Teachers’ Federation Acts to Block Move Against German Refugees

THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS ACTED TODAY TO BLOCK AN EXPECTED MOVE AT THE CHRISTMAS MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF GERMAN HERE TO PREVENT NAZI EXILES FROM HOLDING POSITIONS IN AMERICAN SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.

PROF. GEORGE E. AXTELLE, VICE-PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF THE FEDERATION’S COLLEGE SECTION, WARNED GERMAN TEACHERS THE DRIVE AGAINST GERMAN REFUGEES MIGHT TAKE THE FORM OF RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE EMPLOYMENT OF GERMAN TEACHERS NOT BORN IN THE UNITED STATES OR NOT CITIZENS.

“BY CASTING THE RESOLUTION IN THIS FORM, “PROF. AXTELLE SAID, “THE SPONSORS PROBABLY HOPE TO PULL THE WOOL OVER THE EYES OF MANY AT THE CONVENTION. HOWEVER, THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THE REAL INITIATORS OF THE MOVE ARE SEEKING PRIMARILY TO KEEP AMERICAN YOUNG PEOPLE FROM HEARING THE TRUTH ABOUT GERMANY FROM THE LIPS OF MEN WHO KNOW WHAT HAS GONE ON THERE.”

HE SAID AN ANONYMOUS LETTER HAD BEEN CIRCULATED AMONG UNIVERSITY GERMAN DEPARTMENTS KNOWN TO HAVE NAZI SYMPATHIES URGING CONCERTED ACTION TO PUT THE ASSOCIATION ON RECORD AS OPPOSED TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF TEACHERS EXILED FROM GERMANY. THE LETTER HAS MET WITH SOME FAVORABLE RECEPTION, HE DECLARED.

PROF. AXTELLE RECALLED PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS “TO UTILIZE THE GERMAN TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION FOR PROPAGANDA PURPOSES,” AND, DECLARING ALL SUCH ATTEMPTS HITHERTO HAD BEEN DEFEATED, URGED THE GERMAN TEACHERS “TO BE ON GUARD AGAINST THIS NEW ATTEMPT AND TO KEEP THEIR RECORD CLEAN.”