Evening star., 1951-04-04
BY Colt HendIey, Jr.

CCQdy WAS 1lSdOSQ 1O1 ICuSll
fight over suspect" textbooks
used in the District public schools
with both Board of Education
members and a House District SUBJ
committee preparing to quiz him
Chairman Mcmillan of the
House District Committee yester-
day authorized the Health, Educa-
zion and Recreation subcommit-
tee to hold meeting this week to
discuss textbooks used in the local
schools.
His action followed a suggestion
by Representative Miller, Repub-
lican. of Nebraska that further in
vestigation of textbooks here
would be in order. DR.. Miller dis
patched a letter to DR.. Corning
also, asking If six books written
by Rugg and Kruger are still
In use.
"They are not used in the
schools and have not been used
since 1948." DR.. Corning told re-
porterS. He said he had not re-
ceived DR.. Miller's letter as yet
Five Books Eliminated.
Five of the books in question
were removed from the schools
approved list in 1948, when DR.
Miller, then chairman of the
subcommittee, was investigating
alleged subversive textbooks
The investigation then centered
around a book. Building Citizen
ship" by Hughes, which later was
revised to suit the committee and
is still being used. The Rugg and
Kruger books were casualties of
that squabble.
Mr.. Mcmillan, in authorizing
the subcommittee to take up the
textbook matter, said:
Il don't know if there is any
thing wrong, but we want to keep
a close eye on things like this
Textbooks here are understood to
be little on the left"
He said DR.. Miller brought up
the subject during yesterdays
closed session of the House District
Committee. He added that if
Chairman Abernathy, Democrat,
of Mississippi is too busy to serve
as chairman. Representative Nor
rison, Democrat, of Louisiana will
act as chairman.
The six Rugg and Kruger social
science books in which DR.. Miller
is interested are: THE Building
of America" Man at Work, His
Industries, Man and His Chang
ing Society-Mankind Through
the Ages" Man at Work, His Arts
and Craft" Peoples and Coun-
tries" and Changing Civilization
in a Modern World"
Strangely enough, DR.. Miller die
not ask about several other books
that are a point of controversy ir
the Board of Education right now
and will be discussed at today's
meeting.
Lee Challenges Three Books.
Adelbert w. Lee. board vice
president, has charged that al
least three books are "slanted TO-
ward socialism" and should be re-
moved from the school textbook.
list.
Mr.. Lee also repeatedly is un'
happy about a little song book
which features songs about tht
United Nations. They were pre-.
sented to the schools as a gift by
a Jewish organization during
Brotherhood week.
DR.. Corning has indicated he
will stand behind the books Mr.
Lee is criticizing. His Textbook
Committee, made up Of teachers
from all levels of the schools. have
reviewed the books in question
and have approved them again.
The books Mr.. Lee is after are
American Government" by Ma
|gruder; Roots of Political Be.
|havior," by Snyder and Wilson
and workers at Home and Away,
by McIntire and Hill. The song
book is called Sing a Song o1
Friendship" and the ditties are by
Irving Caesar. Mr.. Caesar appear.
frequently on the popular Jar
Murray radio program. Songs fol
Sale" as a judge.
AS DR.. Corning was awaiting the
attack from the two fronts, DR.
Miller spoke to the Janney Ele.