The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-07-16
Even In Time Of War It Is Important
That This Branch of Activities
Should Not Be
Cramped.
U. S. COMMISSIONER SAYS
Maintenance of Schools and Agencies
Of This Sort Must Be sus-
taIned at All
Coets.

efficiency or our systems OIL euuCo
tion," says Dr. P. P. Claxton, United
States commissioner OF education,
discussing education and the war.
schools and other agencies OF Cd
ucatton must be maintained at what
ever necessary cost and against all
hurtful interference with their regu-
lar work except as may be necessary
for the national defense, which Is, OF
course, our immediate task and mAst
be kept constantly in mind and have
right of way everywhere and at all
times. From the beginning of our
participation in the war we should
avoid the mistakes which some other
countries have made to their hurt
and which they are now trying to
correct.
'If the war should be long and Sc
we're, there will be great need in It's
later days for many young men and
women of scientific knowledge. train
ing and skill, and 1t may then be
much more difficult than it is now to
support our schools, to spare our
children and youth from other service
and to permit them to attend school.
Therefore no school should close itn
doors now or shorten its term un
necessarily. ALI young men and wom-
en- in college should remain and usp
their time to the very best advant
age, except such as may find II
necessary to leave for immediate
profitable employment in some pro-
ductve occupation or for the &C
ceptance OF some position in some
branch Of the military service, which
position cannot be so well filled by
any one else. All children In the ele-
4o,~lxy q
possible all high school pupils should
remain in school through the entire
session.
when the war is over, whether
within a few months or after many
years, there will be such demands
upon this country for men and wom-
en- OF scientific knowledge, technical
skill and general culture as have
never before come TO any country.
The world must be rebuilt. This
country must play far more import
ant part than it has in the past in
agriculture, manufacturing and COM
merce. and also in the things of cul-
tural Hfe-art, literature, music,
scientific discovery.
"a right conception of patriotism
should induce all students who can
not render some immediate service
of great value to remain in college,
concentrate their energies on their
college work, and thus be all the more
ready and fit when their services
may be needed either for war or for
the important work Of reconstruc-
ton and development in our own and
other countries when the war shall
have ended.
"All schools of whatever grade
should remain open with their full
quota of officers and teachers The
salaries of teachers should not be
lowered in this time of unusually
high cost of living. When possible,
salaries should be increased in pro-
! portion to the services rendered.
Since the people will be taxed heav-
lily by the federal government for
payment of the expenses of the war,
teachers should be willing to continue
| to, do their work, and do it as well
as they can, as a patriotic service
even if their salaries cannot now be
increased. All equipment necessary
for the best use of the time of teach
ers and students should be provided,
as should all necessary increase of
room, but costly building should not
be undertaken now while the prices
of building material are excessively
high and while there are urgent and
untitled demands for labor in indus
tries pertaining directly and immed-
lately to the national defense. Schools
should be continued in full efficiency,
but in most instances costly building
may well be postponed.
During school hours and out Of
school, on mornings, afternoons, Sat
urdays and during vacation all older
children and youth should be en-
couraged and directed to do as much
useful productive work as they can
without interfering with their more
important school duties. This pro-
ductive work should be so directed
as to give it the highest possible
value, both economically and educa-
uonally. For children and youth in
schools OF all grades there will be
need of more effective moral train
ing, and provision should be made
for this. While the war for the safe
ty of democracy Is in progress and
when it is over there will be greater
need for effective machinery for the
promotion of intelligent discussion
of the principles of democracy and
all that pertains to the public well
fare of local communities, counties
states and the nation To this end
every school house should be made
a community center and civic forum
with frequent meetings for the dis.