The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-09-09
Columbus Day, october 2Ist.

The discovery of America by Colum-
bus will be very generally celebrated all
over the country October 21st of the pres
ent year. The initiative will be taken
by the schools as it should be. The
public school is the only American in
stitution in whose name the celebration
can be held and make it of strictly un-
UNCONVENTIONAL character.
To make the celebration one in which
all classes of American citizens can unite,
it must center around the public school.
Only in this way can the occasion be
made to impress upon the rising genera.
ton the great patriotic lesson which the
celebration is designed to teach. To
this end the National Department of
Education under the leadership of Dr.W.
T. Harris, United States Commissioner
of Education, has assumed charge of the
movement, and the officers of the Wolld's
Congress Auxiliary of the Columbian
Exposition urge the suggestion that the
public schools of the Republic be every
where the center of all the local celebra-
tions. A programme has been provided
by those interested in this great educa-
tional movement and it will be furnished
to all the public schools in America.
AS requested by Francis Bellamy, chair
man of the National Executive Commit
tee, the matter was laid before the teach
ers in our Graded Schools last June and
the National Committee has been in
formed that our schools will observe the
day. The celebration should be a great
one everywhere and especially so in
Bennington. AS the schools are design
ed to be the central feature of the organ
ization to celebrate wherever local cele-
brations are held, so they should be here.
All other organizations, civil, religious,
and military, should for once unite with
the schools and leave nothing undone to
make a celebration that shall be life
long lesson to the youngest child. Our
schools have responded to all the re-
quests and conditions of the Nation Com
mittee and they are entitled to the aid of
the community in making the celebra-
ton school celebration as is to be dona
elsewhere all over the land.
The relation which the school will
everywhere hold to this celebration will
be shown by the following from the
documents sent out to urge the people
to make this school celebration:
mo other single human action in all
the ages of the past has ever had so great
and so beneficent effect upon the whole
race as the discovery of America. A
contemplation of the sublime heroism of
Columbus will prove an inspiration to
the young, and careful study of the
vast, limitless results, ever extending in
number and magnitude with the increas-
ing centuries, will have broadening
eject upon their minds. The noblest
product of American civilization is the
public schools of the United States, with
their 5000, 900 scholars. Here are mould
ed the moral forces that will shape the
Goth century. There is eminent fitness
in having the schools the center Of all
local celebrations. The military, civic
and religious organizations, undoubtedly,
will gladly assist. The veterans should
be invited to be the escort of the school
in all professions. 1t is earnestly urged
that the County Examiners, and all Sup
erintendents and Teachers in the State,
begin at once 20 make preparations for
the observance of this National Anniver-
sary.
"The patrons and all friends of the
schools should be early enlisted to make
it success worthy of the occasion. The
Chairman of the Executive Committee
of the Public School Celebration, Mr..
Francis Bellamy, will be glad to give
practical suggestions to anyone wishing
them"
The Superintendent and Teachers in
our Graded schools took the initiative in
this matter for the celebration in Ben
nington last June and having done that
the people should see that whatever
the extent of our local celebration the
school should be its center.