Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1892-06-10
COLUMBUS DAY, OCT. 12.
A Message to the Public Schools Of
America

To the scholars of the public schools
OF the United States the Executive
Committee of the Columbian Public
School celebration sends the following
message:
The 18th of October, 1892, the 4OOth
anniversary of the discovery of Amer
ica, ought to be observed everywhere
in America.
The day will be marked in Chicago
by the dedication of the Columbian
exposition grounds. The day also may
be signalized in every town and village
in the republic by local celebration
oi which the public school is the CEN
tel.
The public schools OF the republic
Will form the most fitting for all these
local celebrations. A national public
school observance simultaneous with
the Chicago exercises will awaken a
popular interest in the coming exposi-
ton. 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 to-
gethcr, and can thus furnish a COM
mon bond for a national celebration.
The public school is the ripe fruit OF
the four centuries OF American civili-
zation. The public school of to-day
sways the hundred years to come.
HOW IT CAME ABOUT.
The first approval 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 enthu-
siasm with which the scholars re-
sponded.
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 sug-
gesting that the public schools be
everywhere the centers of the celebra-
ton.
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 Brook
lyn in February, 1892, they took
charge of the movement, and ap.
pointed the undersigned an executive
committee to lead the schools in their
cOmmemoration.
APPEAL TO THE SCHOLARS.
This executive committee now ap-
peals to the scholars themselves to be
the first to move. 1t is for you, schol-
ars OF the American public schools, to
arouse sentiment in your schools
and in your neighborhoods for this
grand way OF celebrating the finding
OF America. Educators and teachers
will meet you from their side. But it
Is for you to begin.
There are 1900, 900 now in the pub.
lie schools. You have the chance to
conduct u patriotic movement which
will have place in history, and will
strengthen the republic through the
coming century.
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 yourselves in
earnest. Take the message to the
school committee and the superintend-
ent-their consent and aid are indis-
pensable.
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 citi
zens, scholars and teachers to take
charge. The committee should in all
cases consist of those most in earnest.
so that the work may not be checked
by any possible change of teachers
during the summer.
THE PROGRAMME.
A programme of exercises will be |
furnished by the executive committee.
1t will be simple and adapted to any
school, yet 80 arranged that more
elaborate exercises may be added
wherever desired. The aim OF this Of
iicial programme will be that certain
leading exercises may be the same in
every school in the republic, and that
at least in one feature the Chicago
programme and the school programme
may be identical.
In due time this executive COM
mittee will make further suggestions.
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 organizations of each
town will lend their aid if they see
that the schools are determined that
the celebration shall be worthy of the
day. The local press will be the most
valuable OF all supports.
On Oct. 18th, 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