Newark post., 1911-03-08
Training For Citizenship

The Milford Chronicle urges atten-
ton to the teaching of civic duties and
responsibilities.
One of the most important duties
OF our pubic school system should be
70 teach civic duties an responsible
ty OF the individual to the State. This
course should be practical and person
al, and not covered BY national scope
as the basis. Geserally civic govern
and the children are brought to look
at the subiecr as one far removed
from their everyday lives, and as a
remote possibility that some boy may
arrive al the goal OF being president
This is all wrong; tItch the child that
the government OF the school district
where it attends will rest upon its
shoulders; that the town government
will be good or bad, just as the boys
and girls will that it shall be by their
active work in its interest; that the
county government will be honest, able
and progressive only by the better
thought and acts the children now in
our public schools; that the State gov
ernment and the civic pride III its al
fairs will rest upon them after embark
ing in the real business affairs of life.
In an address before the City Club in
Philadelphia, at which were assembled
many OF the leading educators of that
and other cities, Arthur Dunn said:
nf
can be practical unless there is civic
education, and pointed out that this
education is best inculcated among the
school children, not so much by infor-
nation derived from bo oks but bv real
work and by object lessons, OF the prI-
vlleges and the duties OF the citizen,
After all. the making of good citi-
zens is the real object in establishing
public schools. We do not do this as
a philanthropy or for the esnecial bene-
mt OF the child. but rather for the bene-
mt OF the whole community of whom
that child later on will become a in
tegral part and factor.
The whole trouble with the present
system OF civic education is that it
teaches the child all about civics. from
a national viewpoint, while he knows |
nothing whatever of his responsibility !
to the local community. We have |
started from the wrong end. The local
community with its close interest and !
connections for the boys and girls in |
school, is the part which excites their
interest
II we create an interest in the al |
fairs OF government among the child |
rem we then have the foundation for |
imparting the knowledge OF the more |
complex problems OF that govern
ment Now, we teach these problems,
but we have not the interest OF the |
children, and there is little result.
Instead OF, as in our present system,
being made TO look lorward to the |
time when he will be able to vote and |
have the chance OF being President or
holding other Office. the child should |
have it impressed on him that right
now, young as he is, he has certain
privileges and responsibilities OF citi-
zenshlp which he cannot get away
from.
Yet civics is not the only mistake
being made in the teaching of the pub
lie schools. which are doing great
good but which should be made to be
u Sltd. Cl BSlSlll ~ lIlS SlSdlSSt NUM-
Der. Because OF the changes which
might be made for the advancement Oh
the school benefits for the children the
boys are dropping out OF the schools,
and it is gerTng to lie rare thing for
boys to form part OF the graduating
classes While we have good schools,
net us have better for the sake OF the
children.