Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-12-21
TEACHERS CLEANING
MUCH KNOWLEDGE AT
INSTITUTE MEETINGS
EDUCATORS SHOW UNFLAGGING ZEAL
Former Superintendent James A. FOshay Tells
Men and Women How the Schools May be
Kept Out of PolitiGs-0thers Deliver
Very Interesting Addresses

The 1000 teachers of the institute are
continuing in their work of cleaning
knowledge from the many centers of
activity along educational lines. Yes
terday was the fourth day of the insti-
tute and the interest is being main
tanned with a high degree Of system
and harmony that pervades the assem-
blage. Today will be another very busy
day, as indicated by the program.
How May the Schools Be Kept Free
from Political InfuenceY was tho topic
of James A. Foshay yesterday morning
at the Polytechnic high school. He
said:
1.-THE interrogative form of my theme
not only implies that the schools are
free from political influence, but that
1t is very essential that the machine
politician keep his hands off all mat
tiers where the interests of the children
are paramount. John Fiske says: If
the object of the municipal election is
simply to secure an upright and eff
Gent municipal government, to elect
a city magistrate because he Is a Re-
publican or a Democrat is about as
essential as to elect him because he
believes in homeopathy or has a taste
for chrysanthemums. If this idea holds
true, how much more important is it
"In recent years a great change has
taken place in the attitude of the peo-
pie toward children. In all progressive
nations, when child suffering has
seemed to be viewed with callous in
difference 1t has been found necessary
to define anew the term, parental
rights.
Superintendent Chancellor likens the
system feducation to a great steam
ship or fleet of steamships laboring
hard in the trough of the worlds sea
for want of proper machinery and of
sufficient coal to produce power, and
to utilize it properly for speed.
1T has been said that the children's
review in Phoenix park, Dublin, one
of the last public functions in which
Queen Victoria was engaged, when
$4,000 children assembled to welcome
her, was most pleasing to the great
queen. The people arranged this Won
derful spectacle in grateful recognition
of the blessings she had bestowed upon
them, by giving her royal assent to
many measures passed for the welfare
of these the most helpless of all her
subjects.
Schools Elevate Standards
THE work of the schools is to elevate
the standards of action. We must reach
the parents through the children if we
would lay the foundations of public
opinion strong and deep. AS the intel
Iect is dwarfed, public policies and
are dwarfed, for public meas
ures must conform to public opinion.
1t matters not in what state or nation
the public school is brought under po-
litical influence just so surely as it is
by such influence will that
state or nation lose it's prestige. That
the stability of the government rests
on the efficiency of the public school
Is a truism which should be impressed
upon the public mind. Children, then,
must be taught the price of liberty and
the curse of oppression, that liberty
can be maintained only by the exercise
Of true liberty, that an educated and
refined. God-fearing people is the best
safeguard to the public schools. and
the public school is the safeguard of
American liberty. We must realize that
immense sums are annually devoted to
public school work, and that school
has been accumulated to the
total of many millions, and
yet in many cities the educational ia
cilities which are essential to the best
results are still insufficient.
when we realize that such sacred
interests are at stake, such vast prop
erty is to be managed, such large sums
to be disbursed, with the certainty that
the greatest economy will not make it
serve the full purpose for which it is
intended, will any person fail to look
into the matter and perform the duty
which is of greatest Importance, name
ly, cast his ballot for such persons as
have the interests of the children and
the schools at heart? But public opin-
ion varies in different places, the same
as we find that public education va
rieS, and as everyone is a member of
the body polite, so he must understand
that whatever concerns the country
concerns him as an individual. The
education of public opinion is duty
devolving upon every citizen. The well
fare and safety of the individual and
of the town are bound up in that of
the country. If people are grasping
the penalty follows; the history of the
European nations demonstrates this.
We therefore see the necessity of urg-
ing men and women to assist in form
ing in the minds of the people right
views of character. setting before them
high ideals, and lifting them to noble
of the possibilities in every
human being.
Should lnstill Patriotism
1--WE must admit that, with a large
number of persons, voting is not
moral duty, to be discharged for the
general welfare, but it is business In
which the candidate receives. or is
supposed to receive, something valu-
able for which he ought to make re-
Enumeration. This fact calls upon us
to instill patriotic sentiments into the
minds of the young, which shall result
in patriotic practices There is some
thing greater and broader than hur-
p nOiSW
demonstrations. and pronouncing this
the best government in the world etc,
for we have seen the most corrupt,
those who have debauched the ballot
box, frequently loudest In extolling the
flag from the platform, and proclaim
ing our government the best govern
ment. Let it be understood that a
patriot is a good citizen, and while the
flag is to be honored, II should be made
L.. innc