The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1892-05-18

We are in the Saturday evening of
the fourth century OF Americas dis
coyery. We are nearing one of the
great mile-stones of history. An epoch
i'm American life is closing. In "a few
weeks we pass the day which rounds up
the full measure of the 400 years that
are gone. But it is not proposed that
we stand even for a day on that great
dividing line to speculate upon Ameri-
can achievement and progress. We
shall pause for but moment, and con-
template with wonder and admiration
the grandest production and the most
enduring monument of the first 400
years of American life-our public
school system.
The earnest enthusiasm with which
the public schools of America are grasp
| ing the idea of Columbian public
school celebration for Oct. IL augurs
well for successful national demonstra-
| ton.
On Oct ~ the eyes of the nation will
be turned upon the public schools,
which form the keystone in the arch
of our civilization. Throughout the
| length and breadth of our land the Ii,
OO0, 900 pupils enrolled in our free public
schools will, as with one voice, sound a
note which will thrill the nation.
WHAT TO DO.
The first thing to do is to determine,
when you read this message, that you
will do all you can to induce your school
to enter the celebration. Then show
this message to your teachers; every
patriotic teacher will be glad to help
you, if you show yourself in earnest.
Take the message TO the school com
mittee and the Observation-Disclosures
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 a strong
committee made up Jointly from citizens,
scholars, and teachers to take charge.
The committee should i'm all cases con
sist of those most in earnest, SO that the
work may not be checked by any posi-
BILE change of teachers during the sum
mer.
THE PROGRAM.
The program of exercises will be
| furnished 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 ann of this official pro-
gram will be that certain leading eX-
ercises may be the same in every school
in the republic, and that at least in one
feature the Chicago program and the
school program may be identical.
In due time this executive committee
will make further suggestions.
THE LOCAL COMMITTEE.
The duty of your committee will first
be to interest the citizens and to pre-
pare 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 organizations of each town
will lend their aid, if they see that the
schools are determined that the celebra-
ton shall lie worthy of the day. The
local press will be the most valuable of
all supports.
On Oct. II the stars and stripes should
be floating from every school house in
the republic.
1t is the hope of the friends of com
mon school education that not one
public school in the United States will
allow itself to be left out in this most
memorable celebration.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
Francis Bellamy, chairman, represent
ing Youths Companion, Boston.
John w. Dickinson, secretary of
Massachusetts board of education.
Thomas b. Stockwell, commissioner
of public schools of Rhode Island.
w. Il. Garrett, superintendent of
public instruction of Tennessee
w. G. Hewitt, superintendent OF
Michigan educational exhibit at Worlds
Fair.
A presidential boom for Burrows has