The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-11-10


EHITS$ERN%M state and nation-is full Of
HlSXgltgS<ksI1 danger for the country The
Xazs-@sssxSzssr@SDy lack Of interest In civic affairs
by n large proportion Of
educated American pOpu-
iation is another big danger, taken especially in
relation To the presence here of the outsiders
Many of the Industrial towns and cities i'm New
England and I'm other parts of the country have
populations almost half foreign. There is frc-
qucnt rioting with attendant loss of lives and de-
srucon of property The spirit of mob lawlcsS-
ness of this sort seems to be spreading in many
communities.
On the other hand, we find dishonest govern
ment-plain graft lax administration Of law rep
resentative officials who do not represent the mass
Of taXpayers-in practically every city and state
In America. Many agencies have sought the
cause of this state of affairs and are hunting a
remedy.
The chief cause of the foreign unrest and law.
teSsness appears To be ignorance ONLY very
small percentage Of the rough labor which has
come To us from Europe can speak or understand
the language of the country. Practically none
has any idea whatever of our laws our standard
of living our governmental methods.
And the great cause Of dishonesty I'm govern
ment In our towns, cities and states appears 10 be
the indifference of the great mass of intelligent
prosperous American citizens 70 what goes on
right under their noses They don't take the troll-
hlc to vote. They don't take the trouble to par-
II that good men are nominated for Office They
icavc II all to the politicians who are i'm the gov
erning buSncSS-SO Callcd-nOt because of their
fitness 10 administer laws, spend public money
deal out justice, etc, for the good of the com
munty but strictly and purely for what they can
get ont of it. Just graft for themselves and their
friends
Civic Training in Schools.
In recent article in the Philadelphia Public
Ledger Prof. Wilson l.. Gill who was put i'm
charge of the school system of Cuba during the
American occupation Of that island after the Span
ishAmcrican war offers single remedy for both
these dangers TO the peace and happiness and
well-bcng Of the United States.
Educate" he says. "Build citizens by giving
them civic training in the schools. Beginning with
the tots i'm the primary grades teach the boys and
girls how their school their town. their county
their state their nation is conducted, Teach them
20 vote and decide the little problems Of their
daily lives In the schooroom by methods en-
ploycd in government.
MAKE each schoolroom. for instance. little
town. Let the pupils under the teachers super
vision elect mayor from among their number
and have all the others compose Il board of coun-
cilmcn. Put up TO them problems of school, town.
county, state national management, to he de-
cidcd ON the principles of justice and the safety
and wcbcing of the majority.
"a proper appeal must bc made 10 the pupils"
Professor Gill says, "und they must be enlisted
heartily.
"This is easily done, for we have good material
TO work with Nearly all boys and girls essen
taly good. This is true, even it, 10y reason of an
unfortunate environments Il child has developed
some very bad habits, even those Of dishonesty.
If the appeal is properly made to them, they can
be counted on definitely to stand for that which is
honest, fair and square, clean, generous and
right
Teachers Part Of the Plan.
personal and printed assistance must ne given
60 them for carrying ON their government in the
spirit of American institutions and in accord with
correct civic forms, to maintain order and develop
cooperation and efficiency for every good purpose.
They must be shown how 10 solve the problems ~
their daily intercourse and as their teachers help
them to become Independent In solving the prob
lems i'm arithmetic. so their teachers must help
them to become independent i'm solving their daily
problems of social and civic relations The teach
er's part in the use of this aJ~aatory method of
moral and civic training is the same as i'm mathc-
matics. The teachers authority and responsibility
in both are To encourage and help the pupils
60 keep up enthusiasm. TO become independent
and judicial in thought and TO arrive at clear-cut
decisions. At that point the old educational proc
ess, as in mathematics, ends, but i'm this new
laboratory work. dealing with the actual practical
problems of daily moral and civic life there IS
another most important step, which is Immediately
60 put these decisions into execution and To co
operate for the good Of ALL
"What is needed for introducing democracy In
echools1
~First-The right metlsd-there Is one IN,
laboratory method, and there cannot be another
"Second-Practcal plans-there can be but on,
right general plan, but of this there may he in
Vulnerable variations.
"Third--A person skilled In introducing tn,
method and supervising the use Of IT,
"Fourth-Authority for such introduction an,
supervising.