Emerging from organizing teachers for Socialist Sunday Schools, the Washington State Socialist Party became intensely active in organizing educators and running for school boards, presenting Socialist teachers in the elections to try and win local power, much the way the right does today. The director of the state Socialist Educational Bureau reports on one year of its activity.

‘Report of the Socialist Educational Bureau of Washington’ by J.E. Sinclair from The Commonwealth (Everett). No. 116. March 21, 1913.

Comrades: The socialist educational bureau was established by the state executive committee last fall to fill a long felt need in the revolutionary movement of the working class. Every sincere socialist the world over has yearned for the conquest of the schools to which the children of the working class are compelled to go by the laws of the master class. This bureau has for its prime object the conquest of these schools so far as they may be conquered as long as the master class controls industry. It aims to place socialist teachers in the most strategic positions where their power for propaganda will be great- est. It aims to use these teachers as an organizing force in the field. It aims to carry on a systematic propaganda among the young and those that were once young by organizing study clubs, young people’s societies, etc.

During its brief existence the bureau with the warm support of faithful comrades and the help of the state office has served to im- press upon the comrades of the state the tremendous importance of school propaganda. In the December elections in the cities of the first and second class in many places great campaigns were conducted special credit for their revolutionary fervor must be given to the socialist women’s clubs. But at that time the comrades were not awake to the full importance of the struggle. The vote fell away below the regular election vote, and defeat faced us everywhere.

During the winter a campaign of publicity was decided upon. By pen and speech the secretary tried to show the membership the wonderful field of promise that the schools afforded. In this he was ably seconded by the state woman’s correspondent and the editors of the Commonwealth and Truth, as well as by others. Calls for socialist teachers for next September began to come in. Names of socialist teachers began to reach the files.

It was decided that something definite must be done at the March school elections and with the aid of the state secretary and the management of the Commonwealth a school edition, written almost entirely by socialist teachers was distributed broadcast over the state. For the first time in the history of socialism in America the revolutionists of the school room made themselves heard in no uncertain tones. More than 7,500 of these papers were distributed.

In addition a propaganda pamphlet was written and some fifteen thousand printed for distribution.

The result of all this activity has been a state-wide school campaign that will serve as a warning to the capitalist class and that has been far reaching in its educational effect upon the membership. Reports of victories are beginning to come in from districts all over the state. Apathy has been replaced by action and on March 1st some of the fairly important schools of the state fell into socialist hands. The socialist vote in many cases exceeded that of the general election.

Anticipating a general demand for socialist teachers for the coming year and appreciating the fact that the emancipation of the wage workers of the world can only come through the dissemination. and assimilation of historical and scientific facts, a correspondence has been opened up with the intercollegiate socialist society with a special request that teachers trained in scientific research be encouraged to enroll with the bureau for service in this state.

The bureau realized at the very beginning the socialist teachers recommended by it must make good professionally, that they must be able, capable men and women, and that they must be absolutely unafraid. In order that a check may be kept on all teachers sent out by the bureau certain reports will be demanded of them. Each teacher will be a center and source of information not only for the bureau but for the state organizers and lecturers as well. If openings exist for other socialist teachers they report. If chances are good for the organization of a new local or for the beginning of active propaganda the teacher’s report will show the facts. Names and addresses of sympathizers and prospects may be called for. In fact each teacher may become the collector of invaluable information as well as a mighty factor for the cause in the school room. No teacher who knows it all; no teacher who is not a constant student; no teacher who glories in his own authority over the little ones; no teacher who is brutal can measure up to the standard set by the bureau. But fearless workers for the cause of the working class who are qualified as real teachers are wanted for the great work we have to do.

Lists of socialist teachers are on file, and as the names of socialist directors are forwarded they are recorded. In the collection of this information every delegate to this convention should do his part. Without it the bureau becomes a farce. Blanks are being prepared for the locals for the collection of this data and the active work of placing teachers will begin in April.

Comrades, a new field of endeavor lies before you. The 240,000 school children and the ten thousand teachers of Washington comprise an audience so vast and pregnant with possibilities that we cannot help but chide ourselves for neglecting it so long. At every teacher’s institute, at every teacher’s meeting, socialist literature should be distributed and speeches made by men and women able to present our philosophy. For this work special funds, special literature, and specially prepared speakers are needed. It will sound a new note in our propaganda but the note will strike true to the working class. The old executive committee has made a good start. Let the new executive committee, while not neglecting for a minute the awakening of the workers who have reached maturity, provide for the education of the child slaves of the immediate future by pushing in every way the propaganda in the schools.

It is needless to add that the efficiency of the bureau would be greatly increased were it situated at the state office and operated by some qualified comrade who could devote his entire time to its routine, to speaking before and among teachers, and to organizing the young people so that their social yearning may be directed toward the movement instead of away from it as now.

Fraternally submitted, J. E. SINCLAIR, Secretary Socialist Educational Bureau.

The Washington Socialist was a weekly newspaper of the Socialist Party of Snohomish County published in Everett, Washington and edited by Maynard Shipley. Closely aligned with the Industrial Workers of the World, who were strong in the Pacific Northwest’s lumber industry, the paper ran for only 18 months when it was renamed The Northwest Worker with Henry Watts as editor in June, 1915, and again Co-Operative News with Perter Husby as editor in October, 1917. Like virtually all of the left press, the Co-Operative News was suppressed in June 1918 under the Federal Espionage Act.

PDF of full issue: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84025731/1913-03-21/ed-1/seq-1/