The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-04-25
ROBERTS s.READY,s
(Continued from Paee Onel

l nave always wondered why there
was SO much Juror on the part of
American college professors and
high school teachers regarding
their loss Of academic freedom in
being asked to say whether or not
they are Communists, because I
have always felt it a privilege to
be able to say: II am an Ameri-
can" Being a u. S. citizen is one
of the most cherished gifts pos
sess : have probably done more
talking in my speech and English
classes to try to teach how false
are the ideologies of Communism
than any other teacher in the Mon
roe County School system because
much of our time is spent in Speech
learning democracy's privileges
and responsibilities, since speech
is the essence of a free people.
My record on my beliefs can be
found by asking the boys and girls
who have sat under me the past
II years in Key West and the pre-
vious 5 years in Illinois. am not,
have not, ] have never been, and
am sure / shall never be Com
munist. The worldly possession
hold dearest outside my family is
my democratic U. S. citizenship.
Mr.. Roberts charge Of my lack
of religious enterprise is in keep
ing witt his implications of my
communist leanings. / am a mem
Der of the Presbyterian church and
have been active in church work
In Key West since 1871. As tea
cher In a public school, | have
attempted to project the idea of
freedom of religion in all my class
es and / have attempted to teach
the boys and girls under me to
practice their religion by daily
God-like living and church attend.
ance whether it be Catholic, Pro-
testant or Jewish. =
The school teacher gave this
morning this additional statement:
This does not seem 10 me 10
be . parsonsl attack. The ae-
eussfien Of un.Americanism and
disIoyaliy 10 Monroe County
school system appears 10 Be fol.
Iewins me same psitern as fhe
connmunisfle inspired Attacks on
the Pasadsns school system and
ether school systems Of fhe Uni.
ted States IN which The Conn
nivnisfs attack teachers in order
70 weaken the school system So
that tiisy may be able 10 move
In and do fhsir dirty work.
Mrs. Stark's statement con-
tinues:
my past actions and my past
work with the American Legion
certainly make a stronger record
for me in respect to my work on
Americanism than anything that
may have been said in connection
Billy Roberts. Any anger / had
concerning this speech was direct
ed at Mr.. Billy Roberts alone and
not for the American Legion or
anything the Legion stands for.
II have no further statement to
make concerning Mr.. wiz Roberts.
Anything ! have to say will be
said at the next School Board
meeting. So far as am concern
ed the situation is closed until
talk to the Board on May 5.
Roberts letter brought In per-
son to The Citizen this morning Is
i as follows:
u was not surprised 81 Mrs.
ssark's denial Of my aecusaticn
that she publicly, In fhe ball.
room Of IRE - commodore he
tel. Miami. Florida. In which fhs
annual American Legion Ora.
torieal Contest was being con.
Quoted. stated that she was rooi.
ing for ihe Dade County Con-
tssssnf, enc Of four that my son
was competing against. Partiev-
| larry, when she % freely used
fhe expression That's . deli
bsrass lie This definitely dis
PEELED any doubts that ! may
have had - 10 her emotional
instability.
| II desire TO reiterate that she
| did make such . statement and
In the presence Of witnesses that
| were surprised TO say the least al
the spectacle she made Of herself
in anger and extremely spiteful at.
titude towards my son. so shock.
ing in fact, that / was informed
that lady that was present. pIac,