The copper era and Morenci leader., 1918-07-05
M|NSON SUGGESTS
 LOYALTY PLEDGE
WRITES SCHOOL BOARD TO RE- CURE TEACHERS TO SIGN 1.-THE AMERICANS CREED" BEFORE SCHOOL BEGINS.

In keeping with the patriotic spirit of the times Mayor Minson last We'd nesday addressed a letter to the Cliff ton School Board, and to the County Superintendent of Education, sug- gesting that teachers be required to sign loyalty pledge before entering upon their duties as teachers of the boys and girls of Clifton and Green lee county. The suggestions contain ed in the Mayors letter are timely, and if adopted by the school authori- ties, will be pleasing to the patrons of the schools of the city and county.
 Following is a copy of the letter officials:
 During the last scholastic year there were rumors floating around, and no doubt they were heard by yourself, to the effect that some of the teachers in our public schools were not as loyal or as patriotic in some of their actions to our Govern ment, and in their teaching of our children as they might or should have been. However, this as it may be-last year has passed. The teach CTS of the present year may possibly have been employed but have not as. sumed their school duties. There. fore, knowing you to be one hundred per cent American, 1 believe the tim< has come when you, as well as the parents of the children, should feel satisfied that the persons entrusted with teaching the young of the pres ent generation attending the public schools should be absolutely loyal to the United States and to the State of Arizona, and a pledge of loyalty should be exacted form each before entering upon their duties of the new school year.
 q would suggest that the County Superintendent and Board Of Educa- tion of this county, and every other county in the state for that matter, require each teacher to make a pledge of loyalty to the United States Gov ernment, and to the State |, of Ari- zona. We should have none but loyal persons teaching our children, especially at this time. Believe the trustees of each school district should go on record by resolution re- quiring this pledge, and it occurs to me that no more appropriate pledge could be adopted and exacted from the teachers than that contained in "The Americans Creed" written by William: Tyler Page, of Friendship Heights, Md, approved by. President Wilson and host of famous Ameri- cans, and is as follows:
 "I believe in the United States of America, as government of the peo- pie, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; de- mocracy in a republic; sovereign nation of many sovereign states; a perfect union, one and inseparable; i; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice and human ity for which American patriots sacri feed their lives and fortunes.
 l, therefore, believe it is my duty to my country to love it; to support its constitution; to obey it's laws; te respect its flag and to defend it against all enemies
 Tt seems to me it would be desir- able that teachers pledge themselves to teaching lessons of patriotism by precept and example to children under their instruction, and to do everything possible to answer the call of the government, and those in authority in an effort to bring the war to a sue. cessful termination.
 '1f you think we'll of this idea and care to interest yourselves further along this line, I would suggest that you take the matter up with the Sr- perintendent of Public Instruction for the State of Arizona, and endeavor to have him request that the School Trustees in each city and county of the state go on record to this effect.
 Yours very truly,
 R. K. MINSON, Mayor