The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-05-20
COLUMBUS DAY, OCT. n.

The Day Should He 6ignallzed In
Every Town ana Village In the
Republic by a Local Celebration
of Which the Public school IL
the Center.
To the scholars Of the public schools of
the United States the extensive commit
tee Of the Columbian public school cele-
bration sends the following message:
The 18th OF October, 1892, the 4OOth
anniversary Of the discovery Of America,
ought to be observed everywhere in
America.
The day will be marked in Chicago by
the dedication of the Columbian exposi.
tion grounds. The day also may be
signalized in every town and village IN
the republic by local celebration of
which the public school is the center.
The public schools Of the republic will
form the most fitting centers for all
these local celebrations. A national
public school observance simultaneous
with the Chicago exercises will awaken
a popular interest in the coming exposi-
tion. Far more important 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 Institution which links
all The neighborhoods together. and can
thus furnish common bond for
national celebration. The public school
of today sways the hundred years to
come.
HOW 1T CAME ABOUT.
The first approval of this suggestion
came from the public school scholars
themselves. When the plan was first
proposed by the Youths Companion,
January, 1891, thousands of letters were
received, testifying to the enthusiasm
with which the scholars responded.
The worlds congress auxiliary Of the
Columbian exposition then took up the
proposal, calling upon all the people of
the republic to observe the day IN their
own localities, and suggesting that the
public schools be everywhere the centers
of the celebration.
The superintendents of education
were the next to recognize the fitness of
giving to The public schools the first
place in this Columbian anniversary.
At their national convention in Brookly
in February, 1892, they took charge of
The movement, and appointed the M
dersighed an executive committee to
lead the schools in their commemora-
tiOn.
APPEAL TO THE SCHOLARS.
This executive committe now appeals
to the scholars themselves to be the first
to move. 1t is for you, scholars Of the
American public schools, to arouse a
sentiment in your schools and in your
neighborhoods for this grand way of
celebrating the finding Of America. Ed
ucators and teachers will meet you from
their side, But it is for you to begin.
There are 100000 now in The public
schools. You have the chance to con-
duct a patriotic movement which will
have place in history, and will strength
en- the repGblic through the coming CEN
tury.
WHAT TO DO.
The first thing to dois to determine.
when yon read this message, that ?ou
will do all you can to induce your school
to enter the celebration. Then show
this message to YOUR teachers; every pa
triotic teacher will be glad to help you
il YOU show yourself in earnest. Take
the message to the school committee and
the uperintendent-their consent and
aid are indispensable.
After you secure the support Of all
these, then let the school vote that it will
enter the celebration.
The next thing after this public vote
will be the appointment Of strong con-
mittee made up jointly from citizens.
scholars and teachers to take charge
The committee should in all cases con-
sist Of those most in earnest, SO that tue
work may not be checked by any posi-
BILE change Of teachers during the sum
mer.
THE PROGRAMME.
A programme Of exercises will be fur
niyhed by the executive committee. 1t
will be simple and adapted to any
school, yet so arranged that more elabo-
rate exercises may be added wherever
desired. The aim of this official pro-
gramme will be that certain leading
exercises may be the same in every
school in the republic, and that at least
in one figure the Chicago programme
and the school programme may be
identical.
THE LOCAL COMMITTEE.
The duty Of your committee will first
be to interest the citizens and to prepare
the school. Professions may be arranged.
The veterans, both north and south, will
gladly be escorts for the schools. The
other military. civic and religious or
ganizatlons of each town will lend their
aid If they see that the schools are de-
termined that the celebration shall be
worthy of the day. The local press will
be the most valuable of all supports.
On Oct. IL the stars and stripes should
Oe nOatlng IRON every SCHOOL mouse In
the republic.
1t is the hope OF the friends OF common
school education that not one public
school in the United States will allow
itself to be left out in this most momora-
BILE celebration.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES.
Francis Bellamy, chairman, represent
ing Youths Companion, Boston.
! John w. Dickinson, secretary Of Mas
sachusetts board of education.
Thomas B. Stockwell. commissioner Of
public schools Of Rhode Island.
| w. R. Garrett, superintendent Of pub
lie instruction of Tennessee.
| H.C. Hewitt. superintendent Of Mich
igan educational exhibit at Worlds fair.