Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1916-11-17

ny n large proportion OF our
own educated American pOpu.
laton Is another big danger taken especially In
relation 10 the presence here Of the outsiders
Many Of the Industrial towns and cities In New
I hnsiand and IN other parts Of the country have
populations almost half foreign. There Is fire.
qufnt roting with attendant loss OF lives and de-
''rnetion 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~paln graft, lax administration of law rep
resentatlvc officials who do not represent the mass
Of taxpayers~n practically every city and state
! Ia America. Many agencies have sought the
cause on this state Of affairs ana are hunting
remedy
The chief cause Of the foreign unrest and law
iessuess appears 10 be ignorance. Only very
small percentage Of the rough labor which has
come 20 MS from Europe can speak or understand
The language Of the country. Practically none
has any idea whatever OF oar laws our standard
Of living. our governmental methods
And the great cause Of dishonesty In govern
meni In our towns cities and states appears 10 be
the Indifference Of the great OF intelligent
prosperous American citizens 10 what goes on
right under their noses. They don't take the sroi.
bio 20 vote. They don't take the trouble 10 par
ticlpate In primaries ana conventions and see 10
Il that good men nominated for Office They
leave II all 20 the politicians. who are in the gov.
erning busness--so caiied--not because of their
fitness 10 administer laws. spend public money
deal out Justice. etc. for the good OF the com
mupity, but strictly and purely for what they can
get out OF u. just graft for themselves and their
friends.
Civic Training In Schools.
In recent article IA the Philadelphia Public
ledger, Prof. Wilson T.. Glll who was put IN
charge OF the school system OF Cuba during the
American occupation of that island after the Span-
ish-American war, offers single remedy for balh
these dangers TO the peace and happiness and
weilbeing 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
20 vote aud decide the little problems OF their
daily lives in the schoolroom by methods en-
poyed ia government.
Make each schoolr0Om for instance little
town. Let the pupils under the teachers super
vision elect mayor from among their number
aud have all the others compose y board Of coun-
cllmen. Put up 10 them problems of school town.
county. state. national nagemcut TO be de-
clded on the principles OF Justice and the safety
and well.belng OF the majority
"a proper appeal must be made to the pupils"
Professor GIN says. "and they must be enlisted
heartily.
This Is easily done for we have good material
90 work with Nearly all boys and girls
TALLY good. This Is true. H. by reason of
unfortunate environment child has developed
some very bad habits. even those Of dishonesty.
II the appeal Is properly made 20 them. they
be counted on definitely 60 stand for that which IL
honest fair and square. clean. generous and
right.
Teachers Part Of the Plan
Personal aud printed assistance must be given
10 them Tor carrying on their government In the
,prit OF American institutions and In accord with
correct civic forms 70 maintain order and develop
~ cooperation and efficiency Tor every good purpose
they must be shown how % solve the problems OF
heir daily intercourse. and. as their teachers help
hem TO become independent IN solving the prob
ems In arithmetic, their teachers must help
hem 20 become independent in solving their daily
Problems ~ social and civic relations. The teach
RS part Ia the use Of this laboratory method 81
nora aud civic training Is the same IN mathe-
natcs The teachers authority and responsibility
a both cases are 20 encourage and help the pupils
% keep up enthusiasm. 10 become independent
nd judicial IA thought and 70 arrive at clearcut
decisions. At that point che old educational proc
So as In mathematics. ends. but IN this
laboratory work. dealing with the actual practical
,rO5ems OF daily moral and civic life. there IS
mother most important step which II Immediately
% put these decisions into execution and TO CO.
perete Tor the good Of all.
"what is needed fer introducing democracy In
choris1
eFlrst-The right method-there is one. the
laboratory method. and there cannot be another.
"Secona--Practical plans-theve be but
ight general plan. but OF this there may be in
variations.
ssrhird-..A person skilled In introducing the
aethod sed supervising the use Of II.
''Fourth-Authority for such Introduction and
supervising.