Evening star., 1963-01-30

School Texts |
Most elementary school social
studies textbooks show def
mite sectarian tendencies" IA
voring Professionalism over
Catholicism and Christianity
over Judaism, according to a
report presented here today.
The report of a three-year
study of 100 leading textbooks
was made to the 50th annual
meeting Of the Anti-Defama-
ton League of B'nai Birth,
which opened today at the
Sheraton-Park Hotel.
Among the findings in the
study by DR.. Judah j. Harris.
a New York educator. were
these:
Textbook authors show anti
Catholic bias. The Reforma-
ton is presented as a battle in
which the forces Of good (the
Protestants) freed themselves
from the forces Of evil (the
Catholics, rather than as a
product of the peculiar social
and political conditions Of the
time.
Some History Ignored
Judaism and Jewish history
since the Biblical period are
largely ignored and the rela-
tionship of Jesus to the Jews is
handled in a manner that fails
to dispel misconceptions under
lying anti-Semitism.
Contemporary religion is
treated primarily as a matter
of church-going although its
Importance as a motiviating
force in past history is rec
ognized.
Only five of the II texts that
discussed Hitler and Nazism
mentioned the persecution Of
the Jews and one offered no
comment on the moral aspects
Of Hitler's policy.
Persecution is presented as
the characteristic element" of
Jewish history for the last $500
years while persecution Of nom
Jewish groups is treated as just
one factor in the overall devel-
opment of these groups.
The report was presented to
the league meeting by Samuel
Dalsimer of New York, chair
man of the leagues Program
Committee.
Chance to Learn
The treatment of religious
prosecutions is "either simpli-
fled or ignored to such a degree
that young Americans never
have a chance to learn about
the need for improving inter-
religious attitudes" he said.
"If textbooks are meant to
help us reinforce democratic
attitudes, they must be con-
siderably more objective than |
they are now-telling the bad
as well as the good-for a real
appreciation Of the role Of re-
ligion in the development Of
history" he added.
In Washington, efforts are
now being made to provide ad-
ditional materials to teachers
to supplement the textbook
treatment of Nazism, and of
Negro contributions to Ameri-
can history.
In another report presented
today, the league was told that
"old grads" are keeping dis
elimination alive in many COL
lege fraternities despite a more
enlightened attitude by under
graduates and college officials.
Sixty-one national frater-
mites have removed racial and
religious discrimination clauses
from their constitutions and
bylaws and others have taken
positions against discrimina-
ton. the report said, but these
policies are often circumvented
by "gentlemen's agreements"
The pressure for discrimina-
ton, the league found, comes
from alumni who provide funds
for the fraternities and colleges
and are a source of jobs for
new graduates.
AS an example. 1t said, Will
liams College in Williamstown,
Mass, is still receiving letters,
telegrams and long distance
phone calls protesting a deci-
sion taken last year to abolish
fraternities.
Encouraging developments in
the battle against discrimina-
tion, the report said, have been
seen at Brown University,
Amherst College and Yale Uni
versity and In the state colleges
OF New York and California,
where discrimination has been
banned.
A highlight Of the five-day
meeting will come tomorrow
night when President Ken
nedy will receive the leagues
annual Americas Legacy
Award. The Presidents speech
from the Dinner with the
President" will be broadcast by
the CHS network between 10
and IL pm.