The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-03-13
War History in Our Pabue schools.

Among the resolutions adopted at the
recent Encampment of the Department of
Indiana, as noted in our last issue was enc
reciting the fact that in the public schools
of Indianapolis so much of the history of
our country as relates to the war of the
rebellion has been neglected or ignored in
the curriculum of historical study, and en-
phatically condemning such neglect as by
no means fattering to the veterans who still
Of the dead.
We have no especial information as to
the facts in this particular case, but we
fancy that the indianapolis schools are not
the only ones in which the history Of the
war for the preservation of the Union is a
sealed book to the student. The truth is
that many Of our teachers seem to be averse
to making the story of the shareholders re-
bellion a subject of serious study. They
appear to regard it in the light of purely
political matter, and pass lightly over it, as
if they were afraid of wounding somebody Is
feelings, and the result is that thousands of
our youth are growing up with only the
vaguest ideas as to the origin and character
of the great struggle in which the perpetuity
of the Republic was at stake This ought
not to be. 1t is natural that our veterans
should feel aggrieved at finding their glori-
\ GUS achievements fading into oblivion, and
| generation coming on that neither knows
nor appreciates the value of their services
but it is not our veterans who have the
| greatest reason for concern It viii soon
matter little to them in what estimation their
vaIor is held by their countrymen, for The
time is not far distant when they win pitch
their tents beyond the river" but to thu
Nation itself, whose future destiny depend;
upon the perpetuation Of their high exam.
pie. the inculcation among the youth of the
rising generation of the great lessons of ths
war must ever be matter of the most vita
consequence. 1t is not necessary, perhaps
although surely there is no history so full
Of interest in all its details-that instruc
ton should be given in our schools as to til,
conduct of particular campaigns or of tn,
achievements of particular commands AMI
commanders, but the causes of the war, tn
|
righteousness of the struggle, and the be
J nelcent results which it accomplished ough
TO be firmly impressed upon the mind O
every school boy. The purpose and issue 0
| that conflict should be made as clear to hin
as TO another generation of school boys wa
! made the history of our Revolutionar
t struggle, the var of 1912, or our brief bu
5 brilliant contest with Mexico. He shout
t be brought to understood at what a sacri
5 fee of life and an expenditure of treasur
r our free institutions were preserved fror
: destruction, and made to feel that the frs
s attribute of American citizenship is loyalt
G TO country. Unless this is done, we sha
s see growing up about as a generation dt
{ void of any sincere attachment for the RI
public or republican institutions, an
+ thoughtful only Of its individual welfar
: We shall sec the control of the GovernIaer
given over to mere demagcgues, and the a,
|, ministration Of tie public offices comnitte
to political sdventurers. When the col
8 acience Of nation grows torpid when it
no longer sensible Of the value of its inst
, buttons and ceases to cherish the example
+ those through whose valor these institution
we're secured to it-then, indeed, the dow
,r fall Of that nation is close at hand, aud
We would pat off the day of our own d
n cadence we should take care that in the E,
ueation of our youth nothing that viii il
o spire TO patriotism 10 neglected or ignore