The Era-leader., 1918-10-24
DEMOCRACY'S PROBLEM
IS IN ITS SCHOOLS
BY DR.. CLAUDE n. VAN TYNE,
Of the University Of Michigan.


[EDITOR's NOTE.-The defects in
our educational system pointed out by
DR.. Van Tyne are the principal targets
at which the National Security
Leagues great nationwide campaign
of Patriotism Through Education" is
aimed.]
Certain fundamental American ide-
ais must be impressed upon the Amer
lean youth. The crisis through which
this nation recently passed before it
could be brought to a whole-hearted
support Of a war begun for the pur-
pose of preserving the most vital prin-
ciples upon which 1t was founded has
aroused educators everywhere like a
flre-bell in the night, to understand
that we must employ our educational
machinery more than we have in the
past to imbue every American citizen
with a comprehension Of democratic
principles.
If we can find some definite means
Of securing an understanding Of demo-
cratic ideals, we may expect as a
result a patriotic zeal in defending
them. If Americanism is a belief in
and a habit of supporting such ideals,
then we may hope that such process
will produce 1t.
Opposing Theories.
The Americans theory of the state
is that 1t exists to protect him in the
enjoyment of life, liberty and the pur-
suit Of happiness; that the individual
is the important thing, not the state
An opposing theory, and 1t happens to
be the German theory, is that the state
Is the important thing, that to it
the individual owes everything, life
and liberty and even blind obedience
of orders to do cruel and brutal acts.
Why not teach that difference to boys
and girls instead Of mere dry facts
about the organs Of government and
their functions. Let US not be 50 shy
and modest about the virtues of our
political system. The Germans are
not. Let us say frankly that democ-
racy implies a nation in peace, that
autocracy implies a nation In arms.
We can teach frankly, too, that our
great principle of local self-govern-
ment is wholly at conflict with the
German ambitions for world-empire,
and with her whole tendency of gov
!ernment in provinces like Poland and
.Alsace-Lorraine.
"Teach Too Little"
1t is the spirit Of our institutions
which we have failed to impart to the
rising generations. We have been
afraid to state that our democratic
philosophy upholds the Christian spirit
of brotherhood, asserts the wisdom
of united action for the good of all,
and seeks to save the weak from the
aggression Of the strong. We have
'refrained from saying that the auto
cratic philosophy operated to deaden
the sentiment Of humanity; that In
affairs of state 1t sneered at mercy
and gentleness, at love and kind
ness; that the foundation Of that
philosophy was the stern law Of
the survival Of the fittest; that, to
be concrete, Belgium, a weak state,
had no rights when she stood in the
way Of Germany, a big state. /
We have taught the American youth
all too little about the foundations Of
their liberty. The story Of the blood
and suffering Of the builders, of the
tempest that ragged them while they
built, Of the martyrs who were the
architects Of those foundations. This
history has been too little told. Auto
Gratis see to 1t that their people are
impressed with their rulers virtues
and those Of their ancestors, but de,
mocracies leave their citizens to take
their liberties as they do the air they
breath. Republics are ungrateful only
because there is nobody whose inter
est II !s to inculcate that gratitude.
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