Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-10-27
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
HOW THEY CELEBRATED THE DIS
COvERY OF AMERICA.

Rising Generation.
Public interest during the past week
has largely conferred in the National Pub
lie School Celebration of Columbus Day.
This magnificent enterprise, although
aggressively undertaken less than six
months ago, had in it SO large an element
of success that it generated force
which carried it throughout the nation.
Nothing of like character and scope-at
least nothing upon so ambitious a scale
has been attempted in this country in
recent years. The conception and I'M
dertaking, although audacious, have
been worked out in actual fulfillment.
There is marked inconsistency in
celebrating the 400th anniversary Of a
great event 401 years after its occur
renee. Moreover, lack of popular in
terest is evidenced if an anniversary of
the broadcast national significance be
permitted to pass with no other recog-
milton than merely local observance.
Nearly two years ago The Youths
Companion suggested that the 400th
anniversary of the discovery of America
ought to be celebrated everywhere
in America. The dedication of the
Columbus exposition grounds and build
ings was not enough. Every village
and town should signalize the day
which rounded out the four centuries of
American life. 1t was further suggested
that the public schools would form the
most fitting centers for a national chain
of local demonstrations, because it is
the one institution which represents all
classes and is to be found in all localities.
In that one suggestion, as in a spring,
was the force which, as it uncoiled
itself, set in motion the machinery
which SO successfully worked out the
problem of the national observance of
Columbus Day.
The first approval of The Companion
plan came from the pupils themselves.
The thousands of letters which were re-
ceived in response furnished ample evil
dence of the enthusiasm which the pro-
posal created.
The superintendent of education
were prompt to recognize the appropri-
ateness of giving to the public schools
the leadership of this Columbian cele-
bration. At their national convention
in Brooklyn last February they took
charge of the movement and appointed
national executive committee to lead
the schools in the commemoration of the
day. The state superintendent of pub
lie instruction were also constituted a
general committee. The executive com
mittee was composed of five members,
the Craftsmanship being vested in rep
resentative Of the journal which had
made the original suggestion, and
whose proposal to bear the brunt of the
undertaking, both executively and finan-
cially, was accepted by this representa-
tive body of American educators.
The committee addressed itself ear
nestly and perseveringly to the work. 1t
is a task by no means small to interest
100000 pupils in any specific under
taking, presenting the details of a ma
tional plan so COMPREHENSIVE and sue
cinctly that uniform and concerted ac-
ton may be secured in all quarters.
The national committee recognized
the importance of enlisting the active
cooperation of the most representative
American newspapers. To secure this
the leading paper in every locality was
invited to become the official advocate
and medium through which the details
of the plan should be made public. In
preparing that list the executive COM
mittee selected this paper as the one
best able to arouse public sentiment and
put into the local celebration the proper
spirit and life. We accepted this place
of honor because we have always been
in heartiest accord with every effort
which aims to impress upon our youth
valuable truths in history and important
lessons in patriotism.
Becoming one of the champions of the
undertaking Immediately after its in
eeption, it has been a qualification to
note the progress of the movement as it
gradually won for itself popularity in
various quarters and ultimately national
acceptance.
Having insured the cooperation Of
the press, the executive committee un-
dertook to secure the passage of bill
by congress requesting the president to
issue a proclamation making Columbus
Day legal holiday. While this bill was
still pending in the senate, it having
passed the house, an amendment was in
troduced at the instance of the commit
tee urging upon congress the propriety
of changing Columbus Day from Oct. -,
"old STYLE" to Oct. 81, new style"
This suggestion was made in the in
terest of scholarly accuracy. the erro-
neous Julian calendar in vogue at the
time of the discovery of America having
been corrected in 1882 by the adoption
of the present Gregorian calendar. To
do this ten days were dropped, and Oct.
5 became Oct. I5. But as one of these
ten days was the accumulation of the
ninety years of incorrect computation
between the date of Columbus discovery
and the time of the reformation of the
calendar. it was only necessary TO make
change of nine days in readjusting the