And our last story for today is dated July 8, 1954, when it was reported that the Wayland, Massachusetts school board had voted to terminate the employment of 46-year-old second-grade teacher Ann P. Hale Jr, who was a descendant of Pilgrim John Alden.
So why did they fire her? Because she was a member of the Communist party between 1945 and 1950. As a result, she was charged with conduct unbecoming of a schoolteacher, with being unfit to teach, and lastly with being a member of the Communist party.
At the time of her suspension in April, Ms. Hale sent the following letter to the parents of her 28 students and requested that it be read to them:
“Dear children:
“Your family will tell you that different people have different ideas about how the country should run.
“I have been working for a long time in the best way I know to make sure that the liberty and justice for all of which we speak every morning, is always with us, and that it will grow better.
“Those who don’t agree with me may say harsh things.
“Just remember these things, which I am sure you know – I love my country and I love you.”
Clearly, the Board of Education did not have the same love for Ms. Hale.
