The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-05-07

The Public Schools and Patriotism.
To The Teachers and the Boys and
Girls of Iowa:
Our nation has entered the
shadows of a crisis in it's history.
Our country has become involved in
a struggle for the supremacy OF the
rights and welfare OF worlds
humanity. Our institutions are being
put to the test. Now is the time
when a real appreciation OF our great
American public school system FORCES
itself upon us. The public schooi Is
the one institution where all meet IN
common and where all have an equal
chance. upon these fundamental
principles rests the future OF re-
public. We need have no fear that
there will be any disloyal Americans
among those trained and educated
in accordance with the spirit of our
public system of education.
The boys and girls should be
taught to reverence our flag as the
emblem of equal rights and oppor-
tunity to ALL Let the stars and
stripes be raised over each school
house in our state on every school
day when the weather is favorable
Let the flag be displayed in every
school room. Let no school close the
wear 1e16-1917 without the children
having committed to memory the
words of America" THE Star
Spangled Banner and Columbia, the
Gem of the Ocean" Let the day be-
gin with a salute to the flag and by
singing enthusiastically one OF our
national songs.
= A. NJ. DEvoE.
Superintendent Public Instru
Supt. Public Instruction.
Salute to the Flag for Iowa Schools.
Adopted by the Grand Army of the
Republic, the Women's Relief Corps
and the American Flag association.
At a given hour in the morning,
the pupils are assembled in their
places in the school. A signal is
given by the principal of the school.
Every pupil rises in his place. The
flag is brought forward to the prin-
cipal or teacher. While it is being
brought forward from the door to the
stand of the principal or teacher,
every pupil gives the flag the mill.
tary salute, which is as follows:
The right hand uplifted, palm up.
ward. to line with the forehead,
close to it. While thus standing with
| palm upward and in the attitude of
| salute. all the pupils repeat together
slowly and distinctly the following
pledge:
81 pledge allegiance to my flag and
to the republic for which 1t stands I;
one nation indivisible, with liberty
and justice for all"
At the words, as pronounced in
this pledge, ITO my flag" each one
extends the right hand gracefully
palm upward, toward the flag until
the end of the pledge affirmation
Then all hands drop to the side
The pupils, still standing, all sing
together in unison the song Amer
ica''-"My Country, 'Tis Of Thee"
In the primary departments, where
the children are very small, they
are taught to repeat this instead OF
the pledge as given for the Older
children:
81 give my head and my heart tc
God and my country. One country
one language, one flag"
In some schools the salute Is giver
in silence as an act of reverence, I'M
accompanied by any pledge. At {
signal as the flag reaches its station
the right hand raised, palm down
ward, to a horizontal position against
the forehead and held there until the
flag is dipped and returned to yer
teal position. Then, at the SECOND
signal. the hand is dropped to the
side and the pupil takes his seat.
The silent salute conforms very
closely to the military and nava
salute to the flag.
Principals may adopt the "silent
salute" for daily exercise and the
pledge salute" for special occasions