials which pro-
duced an excellent report, adopted by the Michi-
gan Legion. The resolution set up series of
crteria to be used in the evaluation of textbooks
and other Institutional material. 1t discussed
the difficult problem faced by educators in try
ing to present fairly to students all sides of a
controversial issue 1t recommended joint COM
mittees of educators and laymen for the careful
appraisal of textbooks and other material in
dispute. It would be good thing for the Board
of Education here to study that report and
perhaps adopt, as standard procedure, some of
its good suggestions.
The members of our Board of Education are
not chosen because of their competence as edu-
Gators or judges of textbooks. But they share,
with the school superintendent and other Off
Gals the responsibility of approving textbooks
When some of these books come under criticism
the board should seek the counsel of outstanding
educators and laymen in passing on the validity
of such complaints as those now pressed by Mr.
Lee. If the board could persuade any three
judges of our District Court to sit as panel of
citizens in the judgment of the few books in
controversy, for example, The Star believes that
their opinion would be received with confidence
by the community and we might be spared
the dangers of another symbolic book-b burning
incident.