Evening star., 1951-09-10
Official Sees
No SubVersion
In u. ). Schools
NEA Secretary, Says
Public Hysterio Aids
Communist Efforts

LII. willard q. GlVenS, eXecu-
tive secretary of the National
Education Association, today called
the public school the cornerstone
of popular government and struck
out at those who charge the
schools with subversive tendencies.
The educators stout defense of
the public schools was contained
in his annual Report of the Pro-
fession to the Public"
He declared:
IF communism comes to this
country it will not come through
the educational institutions. 1t
will arise in the Illustration and
discrimination and corruption and
defiance of law and disdain for
the freedoms that still may be
found in some of the darker COR
I1erS of American life"
Hysteria Deplored.
DR.. Givens said that in the
midst e the present fears and
tensions" clamor of voices op-
posing and defending the public
schools has arisen. He added that
communism can only be aided
and abetted, and not retarded, by
those who reach the point of
hySteria in attempts to defend the
American way of life by clamor-
GUS protest against the schools.
He said this was the time for
calm, sensible and concerted ac-
tion." He called upon the Ameri-
can people to sit down with edu-
Gators of their communities to de-
eide what their schools are to
teach, what kind of person shall
teach and how much to pay for
education.
Some of the critics of the pub
lie schools object to the cost, he
continued, while others propose to
reduce education to the funda-
mentals. Still others wish to use
the school as medium of propa-
ganda for their own special politi-
cal or economic theories, he said.
Welcomes Criticism.
He stated that the process of
senlarging and refining the educa-
tional program to meet changing
needs has been accepted by the
American people.
Most of the criticisms that are
leveled at education come from
those who are sincerely trying to-
bring the services of the school
more directly in line with the
needs of the children" he de-
clared. "This kind of criticism
the profession welcomes"
Calling attention to the lack
of adequate educational oppor-
tunities, DR.. Givens said that
nearly half of Americas public
school children received a sub
average quality of school last year,
measured in dollar expenditures;
one-quarter of them received a
minimum essential type of school.
and another 4 million children of
5 to II years of age in 1850 re-
ceived no school at all because
they were not enrolled.
Pointing to the lack of class
room space, DR.. Givens estimated
that at least a half million new
elementary and secondary class
rooms will be needed by 1860 to
keep pace not only with increased
enrolment but for normal replace
ment due to obsolescene and de-
terioration.
$4,000 ClaSSrOoms Needed.
DR.. Givens predicted that at
least $4,000 new classrooms will be
needed during the next three
years.
The continuing shortage of
qualified teachers is another prob
lem facing the Nations schools, he
continued. He said that only 3d.
900 graduates from higher institu-
tions last June had prepared to
teach in the elementary schools.
The present school year will find
the schools in need of 10000
qualified new teachers.
"The shortage is blamed largely
upon low salaries" DR.. Givens
said. People who are capable of
professional preparation and ex-
pend time and money obtaining
it are justified in seeking profess
Sional recognition in income"
DR.. Givens' report pointed out
adjustments in the modern school
which have been necessary in Or
der to keep pace with the Amer
can way of life. They include a
greater emphasis on training in
occupational skills, physical well
fare. good citizenship and moral
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