El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-12-23
Teaching Future Citizens
Schools of Country are Training Pu-
pills In Civic Righteousness and
Good Government.
Nv Erodaryr I TQaud-Fu---
BY FREDERIC >. Hasktn'

Ct r ASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. %
w The congested conditions
which mass a large number OF
human beings in one locality. no less
than the great number of foreign-born
children who attend the public schools
Of the American city, give to that in
stitution a large responsibility In de-
veloping the future good citizenship
of the nation. The scnOOl authorities
fully recognize this and try to meet
it. Training for citizenship is no
longer an abstract theory 1t IS be-
coming each year more and more
practical course of study. Each child
is taught that he owes a duty TO mis-
city and his country, and that his own
success depends largely upon the man
ner in which this duty is discharged.
The methods in which citizenship IS
being taught vary in the different
schools In nearly every city some
new features are being worked OUT anu anu
when the results of the general sur
vey of city schools now being made are
published, many of them viii be pre-
scented to the public.
"Cfvfc RiGhteousness" in Salt Lake.
In Salt Lake City a special course
in civic righteousness" is being laid
out It begins with the SchOoI Dullu-
ing itself. The child is taught that II
was erected for his benefit by the city
at a cost of thousands of dollars To
deface a part Of the building or It's
furniture is a breach of trust amount
ing to practical dishonesty. The build
ing and all its equipment including
the services of the teachers, are given
to the child in order that he may
be trained to become a good citizen and
guard the interests of the city. what
these interests are follow along in
regular course.
In Philadelphia, a school begins I'm
a similar way by presenting to each
child his debt to the city in dollars
40 to- Ia 10
amounted to S26.24 last year for each
child in the elementary schools
Therefore, each child will owe large
debt to the city, which ne can only
repay by fulfilling all his duties as
citizen. What these duties will consist
of is taught by a special lesson each
week in which the principles of good
government are eNpounded-
New YOrlS's Special Exhibit.
In New York City for several years
a municipal exhibit has been held each
fall in which the uses to which the
various sums appropriated in the city
budget are clearly demonstrated. This
year the public school PRINCIPALS ar
ranged that all Of the eighth grade
pupils and many below that grade
should visit this exhibit and have the
city needs properly explained to them.
The children are taught that the re-
sources of the city are derived from
the people who live in it. Its income
consists of the taxes paid by the peO-
damage TO public property involves
higher taxes or higher rents, which
lower the general prosperity of the
people.
supply of a city may form special
lesson. The supply is essential to the
comfort as well as the health Of the
people, but it involves a great expen-
diture of city money Thousands of
dollars are lost each year by wasted
water. Such waste does not benefit
anyone. II may do great harm If
spigot IS allowed to drip or run in
some neglected court it not only
wastes water, but it may cause disease.
Mosquitoes and germs OF various kinds
can breed in this dampness and erect
the citys health, thereby causing ad-
dftiOnaI expenditure Of public funds
as well as suffering in the families
in which the illness comes
Children Spread Information.
These matters are all being thor
Oughly explained to the children in
the public schools. They in turn
carry this knowledge home to their
parents. In no other way could the
entire population of a city be so
readily reached. Last year, the city
of Philadelphia held a water exhibit
in the open square of the city hall.
A number of schOOlbOys took active
part in demonstrating the different
features of the exhibit. This year
noticea BILE decrease in the water waste
of the city is attributed to their vigil
lance in reporting leaking spigOts and
other faulty appliances.
Public spirited men and women are
recognizing the Importance of giving
the children instruction in all of the
duties and responsibilities which will
come to them in after life, and three
by cooperate with the school authOri-
ties in this work. In many cities,
the League of Good Citizenship has
been Incorporated into the public
school system largely through the eff
forts of the women's clubs. The mem
bers of this league pledge themselves
to obey all the laws OF the city and
to use all their influence towards Sc
curing its best conditions. Many of
them take the Athenian oath, that
beautiful pledge by which the young
men of ancient Athens dedicated them
selves to the service of their city
These leagues hold weekly or monthly
meetings, in which all matters affect
ing the health, cleanliness and beauty
of the city are discussed. The munic-
ipal officers of many cities are fire.
quently invited to address these
leagues and to give the members prac-