The Goslings: A Study of the American SchoolsSinclair, Upton
History
The Goslings: A Study of the American Schools
Sinclair, Upton
Education -- United States
I have before me a copy of the pamphlet in question. The Chamber of
Commerce, which cut the school appropriation from fifteen million to
nine million dollars, and put sixty thousand children on part time, now
has the effrontery to state to all school teachers and pupils: “The Los
Angeles Chamber of Commerce has worked for every bond issue asked for by
the Board of Education, until now the city has more than 900 public
school buildings for its 176,000 children.” Upon learning of this
“Chamber of Commerce Week,” the American Civil Liberties Union hastened
to apply to the board for a “Civil Liberties Week,” and in a written
statement afforded the board many reasons for making the children
acquainted with the importance of protecting civil liberties. It goes
without saying that the Board of Education of the Black Hand made haste
to vote down this riotous proposition; and likewise another for a “union
labor week.”
Of course there has been, and is, a campaign of terrorism to drive out
the few rebel teachers from the system. One high school principal was
told by Judge Bordwell that he would be promoted if he would remove
several teachers accused of liberal ideas. When the principal said they
were good teachers, the Judge said: “Can’t you get something on their
morals?”
That the Black Hand directs spying by the school children on their
teachers is something you do not have to take my word for; you may take
the word of Mr. Harry Haldeman, president of the Better America
Federation. Speaking at a banquet given by his supporters in the
Alexandria Hotel in Los Angeles, Mr. Haldeman said in substance:
investigators have been placed in various schools and colleges in this
state and throughout the United States, whose business it is to take
note of the utterances of teachers, professors, or students, and report
to the headquarters of the Federation. If any utterances are reported
which are not to the liking of the Federation, means will be taken to
have the teachers or professors discharged. So far as the students are
concerned, they will be shown the error of their ways. If they prove
obstinate and fail to take heed, steps are to be taken to prevent their
getting employment. And if you should find any of these statements
incredible, let me add that Mr. Haldeman made the same speech in many
other places; he made it at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, and
you will find in “The Goose-Step” what the San Francisco “Call”
published about it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account