education and individual freedom how do americans live they live in many types of communities as an american perhaps you live on a new england farm where through the years your ancestors have added many rooms to the original house or even a town like salem massachusetts that is rich in american folklore perhaps you live in a large city like new york or in philadelphia in a house of native stone or in charleston south carolina with its historical harbor and typical colonial homes southerners are famous for their charm and gracious living wherever you live in america the ideals of your parents will be much the same you may live near miami florida or you may live in our great midwest or in the west in colorado springs or denver or in a desert home near tucson arizona built to withstand the desert heat or in the far west in california the shady street in laramie wyoming is typical of the way many of us live the fact that we have so many types of land and climate patterns to make us a tolerant people with many different interests and ideas we grow the product of both hot and cold climates and direct in natural resources like lumber oil and rare minerals thus we are less dependent on other countries than most peoples of the world our country is divided into states with capitals like helena montana here much of the government is carried on according to the needs of that part of the country sacramento california frankfort kentucky austin texas providence rhode island we are governed both by our national government and by our state government and this tends to keep us from having too strong a centralized government austin has many historical places dear to all americans while our people have great independence we are closely united in a common colorful history that famous boston commons tourists from all over america visit paul revere's home every child knows the story of how the lantern was hung in this people of this north church to give paul revere the signal to warn the colonists that the british were coming to attack when children see this statue of paul revere they like to imagine how he rode bravely through the night a teacher has taken her class to visit the beloved church and climb up into that famous steeple but something that is very unusual in other countries is happening in the church courtyard men are discussing politics and saying what they think and every day seen in america in many countries of the world this seems good not occurred the right to speak freely is not enjoyed by all peoples of the world our great national parks like glacier park belong to all of us travellers from every state are inspired by the beauty of the mountain peaks in america there is a car for about every four people so that many families take trips to different parts of the country they learn to know their country and what the people in other states think and do in europe and the orient cars are great luxuries and motor trips are not possible for the average family and american takes for granted the freedom to comment goal and to do it he pleases a freedom that is most unusual in a world of today let's look in on a typical american family on a north western fruit farm and see how little americans start out in life it is sunday and the kings plan to stay home and relax with their children terry seven johnny four and paul the baby they make themselves comfortable around this am bio and everything seems happy and serene but only for a moment that kings try it first to let their children work out their own problem terry and johnny both want the same time a real fight mother scolds when will the children learn to be kind and generous each other to give and take father comforts johnny and tries to make terry understand that the toy belongs to johnny terry feels a shame he will have many growing up pains before he is an adult from the time american children are very small they are taught that each person should have consideration american children are encouraged to think for themselves to make good decisions even small american boys love mechanical toys they like to find out what makes them run parents encourage this interest and it's no wonder that we are a nation highly trained in mechanical skills all tries again and again to make his truck run on the board he is a small boy to be trying so hard a typical american boy the boy's cousins live on the adjoining farm a typical american scene the family are having a picnic in the backyard everyone helps brother and quarrel over the potato chips dad says stop fighting children sometimes it seems as if dad never has a chance to sit up straight now now don't talk all at the same time even small children feel free to speak their own opinions in an american home and so it goes the cars have finished dinner and are trying out the new badminton court that shows them how to hold a racket and serve the bird it takes a lot of patience to bring up an american family as each person has his or her own idea about how things should be done to try again children you'll do better next time mr karr is a typical american father and the courage of his children and all their activities jimmy and molly and and are having a lot of fun learning how the game should be  molly hits it very well father and emily applaud now jimmie serves molly it's a good one jimmy misses much too little sisters delight then father in bali show the children how the game should be play and other typical family situation and molly both planned to ride and has the horse and outcomes molly this time it's molly's turn and she has a date to ride with a friend and as usual father comes to the rescue life is made up of many small decisions but as we make each one we are building the type of person we will be when we grow up the children grow up many teachers take a hand in their bringing up patiently to explain the lessons teach them to think and act and meet their daily problems to think things through by themselves and now class is dismissed sometimes teachers have to school and the world seems discouraging but it's all part of learning to think for yourself to live the american way many problems will be met then conquered on the playground but now to return to the cars mr car is inspecting the orchard mother and emily go along father shows emily which cherries are right and just how to pick them without injuring the s she wants to pick summers out american parents try constantly to teach their children to do things for themselves to be interested in what other people are doing to take part in everything that goes on around them father walks over to the pickers something is wrong they are including inferior