The National tribune., 1897-05-06

introduction OF patriotic teaching inlo the pun
lie schools, we need but refer to the fact that
while Col. George Balch, whose patriotic salute
has been officially adopted by the Woman's
Relief Corps, Auxiliary to the Grand Army OF
the Republic, was formulating system and
making a test of the same in the Children
Aid Society schools of New York City.
teacher in San Francisco was teaching her
children to salute the flag in little private
school in that city. This teacher was Miss
Eliza ID. Keith, who, over the signature oil
"Di Vernon" has contributed widely to the
public press on patriotic subjects.
Miss Keith began her patriotic work oy
hanging the flag over the door so that the
children would pass under its folds upon enter
ing. She taught them to march to their own
music; to sing patriotic airs and National
anthems
In 1891 she was substitute teacher her
duties taking her at least once q month into
every school in the city. Everywhere she
went she spoke on patriotic subjects, and had
the flag saluted She first advocated the found
ing of an Order Of school children, to be known
as the Order of the American Flag.
September 1891 Miss Keith took the plat
form of the Pacific Coast Woman's Press Asso.
citation to declare that patriotism must be
taught in the schools: that the flag must be
saluted. and that the first duty of the puolic
school teacher was to make American patriots
of the children.
Through her efforts, the San Francisco Board
of Education decided to observe Columbus
Day, 1892 and authorized tho different schools
to take up collections among the children to
purchase class room flags for the daily salute
The Balch salute having come to her atten-
tion was at this time substituted for the one
she had used, being, as she says, shorter and
more easily remembered by the children. This
salute is I'VE give our heads and our hearts
to God and our country; one country, one
language, one flag"
In February, 1893, the San Francisco Board
of Education ordered that the last Friday OF
each month be observed as Flag Day, with spe.
cial patriotic exercises. The other California
cities at once inaugurated-the movement and
for California Miss Keith claims foremost
place in patriotic teaching, their movement
having originated within the State, as has been
indicated.
Miss Keith is q member of the Committee on
Patriotic Teaching of the National Council of
Women, of which Kste B. Sherwood is Chair
man, and by request outlined the work In Cali.
fornia for the Boston meeting of the Council.
HOW FLAG FRIDAY is OBSERVED.
Flag Friday is observed in every school in
San Francisco County. Class rooms are deco
rated and visitors invited and patriotic exer-
cises carried out, which embrace declamations,
recitatons, singing of National hymns and an
thems and quotations from American authors
The distinctive feature of the day is the in
tense Americanism which is thus engendered.
In some of the schools the exercises on Flag
Friday are held in the scbool-yard at the close
of the noon hour, when the children are lined
up in military plan. On Flag Friday each
child wears a patriotic decoration. Most of
them wear tiny American flags. the most dis
tinctre American decoration.
In many schools the salute is given every
day from the school yard; in others in the class
rncpne In Miss Keifb's room at least 10 mi n.
utes are given every morning to patriotic exer-
cses. She has boys school, and the first line
is the Guard of Honor, privileged to stand in
front of the class, and each boy in turn holds
the flag during the recitation or song N prog
ress. Since the children love to hold the flag
they all try hard to win the honor. A disor-
derry child is sent to his seat and not permitted
to take part in the exercises, and is thus both
punished aud disgraced.
Miss Keith. like many other educators, has
reached the conclusion that our public schools
should be under National control; certainly to
the extent of placing National textbook on
patriotism and citizenship in every public
school in the land. She also believes that
- every public-school teacher in the United
States should be required to take the oath of
allegiance to the National Government Writ
ing OF California, Miss Keith says:
I'VE need no flag law in our State, as all our
institutions of learning, public and private
occasions The very children playing in the
streets march behind flag and sing the songs
they have learned in the schools. Whenever
class photographs taken. such as the school
exhibits sent to State Centennial Expositons,
the class flag is prominent in the group. for.
eigner posing the children placed some of them
on the ground, with the flag used laprobe.
The children protested, and said The flag
should always be above our heads"
The California press has done good service
In spreading patriotic sentiment By writing up
class exercises and reproducing class pictures
and fash-light pictures Of children in the act
OF sau:ing the flag.
The Boys Brigade and the Catholic Cadets
of the League of the Cross march beneath the
Gag and protect it from insult. Last Summer
detachment of the Boys Brigade, returning
from Encampment. passed q newspaper office
where they saw flag defaced by an ad vertise-
ment The brigade was halted, and the youth
FIJI Captain informed the proprietor that the
advertisement must come of, or the boys would
haul down the flag. Al first the man refused,
but seeing that the boys were in earnest, be
complied with the request
Last Fourth of July the committee to en-
courage the presence OF school children in the
parade and TO stimulate their interest offered
silk flags as prizes for the schools producing the
best floats illustrative of some Revolutionary
scene or incident. The pride OF the winning
schools in their Gags knows no bounds.
Jsly 4, 1896, was the 50th anniversary of the
raising Of the American flag by Commodore
sloat at Monterey, act that was prelim nary
to the acquisition Of California by the United
States. A feature Of the celebration in charge
OF the Native Daughters OF the Golden West
was the marching Of the school children OF
Monterey, dressed ia red white and blue, in
she form Of 9 gigantic American flag.
THE YOUNG PATRIOT.
The American child must be trained in civic
pride, encouraged to improve his surroundings
70 work in his school garden, to want his own
city TO have fine streets parks, pleasure grounds
imposing public buildings. museums art gal.
leries He should be enlightened as to hu-
manitys need for improved sanitary cond itions
and every creatures right to pure water sun
light and fresh air. For his encou ragemen,
and example must be honored those Americans
who have been public benefactors. As an OBJ
ject lesson. TO impress upon our children the
duty that each one owes to posterity, every
boy and girl should be encouraged to plant a,
least one tree g year.
In some sections of our country il NAV b.
impossible TO introduce the patriotic text books
but even without their valuable aid il is within
the power of any intelligent and patriot,
teacher TO Undue the children under her charg,
with respect for the principles of right Govern
ment.
without one word of political meaning sh,
may conduct an election according to the bes
political methods for the Captains of spelling
match. Leading from the known to the un