The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-06-03
COLUMBUS DAY.
To the Teachers Of the american Publ

To the Teachers Of the american Public
Schools:
The Executive committee of the
Columbian public school celebration
sends the following message:
The 400th anniversary of the discovery
of America will be the most important
of the centennial Observances through
which we have passed. 1t will be
the Columbian Exposition grounds. and
should be celebrated everywhere in
America by fitting exercises.
To the public schools this day pre-
sents great opportunity. 1t ism their
power to make themselves the centers OF
all local demonstrations.
This leadership by the public schools
was first proposed by the Youths Com
pGnion. The Worlds Congress Auxiliary
of the Columbian Exposition through
its President, followed with areauest
that the day be celebrated systematically
throughout America, and suggested that
the public schools lead in each local
celebration.
The department of superintendent of
the National Educational association. at
its annual meeting in February, 1892,
Endorsed the proposal and appointed the
State Superintendent of education as
general committee to lead the celebration
in their several States. An Executive
committee was also elected to prepare
uniform programme for use in every
locality in the Republic, and to take
direct charge of the movement.
The striking fitness of such public
school demonstration will appeal to
every patriotic teacher.
1t will give worthy prominence to the
common school as the fruit of four
centuries of American life. 1t will bring
before the eyes of our nation and the
world, on a scale of proper magnitude,
what North American civilization owes
valuable lesson in intelligent patriotism
to over thirteen millions of pupils in the
public schools.
On September LIST, the official pro-
gramme will be published, uniform for
all localities. 1t will be simple, but i'm
pressive and worthy of the day. 1t will
provide for a morning celebration in the
school houses, especially for the pupils;
it will also suggest an afternoon cele-
bration in the largest hall, designed for
the public generally; and at which the
older pupils will be present by delegation
or en- mdSSe. The afternoon celebration
may be preceded by grand procession.
The official programme will provide
that one of the exercises at the school
houses shall be raising and saluting the
flag. No school should be without it's
flag on that day. Schools yet without
flags will be aided in obtaining them if
they address the chairman of this COM
mittee.
While it is we'll for the pupils to be
made to feel their responsibility in the
movement yet the real leadership in
every village and city must rest with
the teachers.
Let each teacher, therefore, at once in
terest the pupils in the message to the
public schools. ct will be sent to any
address by the chairman.) Let the
school vote, with the concurrence of the
school board, to observe the day. Form
a strong committee of teachers, pupils,
and citizens. Enlist the press. Induce
the citizons to allow the schools to be
the centre of the local celebration. Invite
the Veterans of the war to send details
to every school house to assist in the
morning salute to the flag, as well as to
act as escort to the pupils in the after
noon parade.
Do all this before the close of the pres
ent term; for during the Summer other
local arrangements may possibly be
made which ignore the primacy of the
schools. AS soon as any school decides
to celebrate, inform the chairman of the
Executive committee, and copy of the
official programme will be sent upon its
publication, September LIST. Also in
form the State superintendent of edu-
cation.
Let not one public school in the
United States allow itself to be left out |
in this most memorable celebration.
The Executive committee are Francis
Bellamy, chairman, representing the |
Youths Companion, Boston, Mass. John
W. Dickinson, secretary of Massachus-
etts board of education; Thomas B.
Stockwell commissioner of public |
schools of Rhode Island; W. r. Garrett,
superintendent of public instruction of |
Tennessee; w. &. Hewitt, superintend-
ent of Michigan educational exhibit at |
the Worlds Fair.