fruit in their boxes mr karr's fruit will be judged by a few sample boxes this will decide the price for the carload he explain man the loss he will take give second grade fruit is included and nala touch of america the man argue with their boss they don't greek and in america every man has the right to speak out mr karr's patient he likes his men to feel free to make suggestions and he wants to know if they have a better idea finally the problem straightened out and the men laugh as they return to their work mr car is bare and the men like to work for him emily less and she has complete confidence in her dad she is used to hearing her father trying to make good decisions and give every man a square deal the same feeling of independence is found in any american industry right zambo building a house that had a farm and discusses the work with build a work foreman bill has been with the farm many years started at the bottom and worked up to his present position studies his plan was to know how much lumber you must order if men work hard but there is a carefree atmosphere not found in countries controlled by a dictatorship they had gorman knows that with bill in charge the work will be well done and finished on time now does the team work as the men lift the framework into position one of the reasons that america has built such great industries is that each man can be depended on to do his intelligently and accurately men of many nationalities work in the building trades bill is always in the center of things he helps the man let the boards and uses a power saw to even the ro in the united states individual ability is recognized and each man has a chance to make good this recognition of individual words is important in the american way of life what's in the way window frames next to him is a plaster they all have a cooperative way of working bell and his men are a good illustration of how work is done in america the difference in the attitude of men in a free country and one controlled by a dictatorship the same would be true of a group of harbor workers as they went their way home at night they will say what they think with no fear of interference it is hard to realize here that in some countries the people are afraid of their governments the same freedom of speech would be true in this pennsylvania steel plant in this texas oil industry or in this south carolina match factory at this long beach ford plant notice the cars of the workman workmen in foreign countries do not go to their jobs in cars nor do they have such luxuries as electric stoves washing machines irons radios and televisions that we take these luxuries for granted but more important is the chance we have to go further in our free public schools the opportunities provided by our state universities such as the university of wyoming are within the means of a great many of our families the university of kentucky american children have a better chance to make good because of their higher average education the university of new hampshire university of florida we are indeed fortunate to have a chance to learn and think for ourselves and not to be controlled by the state every minute of our lives we also have private colleges like documents universities exist to train young people for service to their communities and country doctors scientists businessmen teachers and engineers in america we like to go to church and can go to any church we please historical church in charleston south carolina in an indian village near gallup new mexico the church is the center of the life of the people holding a dear place in their heart never gallop there's a street fair and on the merry go round is a good example of the many types of children that make america a melting pot it's a little hard for harry's a precious bird children of many nationalities indian english mexican chinese all fortunate children brought up in the freedom of our country we all want to be loyal citizens but how can we help watch these young people preparing for the high school commencement exercises what can you do in your daily life to become a person good  for america well i believe that you are doing it now if you were here with these high school boys you would know how to pitch in and help no one is telling these boys to work they have learned that in america it is necessary for each person to do his part and to do it carefully to be sincerely interested in the people around him they already have the cooperation and independence that we saw in the men building the house they listened to the advice of their teacher but each boy feels free to give his own opinion as they will tease and joke but before the curtain rises their work will be finished on time whether it's sorting papers alling tables into position nailing up signs are preparing a speech  rehearsal is over and the young people hurry home to get ready for the big event tomorrow commencement day arrives notice this typically american incident bert sr is graduating his father wants information about parking the car and bird is sure the patrolman will help him he always knows that he can go to the police for help how different from the countries in which the people fear their police people coming from these countries tell us that our greatest american privilege thing we can be most thankful is our freedom from fear bert sister will have many decisions to make but she is trained to make her own decisions the american way they are serious as they enter the state realizing that as never before that our way of life is being attacked and that its survival lies in their hands they will meet each crisis of their lives with judgment and integrity because behind each thought and decision lies their heritage and bringing up in the american way at home that's shared and in their various activities if each one of us does his job well and think straight if we all work together it becomes a mighty for the small streams join until they become raging torrent roaring down the mountainside truly the small drops of water by uniting have become a great  on the west side of the divide these rivers may flow into the columbia river in the same way in the middle west small streams may become the mississippi river in the same way throughout the length and breadth of our country each one of you doing your part at home at school and that place is building a force that is capable of keeping america sa great feeling of sympathy understanding and generosity toward our fellow man that is america and the determination to work and fight for this ideal will keep america above the work of freedom for the peoples in all parts of the world