Omaha daily bee., 1890-05-04

time has come when the essential clements of
civic instruction should be given in all grades
of our public and private schools This
branch of education will awaken and stimu-
late sentiments of genuine loyalty to duty
and active patriotism in the administration
of the affairs of the state and nation.
Boston, Mass. WILLIAM e. SHELDON.
TAKES HOPEFUL VIEW.
! find myself unable to assume the RESPONSE
bility for lack of time, of the preparation of
such an article as you suggest 1t has un-
doubtedly been true that too little attention
has heretofore been paid in our public schools
and all institutions of learning to the develop
ment of patriotic feeling, but it is more than
doubtful if that can be said of the present
time. There has been widespread awaken
ing within the last year or two upon this
TO be gratitied A. ). DRAPER,
Superintendent.
Department of public instruction, Albany,
N. Y.
THE PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT.
| can only answer in the briefest way that
have no doubt whatever that our public
school system ought to provide course of
instruction in the principles of the govern
ment of the United States; that children
ought not to be left to grow up in ignorance
how their country is governed until the eau
Gus, the district boss and the heeler shall
teach them how the representatives of the
people are elected and voters are corrupted:
Some instruction in political principles and
SOlue III DpllLiCdi lllpIhlo
be given in our schools together with the
clements of American history.
WILLIAM HAYES WARD,
The Independent, No. Psi Broadway, New
York.
SPECIFIC DUTIES OF CITIZENSHIP.
The principle that the right of the state to
educate its children depends upon the neces-
sity of the state that its citizens should be
educated is moro generally recognized than
another perhaps equally important, that this
education of children to be citizens should in
cludc instruction in the specific duties of citi-
ZenShip.
The institutions of our country should be
school study; and by this i mean not simply
the principles of constitutional government in
general terms, but its specific application in
the state, tho country, the town, the village,
the school district Few men who have not
had law suit know the sequence of our
courts. or could tell the difference between
the sitting of the grand jury and the special
term. Not one person in twenty could find
out the division of Legislative, executive and
judicial powers among the officers of coun-
try The usual citizen would be affronted to
be told that he never in his life cast vote for
president of the United States, and could not
under the constitution cast a vote in Novem-
ber.
Our children need to be taught practical pol
tics in the best sense of the words. Even
the machinery of the caucus and of the pre-
liminary convention should be familiar to
them that they may respect and in time take
manly part in all that underlies the choice
OF men In power. &. W. BARDEEN.
Syracuse, n. Y.
TUE STUDY OF UNITED STATES HISTORY.
think there is great danger in this matter
of cultiyating patriotism. A sentiment is not
TO be cultivated in the same manner as an in
tellectual or will power. A sentiment is like
the root Of "a plant-the root grows out of
sight under ground, and the sentiment should
not become too conscious and artiCulate. Such
conscious cultivation of sentiment becomes
sentimentalism and Is sure to lead to reaction
Our Fourth OF July patriotism is not all ma
tional virtue or conducive 10 the benefit Of
our nation as IA whole
Now it seems 10 me that the true education
OF patriots involves u study of United States
history-as critical study of il as YOU please
and especially study of the Biographies of
our best and highest men. A comparison of
the form of government in this country with
the forms Of government found in Europe
especially if a principle of progressive dsyel.
opment IS discovered, win prove conducive 10
patriotism of the better KIND because our
| patriotism should be grounded on reason and
| not passion II may he deep, unconscious
| feeling, and | have no doubt IL will be.
whether we take the slightest pains to culti,
! yate II or not, But our cultivation of II
IN the schools should not be through
| appeals 10 blind passion, but 10 the intellect.
| Comparative history Is tho true basis for the
foundation of reasonable faith in our form
| OF government.
/ cannot agree with you that too little at
tention is paid in our public schools to the de-