The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-06-24

right to occupy the most prominent place i'm
the celebration. The public school is the
one characteristic institution which links all
neighborhoOds together, and can thus
furnish common bond for national cele-
bration. The public school is the ripe fruit
of the four centuries of American civiliza-
tion. The public school of today sways the
hundred years to come.
HOW 1T CAME ABOUT.
The first approval of this suggestion came
from the public school scholars themselves
When the plan was first proposed by The
Youths Companion, January, 1891, thou
sands OF letters were received, testifying to
the enthusiasm with which the scholars re-
sponded.
The Worlds Congress auxiliary of the
Columbian exposition then took up the pro-
posal, calling upon all the people of the re-
public to observe the day i'm their own
localities, and suggesting that the public
schools be everywhere the centers 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 in February, 1892.
they took charge of the movement, and ap-
pointed the undersigned executive commit
tee to lead the schools i'm their commemora-
| ton.
APPEAL TO THE SCHOLARS.
The executive committee now appeals to
the scholars themselves to be the first to
move. 1t is for you, scholars of the Ameri-
can 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.
You will make it succeed if you unite to
say that it ought to be done. The interest
OF the public will be awakened if the
scholars join in the earnest request that the
school be allowed to be the center of the
days observance.
There are $4,000, 900 now i'm the public
schools. You have the chance to conduct
patriotic movement which will have place
in history, ard will strengthen the republic
through the coming century.
WHAT TO DO.
The first thing to do is to determine, when
you read the 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 superintendent; their
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 strong committee to
take the charge. This committee should
be made up jointly from scholars, teachers
and friends of the school. The committee
should in all cases he made up of those who
are the most In earnest, so that the work
may not be checked by any possible change
of teachers during the summer.
| THE PROGRAM.
A program of exercises will be furnished
by the executive committee. 1t will be
simple and adapted to any school, yet so
arranged that more elaborate exercises may
be added wherever desired. The aim of
this official program 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 program and the
school program may be identical.
In due time this executive committee will
make more definite suggestions on methods
of celebration through the superintende nts
of education and through the press.
| THE LOCAL COMMITTEE.
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 mill
tary, civic and religious organizations of
each town will lend their aid il they see that
the schools are determined that the celebra-
ton shall be worthy of the day. The local
press will be the most valuable of all sup
ports; and the earliest effort of your local
committee should be to enlist its sympathy
and request its cooperation. Ask your
local paper to print this message.
On October 18th the stars and stripes
should be floating from every school house
i'm the republic.
1t Is the hope of the friends of common
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 Belamy, Chairman, representing
The Youths Companion, Boston, Mass.
John w. Dickerson, Secretary of Nassa-
chusetts Board of Education.
Thomas q. Stockwell. Commissioner OF
Public Schools of Rhode Island.
w. X. Garrett Superintendent of Public
Instruction of Tennessee.
w. 9. Hewitt, Superintendent of Michl
gan Educational Exhibit at Worlds Fair.