The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-03-02
THE AMERICAN FLAG OVER THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
BY MISS MARY l.. BiDD.

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William and Mary, Yale and Dartmouth
These however, were simply for the favored
few-the rich mems sons, while the poor
boys could 20 in ignorance, or struggle
alone for an education.
The need for universal education was
soon recognized and the result is otll
magnificent Public School system, which
places the red school house within walking
distance of every child's door.
The great aim of this system of Public
Schools is to raise up citizens whose duties
will be the maintenance of American in
situations and American free government,
devotion to which is the truest patriotism
DIR. Richard Harcourt, the author of "The
American Schools" defines patriotism as
"a sentiment having its origin in the
human affections, the love of home and
the protection of home interests, - and he
urges that, being il sentiment it must be
instructed lest it become fanaticism.
We cannot begin too early with this
training. In our lowest grades, W. must
commence to instill into the little ones
around us the true love for our country
And until the child is ready to leave its
school home, and to step out into active
business life, the idea must never bt
forgotten, that he is to be the voter and the
office holder of the future, and no stone
should be left unturned that will aid in
Installing into his heart the truest patriotic
sentiments.
Now the day for trying to force the abstract
into the minds of children is passed. Every
thing is taught with the aid of objects.
Government and patriotism are too vague
terms for the mind of a child to grasp, but
how quickly he will become interested
when flag is shown him, and how enthu-
siastic he will become as you explain to
him what the Stars and Stripes mean, and
how the flag, designed from Washington 5
coat of arms, is thought to have been
designed by Washington himself
Every American school boy, when he
reaches the age at which he studies history,
takes Washington as his model. He is to
the child the ideal good man, powerful
soldier, and great statesman: and the flag
thus identified with Washington, will he to
him the emblem of all these qualities. Keep
it ever before your school, and teach your
children to love it, and you have taken a
long step towards making true patriots OF
your boys.
These patriots are to be made from the
children of a mixed population. Our cit
izenship, for example, has large percent.
age of foreigners, many of whom, to be sure,
have proved valuable citizens; but many
Others who have come to us from across the
water, are not the most desirable sort: in
deed, are very Objectionable. Some of these
come here because in their own land they
were poverty stricken, and they thought in
this country they would find work plenty
and wages good. They are here simply for
the benefit they can derive from us, having
no affection for the country and 10 interest
in it, welfare.
Others are the criminals of our sister
countries, who wishing to escape the hand
of justice, seek refuge among u.s. To them
free country is one in which each person
can do very much as he pleases, regardless
of the tights of others, and they come to
the United States as a good place in which
to give vent to their lawlessness. As long
as it is, as yet, impossible to keep the
troublesome characters away, we must do
our best to prevent their spreading riot
through the land. Nothing but stern
justice will keep them in bounds, but we
must do our best to educate their children
into peaceable Yankees, as the foreigners
call us.
While children of American parentage
would inherit love for our country, these
strangers must receive all they ever have
through outside influences.
Let us insist that they shall attend our
schools, and then let us use our utmost
effort to AmeIicanize them. Make the
most of our national holidays, have
speeches, sing patriotic songs, and above
all, have an American flag which your
children may call their own. Give it
entirely into the care of the children, and
give them to understand that they are
responsible for its well being, and they
will be much more likely to love it, and
through it, to love the principle which it
represents.
My last reason for wishing the American
Flag over the Public School seems to me
the most important. The principle which
distinguishes our government from all
others is that no particular religious sect is
recognized. We have no national religion,
and we desire and intend that no religious
denomination shall have the control of our
national school system. We call them
national schools, and let them be national
in the fullest sense of the word.
Neither Jew nor Gentle, Protestant nor
Roman, as such, has any right to their
privileges. But as prospective citizens of
our great Republic, claiming it's privileges
and protection, all American children
belong in the American schools where
American ideas are taupbt This statement