Firing of Red Teachers Demanded by Legislator

A bill instructing college presidents to expel Communists or Communist sympathizers from their teaching staffs was among a number of petitions awaiting committee action in the 157th Massachusetts Legislature. Another bill calls for the complete banning of the Communist party in the Commonwealth. Both were presented by State Representative Paul A. McCarthy (D-Somerville) and Superior Court Clerk Thomas Dorgan. Last year, they brought up a bill asking for removal of Communst teachers. But, filed late, the petition never come to a vote. Instead it was refered to the Committe on Subvesive Activities.

Dorgan and McCarthy, however, think that the situation warrants immediate action and filed a new bill. It probably will be discussed in the Committee on Education carly next month, prior to a general vote.

professors "Advocate Communism"

McCarthy sad that he brought up the bill again because the Federal Bureau of Investigation, at the recent trial of the eleven Communist leaders, claimed that professors advocated. Communism in their classrooms outright.

Both McCarthy and Dorgan contend that the bill would not cause "thought control;" rather, they say, it goes back to the Constitution and the General Laws of Massachusetts. The Constitution, they claim, says that patriotism should be taught in schools.

The General Laws, Chapter 71, secton 30, states "all the preceptors of the college, especally the unversity at Cambridge, must teach obedience, chastity, love of country, and all those virtues that are the ornament of the human society on which our republic was founded."

They plan to use these two points in their arguments at the hearing before the Committee on Education.

"The bill is not aimed at any particular Person," MeCarthy started, "but it passed, 1 doubt that Professor Shapley would be fit to teach." Last year, McCarthy accused Harlow shapley, director of the College Observatory, of being unfit to teach because of alleged Communist affiliations shortly after Senator Joseph A, McCarthy (R-Wiscongin) asserted that Shapley "maintained Communist connections."

McCarthy and Dorgan both believe that their hill to outlaw the Communist party in Massachusetts is the "most important bill filed this term." It probably also will come to an early hearing at the Committee on Constitutional Law.

Another petition awaiting committee action would require "professors, instructors, and teachers in colleges, universities, and schools to take oaths of allegiance."

Patrick F. Plunkett (D-Lowell), who presented it, stated that he hard an instructor from a university which he would not disclose openly advocate Communism at a meeting.

Later, he could not find the name of the instructor in the files of those teachers who had complied with the ruling. He believes that his bill will make sure the original Teachers Oath Law of 1935 is complied with.

A petition presented by Belden G. Bly would require all colleges and universities to provide a course in United States history as a prerequisite to obtaining a degree