Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1916-11-10

by a large proportion of
own educated American popu-
lation is another big danger, taken especially in
relation to the presence here of the outsiders
Many of the industrial towns and cities in New
England and in other parts Of the country have
populations almost half foreign. There is fire.
quent rotfng with attendant loss of lives and de-
struction Of property The spirit of mob Iawless-
ness OF this sort seems to be spreading in many
communities.
On the other hand, we find dishonest govern
ment-plan graft, lax administration of law rep
resentatve 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
leSsness 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 in govern
ment in our towns cities and states appears to be
the Indifference of the great mass of intelligent
prosperous American citizens to what goes on
right under their noses They don't take the tror-
BILE to vote They don't take the trouble to mar
tcipate in primaries and conventions and SEQ to
it that good men are nominated for office They
leave it all to the politicians who are in the gov
DuSLu0SS--SO because
fitness to administer laws, spend public money
deal out justice, etc.. for the good Of the com
munity, but strictly and purely for what they Gan
get out 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 in
charge of the school system of Cuba during the
American occupation of that island after the Span
Sh-Am inpIn odv for ho+1,
these dangers to the peace and happiness and
well-being of the United States.
Educate he says. "Build citizens by giving
them civic training in the schools Beginning with
the tots in the primary grades, teach the boys and
girls how their school, their town, their county,
their state, their nation is conducted Teach them
to vote and decide the little problems of their
daily lives in the schoolroom by methods en-
ployed in government.
"Make each schoolroom, for instance a little
town. Let the pupils under the teachers super
vision elect mayor from among their number
and have all the others compose board Of coun-
cilmen. Put up to them problems Of school, town.
county, state national management, to be de-
cided the principles of justice and the safety
and well-beng of the majority.
"a proper appeal must be made to the pupils"
Professor Gill says, land they must be enlisted
heartily.
"This is easily done, for we have good material
TALLY good. This is true, even IT, by reason of an
unfortunate environment 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 be given
TO 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 to solve the problems Of
their daily intercourse and as their teachers help
them to become independent in solving the prob
lens in arithmetic, SO their teachers must help
them to become independent in solving their daily
problems of social and civic relations. The teach
ers part in the use of this laboratory method of
moral and civic training is the same as in mathe-
matics. The teachers authority and responsibility
in both cases are to encourage and help the pupils
Ito keep up enthusiasm, to become independent
land judicial in thought and to arrive at clear-cut
decisions. At that point the old educational proc
less, as in mathematics, ends, but in this new
Laboratory work, dealing with the actual practical
iproblems of daily moral and civic life, there is
ianother most important step, which Is Immediately
ito put these decisions into execution and to CO.
operate for the good of all.
sWhat is needed for introducing democracy in
schools?
"First-The right method-there is one, the
Laboratory method, and there cannot be another
"Second-Practica1 plans-there can be but one
right general plan, but of this there may be in
Vulnerable variations.
"Third-A person skilled in introducing the
method and supervising the use of it.
"Fourth-Authority for such introduction and
supervising.