The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-04
HISTORY IN THE SCHOOLS.

dDSOluU6 rule 10 CLOSE Un6 TeCOfU dJ Tile 6lu VI
Mr.. Buchanan's administration or not, the
fact is patent that there is an unwritten law
to this effect. Professor Mills states it bluntly;
the practice is announced by one of the super
vising principals, and the pitiful e~vasions and
quibblings, of members of the school board
and school officers go further to confirm the
shamefulfact In the name of common sense, to
say nothing of common loyalty and patriot
ism, has it come to the point that the school
children of the capital city of the State of
Indiana, a State that sent two hundred
thousand of its brave sons to the field in de-
Tense of the government, cannot be taught a
word or a fact about the most stupendous
glimpse of the most glorious pages of the
country's history and the greatest era of the
nations Development The Journal has
already said, more than once, that there
are indications, which may not safely be
sneered away, that the time may come when
faithful and loyal service in the armies which
LOhShO " AlhA NllAdACAoS0 LIZ OSONOAhAANht u
government Of the people, by the people, and
for the people, will not only not be a passport
to the highest honor, but will be relegated to
a back place. That time may come sooner
than was apprehended if it be true that not a
syllable about the mightiest and most momen-
tous era of the nations later history
can be openly taught in the public
schools of Indianapolis. That this is
not guess-work we quote the words of Pro
lessor Mills, under whom, according to Super
intendent Tarbell, the study of history is con
Quoted: 'It never has been taught, " 1.-THE post
rebellion history cat least not since l have
been here, or during the past eleven years.
The limit of the study of history was fixed at
the beginning of the rebellion" And one of
the commissioner is reported as "taking it
for granted" if Mr.. Mills's statement is true,
that "the history of the rebellion period was not
taught because there was a desire on the part
of the school authorities to avoid prejudicing
the minds of the pupils~ We stand amazed
at this. Language cannot do the subject
Justice. A period during which the greatest
crime of the ages was wiped out; when
the greatest wal, involving the
very principles and existence of the govern
ment into which the children are born and
under which they live, was conducted to a
successful termination; when four millions Of
people were made citizens; when the greatest
man of all time lived, and when heroic deeds
were done which will sound down the ages to
the latest generations-all this is a sealed book
to the school children of indianapolis, be-
''preiudicedw The history of the country
they live in must be closed just as the nation
enters into its most eventful and prosperous
epoch. Since the opening of the war five States
have been added to the Union; T erritories
with hundreds of thousands of inhabitants
have been carved out Of the national domain;
the Pacific railroads have been built; the Ala
bama claims have been settled by the Geneva
arbitration-one of the p~rofoundest events in
it's influence the world has ever known; the
national wealth and prosperity of the
country have increased with more rapid
strides than during any precedent period; the
educational and moral progress Of the nation
has been most marvellous; the school-house
and the church have been made to dot every
hillside and illuminate every valley; and yet
this period of American history can not be
taught the pupils in the public schools of In
dianapolis because it might prejudice their
minds" 1t is high time, and beyond time,
for a change, and a radical change. The Of
fcers of the school board, it may be as
sumed, would not have put such a
rule into operation without the tacit
understanding, at least, that it expressed the
desire of the board. Whether formulated into
a written rule or not, the suppression is of the
atmosphere in which the schools move, and it
is time a little lightning from the public
should dispel the fogs and vapors, so that the
rising generation of indianapolis may be cul-
tured in an air where there can be some devel-
opment of healthful manhood. This is not a
question Of politics. Every man, of every
phase of political faith, if he is a man
at all, and not a granddame, g%nawing
with toothless gums upon a dead past, has
such pride in the history of the last twenty
five years that he wants its facts (not its
theories and ~presumptions) taught to his
children. He wants the principle of loyalty
to the government, a government Of a union of
States one and indivisible, taught, and taught
with emphasis. Thu Bible has been thrown