Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-25
The War and the Public School.

lit Ud9 nIlu WIN oShOOIs
on the memorable Monday morning
when the Brooklyn volunteers We're
marching out to camp a public school
teacher, probably an assistant prln-
cipal. with a big bell in either hand
stood before the front door of her
school ringing Justify, but in vain. The
passerby who observed this unusual
demonstration on the sidewalk also no.
ticed that not one child of school age
was visible anywhere, which is another
unusual thing in Brooklyn. Smiling to
himself at this effect of martial en-
thuSiasm The passeFhy went on his
way, and very soon came upon another
bareheadcd lady, standing before an
other public school, going through the
same double handed but Intellectual
performance.
1t was this that suggested the idea
of inquiring among some of the public
schools of Greater New York as to the
general effect Of the war excitement
upon the routine of school work With
such rare and curious exceptions as
those just mentioned. neither in Brook
lyn nor in Manhattan, neither down
toh II lpl vi tpN IL lltl7 AiiN tet Ai'ii t'4''
talk of war at all interfered with the
work of the schools. 1t seems only to
have served as q stimulus to study,
ard that in more branches than one,
says the New York Herald.
Girls are not SO deeply interested in
war as boys. you know" said one girls
high school teacher. An our girls
have certainly not shown my tenden-
cy to be hysterical about his war.
Patriotic, ! should say 50. You can
see it in their red, white and blue ros-
cites and ribbons. In that they are
only like all the girls and grown up
women of New York. | believe there
is a good deal of flagmaking and that
sort of needlework going on among
them in their homes"
Taking all parts Of New York, it may
be fairly estimated that about fifty per
cent Of the boys in the public schools
wear patriotic emblems of one kind
and another. By actual count in one
down town school. 221 boys out of 500
We're SO decorated, while large up
town school reported the absence Of
such badges as rather the exception.
This difference was probably due 10
difference in the supplies of cash
1t is in the primary and grammar
schools that the working of the war
spirit is most plainly and interestingly
shown.
one principal on the east side said:
"Of course this war colors the whole
life Of these children. but that is all so
much the better More than half the
pupils here are children of German
born parents. About ten per cent are
Italian. We are making Americans of
them all. AS 10 its distracting their
attention from legitimate work part
of their legitimate work is to study
current events. We give five minutes
to that every day, and l believe the
same practice is observed in all the
schools. These tragical happenings
that are now actually in progress are
an important part of history. We
study the latest news With the aid oi
maps of course. So you see, we have
a ready safety valve for all this eX-
element. Then, as every boy wants
to understand what is going on, We
find that the war news acts as stimu-
lue to the study of geography
Different methods are adopted il
different schools for this study of tho
days news. In one the plan is to lie
one of the pupils write out briefly OF
the blackboard all the important new.
of the twenty-four hours just elapsed
In another there are wall spaces re
served for clippings from the neWspa
pers which the pupils bring and sub
nit for publication" to the teachers
In one school room there was quite
competitive exhibition of portraits o
Admiral Dewey, and near this display
was careful blackboard drawing o
the map of Luzon. With parallels o
latitude and longitude,
The first quarter of an hour in tn,
daily routine is devoted to marching
singing, the reading Of Scripture. and
the salute to the Flag" In at leas
one school this salute" has been Sc
to music, and is sung with beautiful
effect in chorus. Here is the chic
daily lesson in Americanism, and her,
is also wholesome outlet for the VA
spirit That spirit manifests itself il
the more than ordinary thrill which car
be- felt pervading the whole assembl,
nj the salute" and The Star Spangle,
Banner"-a thrill like an electric shock
warranted to benefit the torpid patriot
ism of any blase adult who will give i
one trial.
on the other hand, it is pleasant t,
note how little anti-Spansh rancor
considering the circumstances exist
or at least is professed-9 mong TIL
children. When the east ie principa
already quoted said to one lass, "Al
those who wish to go and fight agains
Spain stand up" every boy stood III
with a smart simultaneous spring. Ant