Evening star., 1951-12-07

Adelbert w. Lee. DR.. Hobar
and textbooks been 100 per cent Ameri-
can?
Had all school board members
throughout our country been as vigilant
as Mr.. Lee in his efforts to rid our
schools of un-American textbooks we
older people would be less apprehensive
over the future Of our beloved country!
Retired Teacher.
In the excellent Star editorial Decem-
ber 3 on the Corning-Lee affair as
well as in the five letters to The Star
of December 4. thousands of readers of
The Star take great pride.
However. there is one point which has
not been given sufficient emphasis and
which is not to be brushed aside as
ethical or unethical. A QUESTIONABLE
which is supposed to be anonymous (giv-
ing the benefit of doubt about code
numbers> is something that brings into
America a threat of complete destruc-
ton to all our best principles. Presum
ably Mr., Lee hoped to get, under promise
Of secrecy, condemnation of DR.. Corn
ing, who would then be ousted forthwith
without knowledge OF his accusers or
possibly even of the crimes he was sup
posed to commit. To any logical thinker
the outcome Of such procedure is evi-
dent. There Is nothing that would be
more gratifying to the enemies of our
way Of life than to establish such prec-
edent Have all of Mr.. Lees connec-
tions been thoroughly investigated?
Maybe he has no incriminating con-
nections. but Is acting on his own i'm
mature processes Of thought because he
just loves to see his name in print.
G.. G. B.
have been reader of The Star since
1900 and have always been interested in
civic affairs, especially the public schools.
Therefore, it is shocking to many that
The Star has deigned to inject per-
sonalities into the grave public school
issue. Why is 1t that such stanch
supporters OF proper education for our
children as Melvin Sharpe and Adelbert
Lee should be subjected to smear tactics
by the press? The superintendent, up
held by the NEA. Is always leaning
strongly to the left.
The only concern Of our people should
be whether our children are being
taught the fundamentals of good gov
ernment and true Americanism under
the present setup or whether their time
is being wasted with subtle propaganda
which is opposed by all right-thinking
citizens The question is whether text
books with a socialistic slant are being
used in our schools and who is respon-
sible-that is the crux of this matter.
Parents want their children to grow
up with deep and enduring love for
God and their country, but sad to say
they have been propagandized into be-
lieving that the teaching OF American
history is unnecessary. and, without In
vestigating. they have permitted the use
of subtle subversive books in our schools.
Forget this foolish smear Of the selling
of insurance by Mr.. Lee, which has been
proved to be nothing improper, and let
us get right down to the real issue
what is the background OF Supt. Corn
ing? Is he the best man for the posi-
ton? Why did he not continue to hold
his former position in Colorado Springs?
Was it because of leftist slant? Did
the citizens of that city endeavor to
retain his services or were they glad to
rid themselves of his services? What
has been his record since he has held
this Office in the District of Columbia?
Put personalities aside and remember
that Americas first bulwark of freedom
is our unsupported public school sys-
tenn.
Mrs. Margaret Hopkins Worrell.
Former President. Columbia Heights
Citizens Association.
1t was most gratifying to read the
editorial in The Star regarding the
Board Of Education. Your editors are
to be congratulated for the leadership
they have shown by calling for the re-
placement Of those two members Of the
Board whose chief talents have been
hitherto devoted to the cause Of obstruc-
tive rather than constructive criticism
of the school superintendent.
DR.. Corning must undoubtedly hold
the most unenviable and difficult posi-
ton Of any school superintendent in the
United States. In the first place he has
to administer dual school system in
which the available funds must be