Cherington Defends Good Government Stand

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

I take pleasure in replying to the letter in yesterday's CRIMSON.

I agree ... that an instructor should not be "propagandizing for any political group" but at the same time there is a considerable distance between propagandizing and the legitimate expression of considered views. It is perfectly possible, and in some institutions it is required, to present controversial questions in a neutral manner. However, the "on the one hand and on the other hand" approach seems to me to leave much to be desired when we come to as clear-cut a matter as probity in public life. The notion that every classroom should become a public forum is patently absurd. To the best of my knowledge, all persons enrolled in my course have done so voluntarily. That being the case, I am afraid they will have to put up with what I have to say, even if they find it offensive or tinged with error. I shall, of course, be glad to hear from dissenters either after class or at a later time during my office hours. And I would like to assure the writer that if he can persuade me that I have sinned unduly in the direction of partisanship, I will be glad to make amends either privately or publicly, as he may wish. I might as well warn him in advance, however, that if he intends to persuade me that there is anything much to be said in favor of Mr. Curley or against the idea of driving Mr. Curley from public life, he has a considerable job on his hands.

In summary, if being opposed to Mr. Curley is partisanship, I suppose I am a partisan. But for from concealing partisanship of this sort, I intend to make the most of it. Charles R. Cherington '35