Evening star., 1951-04-05
By Colt HendIey, Jr.

By Colt Hendley, Jr.
The Board of Education has
supported School Supt. Hobart M.
Corning in his contention that
textbooks questioned by Adelbert
w. Lee, vice president of the
board, are not socialistic or sub
lversive.
But, the textbook battle is just
warming up.
The meeting of the school board
yesterday ended with Mr.. Lee
shouting that he is the victim of
| a dirty double cross" by DR.. Corn
ing and that the matter will be
continued elsewhere. Mr.. Lee was
the only board member voting to
lban three textbooks under suspic-
lion.
| Mr.. Lee also threw in an added
astarter in the fight by criticizing
la song book which features a ditty
Iabout Thomas Jefferson entitled,
Thomas Jefferski."
Mr.. Lee later told reporters he
Twas double crossed by DR.. Corning
lin that the school superintendent
lhad agreed to work out a plan
whereby a committee of impartial
icitizens would review the text
books. He said DR.. Corning had
made the commitment to C. Melvin
Sharpe, board president, only hours
before the meeting.
Caught Short of Ammunition.
Definitely a double-croSs was
pulled" Mr.. Lee exclaimed angrily.
He said he had not brought
all the material he had prepared
on the textbooks because he didn't
think DR.. Corning was going to
recommend that the books be ap-
proved at the meeting. He said
Ehe was caught short by the rec
ommendation. approved by other
board members after conSidera-
BILE debate.
His reference to further action
in the matter was to announced
intentions of Representative Mil
,er, Republican, of Nebraska TO
| look into the textbook situation
in the District schools.
Chairman Mcmillan of the
House District committee has au-
thorized a subcommittee. of which
DR.. Miller is a member, to hold
a meeting about textbooks used
in the local schools. This is ex-
pected this week.
Back in 1948, this very same
situation developed. The Board
of Education supported DR.. Corn
ing in a fight over another text
book, Building Citizenship" by
Hughes. DR.. Miller, then chair
man of the subcommittee, held
| hearings, and the author revised
the book to suit the subcommit-
tee before it was used in the
schools again.
Concerning the alleged double
cross" DR.. Corning stated:
There was no promise, no
| thought and no agreement about
such a citizens committee to re-
view texts"
He said he consulted last Fri
day with Mr.. Sharpe and Mr..
Lee en- the approaching textbook
problem but gave no Indication
he would change his mind about
backing the books, which had
been re-eNaIuated by a special
textbook committee of teachers
and approved - second time. %
Discussed Proposed COMMITTEES.
DR.. Corning said he had talked
Ito Mr.. Sharpe before the board
injecting. and the possible use of
Ia citizens committee was dis
Icussed. But, he added, he made
no commitments to Mr.. Sharpe.
Mr.. Sharpe, when asked by re-
porters if DR.. Corning had prom
Used to consider a citizens COM
mittee, replied:
Mr.. Lee is right"
/ The textbook squabble started
Iout quietly enough, as DR.. Corn
ling made short report to board
members that. since Mr.. Lees
complaints. the books had been
lre-checked and Endorsed by the
teachers textbook committee.
/ Mr.. Lee then launched into a
I14-page discussion of what is
wrong, in his opinion, with the
books in question. American Gov
lernment," by Magruder;; Work
lers at Home and Away" by Nc
Intire and Hill, and Roots of
Political Behavior" by Snyder and
Wilson.
Charges Socialistic Slant.
He criticized them as un-Ameri-
can in philosophy. "slanted toward
socialism" and unfit for use in the
District schools. He cited passage
after passage from the books to
back up his contention.
Mr.. Lee also said he was
shocked to learn" that many COP
les OF the 1916 edition of Build
ing Citizenship" are still in use In
the schools. This edition is the
one before the revisions suggested
by the House committee in 1s4a
were made.
He cited comments on the books
from the Educational Reviewer y
a New York publication, which
has been heaping criticism on the
books.
I am making a strong objec-
1 4 l.. L. L. :