The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1918-01-11
MAKING GOOD CITIZENS
National Security League Would Revo-
iutionixe Civic Education.

Impressed by q surprising lack OF
individual responsibility In the gov ern-
ment among citizens in all parts Of the
country, which has been startlIngly
demonstrated by the nationwide cam
paign Of Patriotism Through Education
which II Is conducting, the National
Security League IL taking steps which
II hopes Will ultimately lead to the rev.
olutionizing and vitalizing of the en-
tire civic teaching in the schools OF the
United States. This question was one
OF the principal matters considered at
the recent conference OF educators held
| under the auspices of the League at the
Bar Association In New York recently.
Carrying ont the concensus OF opinion
Of the leading thinkers of the country
who attended this conference, the Sc
curity league has laid before the prin.
cipal educational institutions OF the
country plan for the creation of a
National Civic Education Faculty for
the consideration of this problem.
The Leagues idea is embodied in the
following letter, which has been sent
by it to the heads Of the principal uni
versities and colleges Of the country,
educational foundations and state edu-
cation departments
'In response to an invitation issued
| by the National Security League, dele
gates from eighteen important col
leges, universities and other educa-
Jat - 10,
Association OF the Bar in New York
| City. The meeting was called by the
| League because three years of expert
| ence have convinced us that a work OF
vital Importance can be done for
| America and for the cause OF free gov
eminent everywhere II the great edu-
| cational forces OF the nation can be
brought to bear upon certain definite
| problems which can be evolved only
| by national and international thinking.
System Has Failed.
"Our educators have been intent
| upon local or upon strictly technical
| problems Of education. No consider
able body of them has been charged
| educational problems which are dis
! tinctly national or upon those, every
| day more apparent, which may be
| called international. Our decentralized
system, admirable in many regards,
| has failed seriously to attack the
greatest side OF public education. the
relation OF the individual to the ma
ton, and to the nations.
"After a discussion OF various as
| poets OF the problem how to preserve
| our decentralized system of education
| and yet face these questions. the dele
| gates by unanimous consent instructed
| the officers Of the National Security
| League to request certain of our great
| colleges and universities to consider
the question Of delegating for year.
with full salary, one OF their ablest
professors to join with those from
other institutions In a systematic study
~ this problem. There Is a pressing
need for this work. and it merits the
best efforts Of all institutions estab-
ljshed to foster education for free
people.
eft was also the unanimous opinion
Of the delegates that the problem of in
terpreting the meaning OF the war to
the American people Is one demanding
the constant labor OF able leaders of
thought and one in which all educa-
tional institutions are vitality inter
ested These two lines of activity
seemed to the members of the confer
ence ample justification for requesting
the donation OF intellectual leadership
from the great educational establish
ments OF our country The problems
Of the war are great. but the problems
of the coming days OF peace will be no
less so, and the educators OF the coun-
try should form their plan of campaign
with the least possible delay.
"Public Service"
"This is a public service so great
and SO important as to require the
whole time and attention of body OF
our ablest educators. and we ask you
to do your part. We should be glad to
cooperate in any way, our sole aim
being the accomplishment OF the
work"