The National tribune., 1900-01-25
PATRIOTISM IN THE SCHOOLS.
An Important Work That is Being Carried
On by New York Comrades.

|
On by New York Comrades.
Three years Iago Chic
Shaw. then the Department Commando
of New York, conceived the idea OF having
a committee of prominent comrades look III
| the matter OF teaching civicS and patriotism
in the schools. The first meeting was he'll
i'll Buffalo, the second and third in New
instant in the Assembly Chamber in tn
Capitol, Albany. The State Superin
| tendent of Public Instruction, Hon. Chas
| Il. Skinner, was made an honorary mem
ber and has done incalculable service IL
aiding the committee, of which Col. j A
Goulden, the head of the New York CITY
GAR, has been Chairman from date O
organization.
Much good has been accomplished, anC
a number of laws placed on the statute
books through the influence of this body
Among others those requiring the flag to bt
hoated from every schoolhouse in the
state during school hours, making the
desecration of the same by attaching ad,
vertlsements, ETC., a misdemeanor pun
ishable be fine and Imprisonment; another
| appropriating $500 yearly to employ, a
competent inspector to visit all the public
schools OF the State to supervise the teach
ing of civics and patriotism. State Super
| OF exercises for all National holidays, in
cluding Flag Day, in which the school
authorities are urged to secure the presence
Iof members of that grand and patriotic
Order, the GAR, to assist in inculcating
a true spirit of patriotism" etc.
Department Commander Joseph W.
Kay, in General Orders No. 4,dated Oct.
20, 1899. said: "To secure the best and
most practical methods of teaching pat
rlotlSm and civics i'll our public schools
was considered by Department Commanders
Albert ID. Shaw and Arson S. Wood most
worthy object for the Grand Army of the
Republic. In this view the present De
partment Commander heartily concurs.
The subject is one in which every American
should take u deep interest. The youth
OF today must be the right arm OF the Ma
tIon in the days to come. In no better way
than by instilling into the minds Of school
children lessons of patriotism and love
OF country and Old Glory can the cause of
Tree Government be advanced, or the future
OF the Republic made more secure.
While the work of the committee prevl-
ouSly appointed has progressed well, as
shown in their report 100000 copies of
three meetings each have. been issued and
circulated through the kindness OF Charles
X. Skinner, Superintendent Of instruction
of our State,) there is still much to be done.
To accomplish this the following comrades
are hereby appointed a special committee to
make such further investigation and report
IN TINS direction as it may BEEN advisable;
viz:
Col. James A. Goulden, Post 259, III
Broadway. New York City, Chairman;
Hon. Charles T. Saxton, Post 173, Clyde;
Prof isaac Fl. Stout, Post 43S, Albany:
Prof. o d Robinson. Post 90, Albany;
Hon. Charles S. Baker, Post 4, Rochester;
Cold Ohm W. Vrooman, Post 404, HerkimeI,
Col. A. c. Bakewell, Post 140, New York
CITY; Prof. VIM. C.. Morey, Post 4, RocheS-
ter; a. &. Pickard, Post 2S5, jamestown,
Prof: Geo. c. Stowitz, Post 9, Buffalo:
2. 9; English, Post 276, Corning; Henry
Z. Blackman, Post 1862, Brooklyn; Prof.
". H Scott, Post Isl, Syracuse; Charles
A. Seafl, Post 53, Utica; Hon. James d.
Bell, Post 435, Brooklyn; Charles H. Cot
ton, Post 1877. Brooklyn; Noah Tebhetts.
Post 327, Brooklyn; Gen. George b. Loud.
Post 259, New York City; Gen. Nichols
". Day, Post 135, New York City; Col.
James II. Jenkins, Post 40, Mount Yer
non; Prof Albert B. Wilber, Post 3Ol.
Middletowr; Charles E. Sprague, Post
i03, New York City"
In addition to the comrades named the
Commander er-in-Chief, Department Com
mander, Assistant Adjutant-General Mum
ger, State Superintendent of Public In
Struction Skinner, Gov. Theodore Roose-
welt, and many others were in attendance
Addresses were made by Gen. Shaw, Coils.
Kay, VroOman, and Bakewell, Profs.
MOrey, Stout, Robinson, StowitZ, Scott and
Wilber, Hon. Charles S. Baker, Gov. Roose-
welt, Superintendent Skinner, Mrs. Put
nam, Superintendent Of the Soldiers Home
at Oxford; Mrs. Seely, State President of
the Womans Relief Corps, and Miss Helen
l. Parker. The meeting was full Of inter
est. and several recommendations were
made That the Governor and State Super
intendent promised to carry into effect.
Commander-in-Chief Shaw has in view
the naming Of similar committee with
two or more comrades from each Depait t
ment to help on the work in all the States
Of the Union. If the proposition meets
will accomplish the most gratifying results
and reflect credit on the veterans of the
civil war.