Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-09-16

w Wy sOlllS VI tue luCSI pIOuiuSnt
Americans. including President Roose-
welt, Grover Cleveland, Levi p Nor
ton and others hardly less prominent
Is trying to work UP enthusiasm over
the country upon the subject Of Its
plan of education. This plan is a good
one and its possibilities for good are
great. The League gives as its rea.
sons and basis for organization the
fact, one which Is only too obvious.
that there is great need just now that
the boys of today, who are to be the
men of affairs of tomorrow, should rea-
HE as soon as possible the defects In
the American plan of government and
should be impressed with the neces
sity for their remedy. These defects
for there are defects, are founded on
dishonesty and the natural greed of
man. The Patriotic League proposes,
by instructing scholars along the lines
OF proper government, to teach the
great advantages and the real need of
honest, pure administration of public
affairs.
The League has a plan for organiZ-
ing each school into a play city with
its mayor and other others elected
by the scholars. The business of the
imaginary city are carried on, where
the experiment has been tried, just as
in a real city. Thus the boys, and the
girls, too, where they can be interest
ed, are taught the principles of gov
eminent and the necessity for honor
in the makeup Of those who govern
An interesting circular issued by the
/ League has the following to say about
its plan
! every thinking man knows that
the greatest need of this country to.
| day is correction of the deplorable
political conditions, particularly in the
municipalities.
one OF the greatest movements for
the betterment of political conditions
is sweeping over the entire country.
1t has been felt that public schools do
not yet fulfill their highest intention,
nor reach their largest efficiency
From the standpoint of state, the first
requisite Of schools is that they should
produce good citizens, and book learn.
Ing Is valuable only as it increases the
capacity to serve the .tate. The prop
er demand ought to be that schools
train and mould the child for success.
full entrance upon the responsibilities
of maturity These responsibilities
require the practical acquisition of
certain useful things, like reading
writing, numerical computations, etc. !;
| the development of the mental powers
OF the child and the promotion OF
healthful and symmetrical body devel
opment.
But educators believe that the
school should do even more than this
They should train the child in practi
cal morality, not merely for the sake
of intellectual perceptions. but to in
corporate the habits of right conduct
into the very texture of character
The schools should also undertake
that most important of all tasks, the
rearing of citizens. Argument is ne
longer needed to convince one that the
schools, in addition to moral teaching
i should inculcate the spirit of patriot
ism. and practical knowledge of the
duties and obligations Of citizenship.
]. And there Is no question but wha
4 model citizenship is best developed b!
the practice Of self-government from
childhood, which means the making
enforcing and obeying the rules. Al
growth in character proceeds not from
compulsion, but from voluntary &C
ceptance and conscientious application
of rules of conduct, so good citizenship
is best promoted by voluntary exer
else Of responsibility in shaping anc
obeying such rules.