The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-26
SHOULD TEACH CITIZENSHIP.
f. II. Blackledge Talks on a Feature of
Education Before Progress Club.

The Progress Club held its regular meet
ing at Mansur Hall yesterday afternoon.
and was addressed by Mr.. Frank H. Black
ledge on Education for Citizenship" He
said, in part: Does the instruction offered
in our public schools meet the demands
OF popular government? At no time in the
history of the Nation has there been greater
need that schools should be responsive to
the requirements Of citizenship, both in
subjects and methods of teaching. BY our
system Of education we are contributing
all the conditions of unrest. We are teach
ing the pupil the use of his faculties, are
pointing out to him the ways and means
of advancement. are inspiring him with a
desire to better his condition, and yet are
practically failing to teach him that which
is most vital to the public elfare-a knowl-
edge of the relation which he sustains ard
the duty he owes to the State For long
time we have heard the controversy con-
corning the respective merits of scientific
and Classical education. Educators in State
supported schools have different mission
than to determine who is the greater Hulk
ley or Homer. Government is. in its very
nature, a limitation, resulting in friction
with the individual. Do our schools lessen
this friction? Do they make. easier the
task of government? If they. do, not their
seriously questioned. What the subjects ana
methods of civic instruction are TO be is
q part OF the future development OF SCHOOLS.
AS a preparation for more advanced in
Struction In civics, history is q most i'm
portant study. Rightly considered 1t is a
average Of human conduct To the younger
pupils 1t should, perhaps, be presented in
the With OF n 95
pulses. The beginnings OF every settlement
in the hands of e. skillful teacher can be
of the State executive. administrative, jul
dicial and legislative is capable of sim
pie explanation arising out Of the ,I needs DIS
done in the early years of childhood than
to lay a broad basis of personal incident
in plastic minds, would be a constant COM
mentary on the more theoretical instruc-
ton Of later years. Biography has an i'm
ism. The traditions and teachings of patri-
otism In Europe have been associated with
force and arms-the pride of physical i'm
pact. But the patriotism that has the high
est value is the patriotism of peace. The
patriotism of the past, in this country, has
besn associated with wars involving .ques
tons of morals and conscience To-day it
has assumed the form of pride in progress
I've energy, the joy of doing and achiey-
ing-a reliance on invention and enterprise
the worship of wealth. The proudest dis
tir ction of the States to-day is that they
lead the industrial civilization of the world
as against the military represented in the
nations of Europe. Yet If industrial lead
ership results in burying civic duty under
personal convenience it may prove fatal to
our institutions"
Inc speaker tnen referred 10 the recent
resolution of the convention of the Amer
lean Fedora ton of Labor. at Chicago, IN
which it Endorsed the proposition of ..col.
lective ownership by the people of all
means of production and distribution as
significant comment on the attitude of or
ganized labor toward modern socialism;
that labor. having accepted the dictum Of
Karl Marx that "the state should control
the means of production and distribution
and that all capital should be collective
ami noncompeting, would seem to be max
ing rapid advances toward socialism; that
Marx bad grated socialism upon the great
labor movement, through the proposition
of Ricardo, that all value is derived from
labor; that, in order to meet and solve
social problems OF the future. o. which tie
one suggested is of first Importance, every
means conducive to sound Ideas o: govern
ncnt should be encouraged.
Mr. Bryce, he said, had observed that
Americans had not the power of serious
and sustained thought on economic sub
jects. In closing he quoted the words of
Charming: Every school established by
law should be especially bound to teach the
duties of the citizen 10 the state, to unfold
the principles of free institutions and to
train the young to an enlightened patriot
ism"