Evening star., 1953-03-12
By Cecil HoIIond

There was a fair-SlZed au-
dience that gave quiet attention
out of curiosity or real interest
There were fewer than the usual
number of reporters, for no ver-
bal fireworks were promised. And
there was no live radio or tele-
vision coverage.
That. in a way, was the pub
lies loss. The witness, one of
many heard on Capitol Hill. was
the only one thus far who has
succeeded in putting into per-
Spective. as no other one has
done. the current Senate inves-
tigation of Communist influences
in the field of education.
It wasn't that the witness, DR..
Harry E. Gideonse, president OF
Brooklyn College. took violent
exception to the investigation.
as many educators have done
On the contrary, he said he
welcomed it-but he took oc-
casion in his testimony to point
out some things which may or
may not have pleased the men,
bers of the Senate Internal Sc
curity subcommittee making the
investigation
Differs With McCarran.
For one thing, DIR. Gideonse, a
well-known liberal and chairman
of the board of Freedom House,
didn't hesitate to differ with
conservative Senator McCarran,
Democrat. Of Nevada. the former
subcommittee chairman. over the
present menace of communism
in education.
DR.. Gideonse said. in his opin-
ion. the Communists are ION the
run" in the schools and colleges
of the country. The Commu-
mist movement. according to the
educator, is losing its appea,
with outstanding rapidity" as
far as young people are con-
cerned.
He also had no hesitation in
saying that in the teaching
he does at Brooklyn College, anc
others who teach there, do seek
to explain the meaning of com.
munism.
IF you want to understand
the modern world" said DR.
Gideonse. you must give an ides
of what Communism is and
what it means. 1t would be
silly to fight communism by
keeping the subject out of the
curriculum"
Quick Answer.
At one point. DR.. Gideonse
was asked if he thought a Com
munist could be a good teacher
and without hesitation, the
highly articulate witness replied
If the teacher openly admitted
his Community Party member
ship and made no efforts to con.
ceal his activities, then, in the
opinion of DR.. Gideonse, it woulC
be possible-and IAN exciting in
tellectual experience" But HI
added that, aside from this theo.
retical assumption. he had never
seen a teacher who would admit
being a Communist.
AS the Holland born, Colum.
bia educated president spoke, HI
had before him a list of sever
Brooklyn College faculty mem
bers whose names had hen place.
in the hearing record. Six o.
them had refused before the sub.
committee. to say under oath
whether they had been mem
bers Of the Communist Part,
and had been suspended. ON
had resigned from the college
faculty on the day he was sub
poenaed to testify.
DR.. Gideonse offered no de.
fenSe for them. He said theil
cases did not involve the tissue.
of academic freedom or freedom
of thought. He referred at one
point to such things as "aca.
demic cutters"
In this wise he said he well
coined the senatorial investiga.
ton "as helping us at Brooklyn
College" to remove the lingering
vestiges of the wide Communist
influence that prevailed when he
became the president Of the in
stitution IA years ago.
He dwelt briefly on his owr
fight against Communists on his
faculty and in his student body
of masked pickets parading
before his home, of leaf1et
''geyser of gush" at the college
gates on causes fostered by the
Communists and many similar
things.
Suggestion Offered.
Senator Welker, Republican, oi
| Idaho asked DR.. GideonSe if he