In Rhode Island “disclosures of thoroughly organized preparation to cultivate in the United States a public opinion favorable to Pan-Germanic aspirations for world empire led, during the War, to several investigations for the purpose of determining to what extent and through what agencies propaganda either hostile to America and to American ideals, or tending insidiously to undermine democratic institutions, had been conducted.”[408] At the request of the Governor, the Commissioner of the Public Schools undertook an investigation of the loyalty of public and private school teachers. Questionnaires containing the following questions were dispatched to the proper authorities:
“To what extent, if any, have teachers under your observation, in the classroom or out of it, been
(a) Active in promoting German propaganda?
(b) Active in promoting anti-American propaganda?
(c) Disloyal in word, deed, or manner to nation or state?
(d) Disrespectful of law and public authority?
(e) Passive or indifferent with reference to patriotism?
(f) Cynical in their discussion of democracy, or in their discussions of history, or in their general attitude toward American public probity?
(g) Teaching that democracy and democratic institutions are crude and inefficient?”
In turn, the Commissioner of the Public Schools pointed out that “while a few teachers have not fully recognized their civic obligations in giving instruction, or have failed to realize the relation of public education to loyal citizenship, or have been remiss in upholding American ideals, the ardent patriotism of the many and their larger activities as noted by the committee of inquiry attest the civic loyalty of our teachers in our schools.” He assured the public that “no disloyal teacher” would “be suffered to teach.”[409]