New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-26
TFACVJNG CIVIL GOVERNMENT

A bill has been introduced in the Legislature
by Assemblyman Grlggs. Of Kings, to provide
for the teaching Of civil government In the
public schools Of the State II has long been
recognized as desirable that the youth OF the
country should be trained in knowledge or It's
institutions and fitted for performing the duties
Of citizenship II such education Is not now
given to them IN reasonable degree II Is certain
" desirable that either by legislation or other
wise our schools should be brought to do this
most important work AS every Fourth OF July
orator for a hundred years has said the bul-
wark of the Republic is its citizenship, the boys
OF to-day are the voters Of tomorrow, and I'M
less we fit those boys for their tasks as sover-
eigns free government can in nowise be pre-
served.
But, speaking Of civil government what Is
Mr.. Griggs going 10 have the schools teach!
His bill provides that no teacher shall be en-
ployed In the public schools who does not pass
an examination showing that he Is qualified to
teach the Subject Of civil government or the
science OF government" 1t Is therefore lmpor-
tant to know Just what Is the orthodox science
OF government in the view OF this bill. Why
the description Of our institutions and their work
ings of course, says somebody. Tell about now
the people meet in their districts and select re-
Z
Boards of Supervisors and the Legislature; how
frugal government and Just laws are secured
to this blessed State by having the people rule
themselves through public servants who are re-
sponsiblc to them and not to any king or die
tator and so dare not do anything against the
peoples interest Very good. That is just about
what was found In the schoolbooks OF 1910
along with teaching that Italy was geograph
tpcl ,1o ,ho~ Of "a fpG
that France was a kingdom, ard that heat was
due to the presence IN bodies of an impalpable
substance called caloric What would be
thought Of a school-teacher who should ask to
teach chemistry with knowledge founded on
the tex book OF 1910? Would any School Board
adopt a geography which described California
as the northwest part of Mexico. or said that
Martin Van Buren, was President of the United
States and William H. Seward Governor of
New-York? Certainly mott Times have changed.
Frank S. Black is Governor several States and
Territories have been carved cut OF the old
Mexican provinces, Italy is united, France IS
n republic, and whole new world Of physics
and chemistry is open to the student.
So too has our Government developed, and
our teaching of the science Of government"
should be adapted to the facts. It IL as much
n wrong TO teach youth that two and two
make five and unfit him for bookkeeping as to
teach him the political methods OF 1910 and
thereby debar him from success as a statesman
Suppose some honest youth from Tioga County
after an oldfashioncd course in civil govern
ment should get Mr.. Plat to induct him into
practical politics. He would be as useless
would be one Of George Stephenson's old loco
motives to draw the Empire State Express
When told TO vote for bill in the Assembly ne
might say he didn't think il was for the public
interest. and his colleagues would laugh and
point to their speeches. in which they explained
that they voted for bills they did not approve
because they were ordered to do so. If he went
10 n convention. full Of the schoolbook teach
ing that the delegates consulted and picked out
fit men, he would soon find that the ''old man"
was in the habit Of relieving them Of that trou
BILE When he quoted the pledge Of platform
as a reason for some action he would be told TO
study Mr. Platts reputation Of the non-par-
tisan city government declara tons Of the Re
publicans of this city. When it came 10 making
corporations give down." to creating public
sentiment by sending circular editorials TO sub
sldzed papers, TO refusing denominations TO
officers who did not always vote they were
told, he would be utterly at sea. He would
find the Science Of government" rs applied IN
Mr.. Platts Sunday school in the Assembly eau
Gus, In the party convention and I'm the cam
paign committee. bore no more resemblance 10
the Science OF government taught In his
schoobooks than the electric theories Of Gal
vaDi resemble the applied knowledge Of Edison
He would be tumultuously retired from politics
mt the first opportunity as an impracticable mis-
chiefmaker. and his successor would be warned
against letting any fnicky notions about the
peoples wishes or the party principles stand
IN the way OF obeying the boss Thus would
one statesman be ruined by back number edu-
cation.
BY all means let us have civil government
taught In the schools But let It be taught os