The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1914-02-12
REPLY TO OPEN LETTER FROM
MOUNTAIN VIEW.

| tain View is timely ana every Soclai-
list who has studied the problem of
education and Is familiar with our
present school system, its actual aims,
and the methods employed. should
spare no effort to assist the Socialist
party in taking the right attitude to-
ward public education.
RIGHT ATTITUDE. Get that?
Well, keep that In the limelight of our
investigation, first, last and all the
time. It is the basal fundament upon
which all details of superstructure
must be executed in absolute harm.
ony. The reason that some Socialists
are for and others against different
propositions in education Is found In
the fact that they have no common
attitude. A common attitude Is not
enough though, 1t must also be right.
This is some job. comrades. We
have been disagreeing in the matters
of political and industrial action, not
because we have no common basis to
work on, nor because it is not right,
but because individuals and factions
refuse to work from even a common
basis, to say nothing of a right basis.
If the lack of acceptance of n right
common basis is the cause of strife
within the party and among parties
claiming and originating in the same
common fundamental condition, desire,
aim, or attitude; then it is all the more
important that we not only find the
right common attitude toward public
education, but we must express that
attitude in definite unmistakable terms
in our platforms or let the matter or
public education wisely alone till we
can do so.
Our educational attitude must be
based upon the true Socialist philo-
sophy Many Socialists take their
philosophy secondhand from Marx,
treating his writings much as ortho-
doxy does the Bible and the Koran.
They seem to think his works an in
SEPARATION instead of scientific express
sion of his analysis of the economic
relationship of things. What Marx has
said is not the basis of our philosophy,
the true basis is the source from which
he drew, things as they actually are.
Marx stands preponderant as a scien-
| fist who could give definite expression
to the fundamental scientific facts and
laws of things about him, but the basis
of our philosophy is true science. not
Marx. Science has advanced since his
time and we have greater means of
enlightenment, while factors he could
not imagine have entered human acti-
vities, so our educational attitude must
be scientific and in accord with the
highest enlightenment of our times.
The right attitude, being scientific,
must of necessity be radically revo-
lutionary as is every other right atti-
tude we take when compared to things
as they are under the system of ex-
ploitation we live in. Revolution and
reform are two different things, and
in drawing up our attitude great care
must be taken lest we mistake mere
reform for our real revolutionary aim,
thing that has often happened.
There seems to be disposition
among Socialists to be pretty we'll
satisfied with our schools of today or
to be continually complaining about
them. The first group must have
false notion of these schools and the
work they are doing or they are off
on their Socialism, while the second
are doing little good. Neither group
is qualified to determine an attitude.
Only those who are thoroughly fami-
liar with our educational system and
the true Socialist philosophy and who
can offer scientifically constructive
plan should be entrusted with so i'm.
portant task. Any old capitalistic
Dubb can find fault with our schools
and suggest reforms. All but the I'M
informed know that our schools have
stagnated, and the spirit of the times
demands a revolutionary change. The
only possible place such a change can
be formulated is in the Socialist move
ment, be it by individual, faction or
party; but 1t must be scientific. revo'
lutionary and constructive. Let us get
TO work and assemble all the light we
can in this direction. IT is suggested
that those who have ideas along these
| lines submit them to the secretary OF
our educational bureau and to our
party press. The writer will prepare
a statement Of an attitude that Is quite
common among those who have given
the subject serious thought.
Yours for the revolution,
Jos. +. FUSS.
World Almanac 1914 at Hills Book
I