Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1918-09-27
DEh0CRACY'SFRODLEN.
IS IN ITS SCHOOLS
BY DR.. CLAUDE II. VAN TYNE,
Of the University. of MICHIGAN.

EDITORS NOTE.-The defects n
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.l
Certain fundamental American ide
ais must be impressed upon the Amer
lean youth. The crisis through which
this nation recently passed before II
could be brought to whole-hearted
support of war begun for the pur-
pose of preserving the most vital prin-
cipleS upon which 1t was founded has
aroused educators everywhere like q
fire-bell in the night, to understand
that we must employ our educational
machinery more than we have In the
past to Undue every American citizen
with 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
ard 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 it 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 II 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 so shy
and modest about the virtues of our
political system. The Germans are
not. Let us say frankly that democ-
racy implies nation in peace, that
autocracy implies nation in arms.
We can teach frankly, too that our
great principle of local self-govern
nent 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 Littie.n
1t Is the spirit of our institutions
which we have failed to impart to tn,
rising generations. We have beer
afraid to state that our democratic
philosophy upholds the Christian spfr;
of brotherhood, asserts the wisdom.
of united action for the good Of ali
and seeks to save the weak from tn
aggression of the strong. We have
refrained from saying that the auto
cratic philosophy operated to deadel
the sentiment of humanity; that In
affairs of state 1t sneered at mercy
and gentleness, at love and kind
ness; that the foundation of thai
philosophy was the stern law Of
the survival of the fittest; that, to
De concrete, Belgium, weak state
had no rights when she stood in tn,
way Of Germany, big state.
We have taught the American youth
all too little about the foundations Of
their liberty. The story of the bloot!
and suffering. Of the builders, of the
tempest that ragged them while the,
built Of. the, martyrs. who awere tn,
architects of those foundations. TIL,
history has been too little told Auto
Gratis see to II that their people are
impressed with their rulers" virtue
and those of their ancestors, but d.
mocracies leave their citizens to taxi
their liberties as they do the air the,
breath. Republics are ungrateful onb
because there is nobody whose inter
est 1t Is to inculcate that gratitude.