The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1909-12-23
NEGLECT OF THE FLAG,

Several days ago teacher in an
Eastern public school WAS requested
by the parents of IA number Of Italian
children to teach them now to salute
the American flag The teacher WAS
embarrassed aud confessed that this
was not part of our educational sy,-
TEN and that although there was a
form of salutatiun tor such purpose s,
he did not know what iC was. The mat
ter was referred to member of the
school board, and he didn't know.
Then system OF inquiry was started
and 1t was discovered that the proper
method of saluting the flag in schools
is to have the children repeat this
sentence as they stand facing the
dag: 81 pledge allegiance to my flag
aud to the republic toI which 1t
stands-une nation indivisible, with
liberty and justice to all "
1t would be interesting, Eut perhaps
depressing to patriotism, to learn
how many public school teachers in
this country know nothing of this
salutatiOn and make no attempt to put
1t into practice. We boast that the
American flag floats from our public
school buildings, but its siguiticHnce
ls seldom impressed upon the rising
genetatlon of school children. White
other nations safeguard d the sacredness
OF their hammers, the American people
hold this obligation lightly. The
national emblem has been debased
as An advertising medium; it is bur
lesqued upon the stage aud openly
lnaulted by enemies of the republic.
But no one in authority appears to
conceive it any pant of his pubic
duty to insist that the American Il z
be held III proper respect.
This is the day OF theorists and
refurmers who seek to change the
existing order OF things. lhe "muck
raker" is abb DAD in the land to expose
and demorsll2e without offering any
thing to take the place OF the thing
condemned. Ihe tendency is toward
anarchy, aud anyone who stands pa
triotically against this soft OF thing is
denounced MS "Ieactionary. But
there must be return to the taiGh
OF cur fathers, which faith was EN-
bodied ia veneTAtion OF the flag as
sym boiling things American Thore is
no better place tu begin than in the
public schools 1t may be a legitl-
mate exercise CT "persOnal liberty
Tor demHgogues TO Ieer at the flag,
but the children should be taught
that 1t means something to them. Be-
cause OF someone 5 VeneIatIon for
the flag the children OF America o
day are enjoying the privilege of
Tree and universal education. They
are no longer compelled to sweat IN
shops and factories or to be driven
like cattle in the fields. They have
full opportunities to become isde
pendent citizens. 10 have the school
children daily pledge theil allegiance
to the stars aud stripes is only proper
recognition of the blessings which
that flag has conferred upon them.
The above article was read by
Adlutant Blythe to the mem bers Of
Cauty Post and Candy Relief Corps
and It's publication in the local papers
was recommended.
The Post and Corps also urged that
the Boards Of Education should in
sist that Color Guard should be ap
pointed to attend to the raising aud
lowering vi bue nag, duu tuht tedCHeIs
should lead in the salute.
The patriotic Instructor of the
Post and Relief Corps will gladly
assist the teachers and Color Guard
in the performance OF this patriotic
duty.
George p. Cfowell, Commander
Mrs Jennie BantIey, Corus Pres
s. +. Blythe, Adjutant.