The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-11
SCHOOL oHILDREN TO CELEBRATE
The Proposed Columbian Seminary
Celebration in October.

The proposed Columbian seminary
Celebration in October.
The proposed national Columbian public
school celebration next October is exciting
interest all over the country. The plan Is
being sent out through the country by the
chairman Of the executive committee of the
association and is the result OF a corre-
spondence between Mr.. Francis Bellamy OF
Boston and the commander in chief OF the
G.. A. r. The committee IS composed OF
Mr.. Bellamy, John W. Dickinson of the
Massachusetts board of education, Thomas
B. StockwelI, commission of the Rhode
Island public schools w. r. Garrett, super
intendent Of public instruction of Tennes-
see, and w. c. Hewitt superintendent OF
the Michigan educational exhibit at the
worlds fair.
The idea is that Oct 10. the 40Oth ami
versary of the discovery of America ought
to be celebrated everywhere in America,
and that the public school ought to be every
where the center and leader Of the local
celebration.
The reasons why the public school ought
to be the leader of the grand chain OF local
celebrations are stated as follows:
1t is the most characteristics product OF
the four centuries of American life. Co
lumbus stood for enlightenment against an
ignorant and superstitious age. In the pub
lie school that spirit Of enlightenment
which has been the mark Of American life,
has taken largest form.
The public school has been the source OF
our greatness az a nation. IL alone has
made the people capable of governing them
selves. 1t has put ideas behind American
bayonets. 1t has made our wonderful prog
ress possible.
The public school is the only institution
which Is literally everywhere. and which
could serve q a common basis for a united
celebration OF all the people
The public school is the training school
for the citizenship and patriotism OF the
future.
Department. Commander Gleason, OF the
grand army department. Of Georgia, has re-
ceived letter from Mr.. Bellamy urging, as
a result OF the correspondence between him.
self and Capt. Palmer, that the gran army
take hold of the matter and that an alliance
be formed for the celebration OF the ami
versary. Owing to the small numbers OF
the grand army in the south, and partiou-
larly in this section Of it. Commander Glea-
son saw that it would be impossible, or at
least impracticable. to attempt any celebra-
tion under its auspices here and he will place
the matter in the hands of the school au-
thoritieA
The first approval of the suggestion of
the celebration came from the public school
scholars themselves. When the plan was
january, 1891, thousands of letters were
received, testifying TO the enthusiasm with
which the scholars responded. The worlds
congress auxiliary Of the Columbian expo
sition then took up the proposal calling
upon all the people to observe the day in
their own localities, and suggesting that the
public schools be every where&he center 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
Brooklyn last February, they took charge
Of the movement, and appointed the under
signed an executive committee TO lead the
schools in their commemoration. The
executive committee now appeals to the
scholars themselves to be the first to move.
The day will be marked in Chicago by the
dedication of the Columbian exposition
grounds at Chicago. A programme OF exer-
cises 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 the official programme
will be that certain leading exercises may
be the same in every school In the republic,
and that at least one feature in
the Chicago programme and the school
programme may be identical.
What steps will be taken for the OBJ
servance OF the anniversary by the Savan-
nah schools is yet to be determined. 1t is
not unlikely that some action will be taken
at the proper time by the scholars or the
teachers and perhaps the school board.