Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-31
TEACHERS
TO HONOR FLAG
OFFICIAL CALLS ATTENTION
TO ANNIVERSARY
Supe rintendent Of Public instruction
Seeks to Impress on Educators
Necessity of cutiVatine Pa
triotism in Schools

/ Thomas J. Kirk superintendent "
public instruction, desires to impress
on all school teachers and instructors
that June "A is the one hundred and
twcntN-ninth anniversary OF the adop-
tion of the stars and stripes as the flag
Of the United States also that 1t Is
duty TO instil patriotism into the minds
of the youths i'm accordance to a pro
vision i'm the political code.
Mr.. Kirk asks that the teachers OBJ
serve the day with fitting exercises as
far as is consistent with the instruc.
tion of the pupils. He believes that such
days should be made memorial in the
minds of the children so that they
will remember them throughout their
lives.
The letter follows:
The American Flag association in ac-
CordanCe with It's custo ON of the past
nine years. reminds us that Thursday,
June ii, 1906. will be the one hun
dred and tWenty-ninth anniversary of
the adoption of the stars and stripes
as the flag of the United States.
Should Teach History
During recent years Flag day has 5
come to he recognized more and more
as Il national anniversary. The asso-
cia ton earnestly requests the GO
operation of the citizens of California,
and especially Of all who are engaged
in the work Of education here i'm se-
curing this year the widest possible ob-
serVance Of the day
School officials and teachers are re-
quested to arrange for such patriotic
exercises as shall appropriately cele-
brate the day. Flag day as well rs
thel egal holidays named in our
statutes, presents an opportune time
for teaching lessons in patriotism
Section 1902 of the political code
makes it "the duty of all teachers to
endCaVor to impress upon the minds of
their pupils the principles of morality,
truth, justice and patriotism to
instruct them in the principles of a
free government and to train them up
to a true comprehension of the rights,
duties and dignity of American citi-
zenship."
No occasions are better adapted for
such instruction than the days especial
ly set apart to commemorate historical
events. The history of our country's S
flag and the principles for which it
stands as the symbol should be known
to every youth in the land.
Makes Impressive Lesson
An event of the present year serves
we'll to illustrate what a great priv
lleBe IL Is 10 llNc ulluGI lnt protecting
folds Of the American flag. The suf-
ferings brought suddenly upon thou
sands of homes in our state by the dis
aster of April last. severe as they were,
would have been greatly intensified but
for the generous assistance given to the
afflicted cities by the national govern
ment. A single star in the bright cluster
that adorns the national emblem was
only for day in partial eclipse The
light of u warm sympathy, reflected
from the national heart, quickly dis
PEELED the gloom. Wherever over the
stricken city of San Francisco could
be seen floating the flag, the people
knew that succor was near and that
famine should not follow in the wake
of destruction.
History is replete with incidents that
teach loyalty and devotion to the flag.
Since it is the primary purpose of the
public schools to train youth to be-
come good, loyal citizens, such histor-
ical incidents should be dwelt upon and
Flag day" fittingly observed each
year.
1t is therefore recommended that this
schools of the state, wherever possible
on June IA hold such exercises as Will
make impressive the patriotic lesson
that the day is intended to teach,