El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-07-05
WAR SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWEDTO
IMPAIR EDUCATION IN AMERICA, DE-
cLARES COMMISSIONER CLAYTON

thrown into battle a very large per
cent of their educated and trained
men, including most OF the young pro
~fessors and instructors in their univer'
stiles, colleges, gymnasium, lycees,
and public schools. Their colleges and
universities are almost empty. the
young men who would under normal
conditions be Feceiving the education
and training necessary to prepare
them for leadership In the future de,
yelopment Of these countries are
fighting and dying In the trenches.
IAll these countries must needs go
through a long period Of reconstruc-
ton, industrially and, In many other
respects. Our own trained men and
women should be able and ready to
render every possible assistance. II
should be remembered that the num-
Der of students in our universities,
colleges. normal schools and tech
nical schools is very small as compar-
ed with the total number OF persons
Of producing age-little more than
one-half Of ! per cent. The majority
Of these students are young men and
women who are becoming more ma
ture and fit for service. The older OF
the 10000, 900 men and women of pro.
ducing age are growing more unfit
and are passing beyond the age OF
service. 1t should also be remember
ed that the more mature the young
men who volunteer for service in the
army the more valuable their services
will be.
Therefore 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
SERVES may be needed either for war
or for the important work of eco
struction 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 low
cred in this time of unusual high cost
of living, When possible, salaries
should be increased in proportion to
the services rendered. Since the peo-
Pile will be taxed heavily by the fed
eral government for the payment OF
the expenses of the war, teachers
should be willing to continue to do
their work. and do 1t as we'll as they
can, as a patriotic service even if
their salaries can not now be %increas-
ed. All equipment necessary for the
best use of the time of teachers and
students should be provided, as
should all necessary increase of ROOM,
but costly building should not be UNI
dertaken 10Y while the prices of
building material are excessively high
and while there are urgent and un.
filled demands for labor in industries
pertaining directly and Immediately to
tine national defense. Schools should
be continued in full efficiency, but in
most instances costly building may
we'll be postponed.
During school hours and out of
school, on mornings, afternoons, Sat
urdays, and during vacation all older
children and youth should be encour-
aged and directed to do as much use
full productive work as they can with
out interfering with their more i'm
portant school duties. This produc-
tive work should be so directed as to
give it the highest possible value, both
economically and educationally. For
children and youth in schools of all
grades there will be need Of more ef-
fective moral training, and provision
should be made for this. While the
war for the safety of democracy is In
progress and when 1t over there will
be greater need for effective ma
chinery for the promotion of intelli-
gent discussion of the principles of
democracy and all that pertains to
the public welfare Of local communi-
ties, 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 discussion of matters of pub
lie interest and for social inter.
COURSE"