The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-05-27
WA RHINE COMMUNITY cRsrERs

Every schoolhouse a community
capitol and every community demo-
,,acy"
With this nv his motto, DR.. Henry
u. Jackson, OF the Bureau Of Educa-
ton, OF the Department Of the Inter-
Tor, has prepared special wartime
bulletin on "The Community Center:
What It Is, and how to Organize IT,"
Tho bulletin was prepared for use In
connection with the Joint campaign
conducted by the Council OF National
Defense and the Bureau of Education,
to organize local communities for Ma
tional Service, II will be distributed
free.
In his bulletin pr Jackson says:
"Our three most urgent national
needs are 10 mobilize intelligence,
food, and money. But II Is not pos
sible TO mobilize them until we first
mobilize the people. The Nations
present need has made apparent the
necessity of organizing local commun-
tiles The Council OF National De-
Tense discovered II through its exper-
fence In the war. The Bureano Edu-
cation had begun the task before we
entered the war. These two organi-
cations have now united their forces
for the accomplishment of their COM
mon purpose to promote community
organization throughout the Nation.
The slogan Of the one is: Every
school district community council
for national service. The slogan of
the other Isl Every schoolhouse a
community capitol and every COM
munity little democracy President
Wilson has clearly indicated the pro-
found significance Of this movement
in the letter he wrote to commend it. |
"The creation Of n democratic and
intelligent social order Is essentially |
the same task. whether our approach |
to it be LEGAL, national, or information
al To establish free trade in friend |
ship in all three communities is the
goal of the community center move
ment.
"The post office, corner store, and
saloon are passing as social centers,
but they must be replaced with some
hing better if they are not to be re-
placed with something worse. For
only he can destroy who can replace.
The public school therefore stands be.
fore an open door of opportunity to
become ncighborhood club, where
the people can met on terms which |
preserve their self-respect.
"The schoohouse used as a neigh
borhOod club renders an invaluable |
public service. 1t seeks to create the |
neighbCrly spirit essential for con-
ccrted action. The means employed
are variouh-games. folk dances, dra-
mas, chorus sincing-whichm require
the subordination of self to cooper
atve effort dinner parties. where the
people break bread in celebration of
their communion with each ether as
neighbOrs These activities not only |
render service to the individual by |
promoting his happiness and decreas-
ing his loneliness. they discover in the
community nnsusDectcd abilities and
unusued resources. 70 set ihem to
work not only develops the individual
but enriches the community life.
ut thus becomes apparent that the
club furnishes the key
. the possible solution Of variety
of problems - the REORGANIZATION
problem, for example The object of
the community-center movement is to
achieve fraeman's citizenship, both
for native and foreign born alike. But
means membership. 1t is
obvious that the teaching of English
to aliens is not sufficient to make
them members of America. To ac-
quire the language as a means Of COM
with their fellows is, of
necessary preliminary. But
it is only means to an end. If they
are ever to feel that they belong with
nus, the right hand of fellowship must
be extended to them, The neighbor-
hood spirit alone can create in them
The spirit of America"