William Frauenglass

Frauenglass received support of Albert Einstein (here, shed of "Pacifism" wings, standing near pillar of "World Peace," rolling up sleeves and holding sword of "Preparedness" by Charles R. Macauley, circa 1933)

William Frauenglass was a high-school teacher to whom Albert Einstein wrote a letter on academic freedom, published in the New York Times and much publicized at the time.

Background

In 1928, Frauenglass obtained a BA in social science from the City College of New York. In 1952, he obtained a degree from New York University.

Career

Frauenglass became an English teacher at the James Madison High School in Brooklyn, New York. He was a member of the Teachers' Union Local 5 of the American Federation of Teachers, of which he was proud. which the New York Times published on June 12, 1953. (Einstein had added a postscript stating the letter "need not remain confidential"). In the letter, Einstein had advised (reported the Times) that "every intellectual called before a Congressional investigating committee should refuse to testify, and 'must be prepared for jail and economic ruin, in short, for the sacrifice of his personal welfare in the interest of the cultural welfare of his country'." )

Frauenglass did refuse to testify further – and he did lose his job.