Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-04-11
Patriotism in
the Public Schools.

, carefully educated Tor their duties.
/ They are instructed in the civil and mil
iJaUy achievements Of their people. in
the histary of their national church,
and particularly in the parts of their
country's history that have been per-
( formed by the members Of their own
families. Family history. indeed, is a
large part Of their education. They are
then educated in the knowledge that is
common to civilization-the pure sci
l ences and the languages and literature
of their neighbors.
After this young noblemen and fut-
/ ure rulers are instructed most carefully
in what are the natural resources and
/ possibilities of their own countries.
/ These governments are defended by
saying that they are conducted by their
wisest and best educated men.
The people of most of the govern
ments of the earth are homogeneous in
race, tradition and education. In them
all pride of race and love of country
come with their mothers milk, and are
afterwards strengthened and enforced
/ by State education. If the government
/ be good, it is one Of the glories Of their
system of State education to teach pat
riotism by teaching the history of their
/ heroes and their great achievements; if
1 the government be bad, then is there all
/ the greater need of teaching patriot
ism in the public schools, that its de-
/ fects may be hidden and forgotten.
/ Let us glance a moment at our pop
+ ulauon at the close of a century after
the administration Of George Washing
ton.
II is apparent to all that great
/ changes are going on in American char
acter and citizenship. Since 1920 over
/ seventeen millions of foreigners have
landed on our shores and have become
a part of our population. In fifteen of
the States of our country in 1890 over
one-half of the population was Of for
eign-born people. or of people born of
foreign parents The proportion then
amounted to one-third of the whole
population, and was increasing. In
1890 two-thirds of all the migration
from all countries was TO the United
States; the other one-third being dis
. tributed to South America, Africa and
Australia. In 1897, it is now safe to
, say that twenty-five millions Of the peo-
.rle of our republic are either of foreign
, birth or born of foreign parents who
have landed here since the war of 1872.
That is a number equal to one-half
The population of Europe at the discov-
. cry Of America. No such condition has
ever confronted any people as that
which confronts us to-day.
Shall the old American stock be over
whelmed and its achievements forgot
/ ten 10y these raw populations that are
/ crowding upon us, even too rapidly to
. learn our language, much less our his
tory2
Certainly no greater privilege, and
/ perhaps no greater task. could fall to
the lot Of any people than that which
thus comes to us of insTucting the di-
verse peoples Of the earth in the right
use of liberty and in the appreciation
+ OF the great achievements and the mag
rifcent virtues of the heroes whom we
celebrate tonight.
Patriotism, or love of country, may
come either from a knowledge of the
cost of life and treasure expended in
building and defending a nation. or it
may come from a knowledge Of the
/ great resources and possibilities that
country may hold for the future. But
/ i'm either case it will come only after in
struction at the Preside or at the school.
+ For instruction in the schools, assume
that the historical teaching should
come first. And as it is'impossible even
to- teach American history very thor
oughly in our public schools, it is nee
essary to emphasize particular features
of it.
TO begin with, I would place an
American flag in every school house in
the land. And I would place in its
f bookcase the lives of at least five of the
nation builders. whose story would be
an nspiration to every child, whether
rich or poor. Their recurring natal
I DAYS should each year be celebrated by
the pupils of the schools in defamation
and essay and song upon the lives and
work of these five first heroes Of the
. great republic.
F I have selected these five names part
~ because the celebration days would
fau within the terms of all the schools;
INIT more because they typify, better
than any others. all the great elements
+ of our old American life.
The first of these days that 1 would
o,Doir+ in the school term would be
Jackson day. the anniversary Of the
battle of New Orleans.
r. has been the habit. even of many
Americans. to discount the Importance
Of This battle. and to regret its occur
~,,oo after the treaty Of peace as a mis-
for-nne To my mind no greater mis-