The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-12-20
EDUCATIONAL.
(By J. w. VoboriD
PATRIOTISM AND THE SCHOOLS.

PATRIOTISM AND THE SCHOOLS.
In the decades that have passed, We
have had in America an enormous in
tlux of foreign population. The prob
lem of making true American citizens
out of our own children and out of this
Heterogeneous group that sought our
shores has been unparalleled in the
history of the world. The miracle is
that the task has been accomplished
so well, and with so little apparent
difficulty.
Solidarity in nation is largely de-
pendent upon the character of its in
situations, laws, customs, and tradi-
tions, facilities for communication,
common language, common ideals, and
upon we'll defined territory. Patriotism
is love of ones country; patriotism is
the breath of life of that leviathan we
call the nation. Patriotism spells un-
seltishness, readiness for personal sac
riiice, willingness to offer up ones life
If need be for the preservation and
welfare of ones country. Patriotism,
if it is not mere blind emotion, in
wolves knowledge of the government,
institutions and the ideals of ones ma
tive or adopted land. In the present
crisis, it involves knowledge of what
this war is about, what 1t all means,
and what the results will be in the
case OF victory or Of defeat. But mere
Knowledge is often cold and colorless.
Patriotism means love of country,
readiness to defend and fight for the
ideals for which the country stands.
1t is plain to be seen that if know
ledge of our government and the ideals
of our people are to be taught, it is the
schools of the nation, both public and
private, that must bo relied upon
primarily to perform this function. 1t
| is in the schools, especially in popu-
lation as heterogeneous as our own,
that love of country and the sentiment
of loyalty must be developed 1t is to
the schools, and to the homes of loyal
citizens, that we must look for the de-
velopment and perpetuatiou OF the
solidarity which makes America truly
a nation. While the fires of patriotism
burn brightly in millions of homes in
America today, it is to large extent
the schools that originally famed the
flame. All this | have said to remind
the reader that the teachers OF the
nation are loyal to their country every
day in the year, and in all the
years that have gone by. They have
taught love OF country thru our litera-
ture, thru our national songs, thru pa
| triotic exercises of many sorts, and
| they have instructed the young people
in knowledge of our country's govern
| ment and institutions, and especially
| in respect TO the ideals for which our
country stands. They are doing it to-
day in Wisconsin and everywhere else,
heartily, fearlessly, conscientiously.
All teachers of the youth OF our
land should be patriots, no matter
whether in public schools or rrivate-
| Teachers are really part OF the gov
ernment, and schools are an affair OF
government. If private schools are
not part of the goyernm ent, they nev-
ertheless owe and gladly acknowledge
the duty of allegiance and loyalty to
the country. Sad would be tbs day for
any civilized country if the teachers of
its youth were not filed with patriotic
zeal.
To the teachers OF Wisconsin
would say: Teach patriotism with
such zeal as you have never taught it
before. Teach the children Of our
state to love the flag and what it sym
bolizes. Teach them to love our
institutions, and to be ready to help
and to sacrifice in every way they can
in the present crisis. Teach them
what this war means, especially as
explained 10y President Wilson. II
there is teacher in Wisconsin who
is not thoroly loyal to the country in
this hour, that teacher has no business
to be instructing the youth of the
state. AS for the rank and file OF the
school men and women OF Wisconsin,
there is no question as to their loyalty;
there can be no question.
G.. u. CARY.