Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-05-12
MESSAGE
To the Public Schools of America
COLUMBUS DAY.
October II, 1892.

10 the Scholars of the Public
Schools of the United States, the
Executive Committee of the Co.
lumbar Public School Celebra,
ton sends the following Message:
THE SCHOOLS MAY LEAD.
The 10Th of October, 1892, the
4OOth Anniversary of the Discov-
cry of America, ought to be OBJ
served everywhere in America.
The day will be marked in
Chicago by the dedication of the
Columbian Exposition grounds.
The day may also be signalized in
every town and village in the Re-
public by a local celebration of
which the Public School is the
centre.
The Public Schools of the Re-
public will form the most fitting
centres for all these local celebra-
tons. A national Public School
Observance simultaneous with
the Chicago exercises will awak-
ell a popular interest in the com
ing Exposition. Far more impOr.
tant is the fact that the Public
School has the right to occupy
the most prominent place in the
celebration. The Public School
is the one characteristic institu
ton which links all neighbOr
hoods together, and can thus fur
nish a common bond for nation
al celebration. The Public
School is the ripe fruit of the foul
centuries of American civilization
The Public School of to-day
sways the hundred years to come
HOW IT CAME ABOUT.
The first approval of this sug
gestion came from the Public
School scholars themselves
When the plan was first proposed
by the Youths Companion, Janu
airy, 1891, thousands of letters
were received, testifying to thu
enthusiasm with which the schol
ars responded.
The Worlds Congress AuXil
iary of the Columbian Exposition
then took up the proposal, calling
upon all the people of the Repub
lie to observe the day in thei
own localities, and suggesting
that the Public Schools be every
where the centres of the celebra
ton.
The Superintendent Of Educa
ton were the next to recogniz
the fitness Of giving to the Publ
School the first place in this Ct
lumbar Anniversary. At thei
National Convention in Brooklyn
in February, 1892, they too
charge of the movement, and al
pointed the undersigned an Exec
utive Committee to lead tn
schools in their cOmmemOratiOn.
APPEAL TO THE SCHOLARS.
This Executive Committee no.
appeals to the scholars then
selves to be the first to move.
is for you, scholars of the Amer
! can Public Schools, to arouse
sentiment in your schools and
your neighborhoods for this gran
way of celebrating the Finding
America. Educators and teacl
ers will meet you from their sid
But it is for you to begin.
You will make it succeed if yO
unite to say that it ought to |
done. The interest of the publ
will be awakened if the scholar
Join in the earnest request TIL
the school be allowed to be IL
centre of the days observance.
v There are Thirteen Million
now in the Public Schools. YC
r have the chance to conduct a p
triOtic movement which will ha'
a place in history, and W
: strengthen the Republic throut
the coming century.
\ WHAT TO DO.
The first thing to do is to d
& termine when you read this Nc
sage, that you will do all you CT
to induce your school to emf
the celebration. Then show IL
Message to your teachers; eve
patriotic teacher will be glad
help you if you show yourself
in earnest. Take the Message
the School Committee and t
Superintendent; their conse
are indispensable.
After you secure the support
all these, then let the school We
that it will enter the celebration
The next thing after this pub
vote will be the appointment of
strong committee to take
charge. This committee shot
be made up jointly from schola
teachers and friends of the scho
The committee should in all cas
be made up of those who
most in earnest, SO that the VIC
may not be checked by any pos
bic change of teachers during
summer.
TIE PROGRAMME.
A programme of exercises Y
be furnished by the Execut
Committee. 1t will be simple q
adapted to any school, yet so
ranged that more elaborate ex