Law Forum Will Tangle On Red Teacher Issue

The right of Communists to teach in American schools, a subject of violent dispute here last year by students, faculty members, and local legislators, will be assailed and defended anew by a four-man panel tonight at 8:15 p.m. in Rindge Teach Auditorium. The discussion will launch the fourth consecutive season of the Law School Forum.

The quartet of speakers at the meeting will include: John Ciardi, Briggs-Copeland Assistant Professor of English Composition; Ralph W. Sullivan author of a bill, defeated last spring, to exclude Communists from Massachusetts schools and colleges; Theodore Brameld professor of educational philosophy at New York University; and Isadore H. Y. Muchnick '28, a member of the Boston School Board. The program will be moderated by Francis Keppel '38 Dean of the Faculty of Education.

Opposite Viewpoints

As usual in Forum meetings, tonight's discussion is calculated to bring out diametrically opposed viewpoints among the speakers. Ciardi, who was an active campaigner for the Progressive Party in last year's elections, is a vigorous exponent of complete academic freedom and is opposed to any system that would require political qualification for teachers or professors. Sullivan asserts the opposite principle that the state is justified in excluding know Communists from teaching in its schools. Brameld and Muchnick are expected to take stands somewhere between the order two speakers.

The round-table talks will be followed by the customary question period from the audience. Part of the proceedings will be transcribed and broadcast Sunday over station WHDH.

The Law Forum series, which continues throughout the years, will move from the realm of politics into humanities for its second meeting on October 7.