St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-09-09
Public Disapproval Forces:
fuDuf DisaPPrcNhi Tofces'
Georgia Board
Rescinds Action
Aqoinsf Teachers

Georgia State Board of Education
has retreated from its ruling that
teachers who are members of the
NAACP must resign or lose their
licenses.
Also rescinfed was a resolution
calling for dismissal Of any teach
err who approved of integrated
classes or who agreed to teach
such classes
The board acted in the face OF
widespread opposition from all
quarters, including the determine
ton Of the NAACP to test the
legality Of the resolutions IL any
Negro teacher was fired because
Of membership in the organiza-
ton.
Even pro-segregation news
papers in Georgia had joined in
the attack against the boards
excursion into thought policing"
Protests were filed by organiza-
lions and individuals, and the
Justice Department had been ask
ed 10 investigate the invasion of
rights.
Atty. Gen. Eugene Cook, who at
first had encouraged the actions,
took the lead in having the reso-
ultions abolished.
He said: Existing Georgia
laws go much further in accom-
plishing this purpose than any
resolutions that you now have be-
fore you.
Cook said the objective OF the
board was to see that any teacher
who subscribes to or teaches any
theory Of social relations which is
contrary to the constitution and
law of Georgia viii not be en-
ployed in the public schools Of
the state.
He reminded the board of a
code section which requires teach
ers TO take an annual oath to up
hold, support and defend the Con-
stitution and the laws of this state
and of the United States and to
refrain from directly or indirectly
subscribing to or teaching any
theory Of government or econom-
les or of social relations which is
inconsistent with the fundamental
principles of patriotism and high
Ideals of Americanism."
After the statement by Cook,
the board voted to rescind its ac-
ton calling for teachers who are
members of the NAACP to resign
by Sept. IS or forfeit their teach
ing license.
The board then voted unani-
mously to require all teachers to
sign the oath and file it in the Of
flee of the local superintendent by
Oct. 10, The motion was made by
Vice Chairman James S. Peters.
Before the meeting, Chairman
George +, Whitman Jr., denied re-
ports that the board would retreat
on the resolutions, Informed sour
ces said Gov. Griffin has asked
the board to reconsider its action.
II was said that the governor
and state legal advisors were wor-
rted about the legal aspects of the
ban and were disturbed over the
possibility of lawsuits should 1t be
enforced.
The Quotations boards move
was described by Chester b, Cur
rent, NAACP director of branches
as a major victory for the (Geor-
gia NAACPl State Conference
and other citizens Tin Georgia)
who openly opposed the Board of
Educators ridiculous action"
In a letter to w. w. Law. act
ing president of the Georgia
state NAACP, Mr.. Current as
serted:
The backing down on the part
of the Board, and especially on the
part OF Attorney General Eugene
Cook. upon whose advice the
Board acted in the first place, is
an outgrowth of the adverse pub
lie reaction engendered by the
Boards misguided attempt to de-
prive Negro teachers of their live
lihood simply because they sup
port the NAACP's effort to up
hold the Constitution Of the Unit
ed States.
AS result of the thoughtless
and crude attempts Of opposition
leaders to brighten and intimidate
Negroes into forsaking the MA
ACP, our program is gaining wide
| s,,npnrf in the South