Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1883-11-27
OFFICE OF
SUPERINTENDENT OF Public instruction.
Idaho TERRITORY,

l0aHO lcFEbtVIJs
BOISE CRY, November %, 1888.
HoS. M. g. LUSEY, Chairman Board of
School Trustees, Idaho City
My DEAR Sir Yours Of 22nd at hand
this evening. do not see how any pa
triotic citizen can object to teaching the
history Of the Rebellion. / consider the
history of the United States one of the
| most important branches taught in the
Epublic schools One of the great objects
of our school system is TO make intelli-
gent citizens Our school Law states that
/ the teachers MUST endeavor to impress up
on the minds of the pupils the principles !
OF morality, truth. justice and patriotism,
l@ and instruct them in the princi-
Iples of free government, and train them
E up to true comprehension OF the rights,
ltiuties and dignity of American citizen
Ship How this can be done, and pu1lls l
he taught the history of American lnsti-
buttons and the growth of the American
: constitution, without being familiar with
! the history of the Rebellion, | am at a loss
: to understand. However unpleasant the
) the record Of the Rebellion may be to
n some minds, however unsatisfactory its
8 results in the estimation Of some, however
t. distastefui The last amendments to the
l. Constitution may be to some individuals,
a. they are the plain, stubborn facts OF histo-
l. ~ with which every intelligent citizen
should be familiar. l should regard it as
!. gross injustice to the school population
= Of to-day, if, to suit the inclinations of
'ii any individual or set of individuals, the
e- children should be deprived Of an oppor.
IL Itunity TO learn the salient points in the
he history Of their OWL land. One of the
"a most important teachings of the Rebellion
: was that the people Of the North ant
South understand each other far bette
'h- after the conflict than ever before. Tn
ely mutual respect which that conflict inspir
OF ed between the different sections AM
or which must impress itself On any candi
reader, will be much more likely to be ii
creased by familiarity with the facts {
history than by the blind prejudice whic
we would relegate the coming generation t
tic an ignorance little short of barbarou
,ers The recital of the record of that confii
II; certainly cannot at this late day be cons
:, cred as intoxicating political, that is pa
tisan doctrines. No one who is at q
J NJ abreast of the times and at all converse
I'M with current thought at the south Won
no so hold for a moment. As we'll might '
man claim that the prohibition of sectarian
r denominational doctrines from the scho,
would compel teachers to ignore the e
0iih' mentarY principles Of truth and morali
for II is not at all necessary to inculcate D
we'll. tisan doctrines in stating the record
facts The history Of The Mexican v
may be as distasteful to some as that
ih0i the Rebellion to others. but if We are
e on have intelligent citizens, no one not bli
This ed by excess of partisan zeal would in:
st of upon expunging either of these reco
,o,yn from our history.
Your County Superintendent has
authority to enforce a uniform system
e'ie text books throughout your county. an
thing he sees fit to substitute for the Higgin
e adj history any other text book to be u
throughout the county, he doubtless
& iiA' the right TO do so, But If American
n the tory is to be taught at all. l should Il
two strenuously insist upon its being taugl
luinpla whole and not in shreds to suit
shut whims of individuals.
e In answer to a letter from Miss Cap
: on the same subject, have this day '
i''A - ten her letter to which / invite you
pres tention.
Your obt. Servant
JAS. L. ONDERDONK,