Word: shaftel
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1950-1959
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...expected. On the ground that his answer might incriminate him, each of the four witnesses refused to say whether or not he had ever been a Communist, but each had quite a bit to say about the investigation itself. In a prepared statement, full of sound & fury, Oscar H. Shaftel, of the Queens English department, called it an "inquisition ... a bludgeon against academic freedom . . . I am sick." said he, "of teachers huddling ... in fear, hoping maybe a McCarran, a McCarthy or a Velde committee may overlook the bad thing they once said about fascism, or the time they chose...
Slander & Innuendo. Furthermore, added Shaftel at the hearing, "I cannot imagine an academic administrator of any sense and magnitude and dignity saying to Sean O'Casey. . . : 'You may not teach the drama,' or telling Picasso: 'You cannot teach art in the United States.'" But, asked Jenner, what if a teacher "slants his teaching toward the Communist Party, which party's avowed purpose is the overthrow of this Government?" That, replied Shaftel, is something that "must be settled by the academic profession . . . This line of questioning is improper and does harm to the teaching profession...
| 1 |