The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1918-09-26
.DEM0CRACY'S PROBLEM J / /
IS IN ITS SCHOOLS
BY DR.. CLAUDE n. VAN TYNE.
Of tho University % Michloan.


EDITORS 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" 10
aimed.1
Certain fundamental American ide-s
ais must be impressed upon the Amer,
lean youth. The CRISIS through which
this nation recently passed before ri
could be brought to q whole-heartedl
support OF a war begun for the pur-
pose OF preserving the most vital prin-
sciples upon which It was founded has
aroused educators everywhere like Z
hre-bell In the night 20 understand
that we must employ our educationat
machinery more than we have In the
past to Undue every American citixen
with a comprehension o. Democratic
principles. !.
II we can ind Some 0ohnite means
,of securing an understanding of demo;
cratic ideals, we may expect a. =
result q patriotic seal n defendin6
them. II Amer1canism q q belief -
and habit Of supporting such ideals;
then we may hope that such process
will produce It.
0ppostn0 Theories.
s. The Americans theory OF the statd
lis that it exists to protect him in the
enjoyment Of life. liberty and the purl
suit OF happiness; that the individual
lis the important thing, not the state;
IAN opposing theory. and 1t happens ID
be the German theory. u that the state
Is the important thing, that to Il
the individual owes everything. lifd
and liberty and even blind obedience
lof 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 ~ not b % shJ
and modest about the virtues Of en-
political system. The Germans arj
mot. Let Us say frankly that dsmocj
lracy implies nakion In peace, that
Iautocracy implies 4 nation In arms;
We can teach frankly, too, that our
great principle Of local. self-eovefuj
!ment Is wholly at conflict with tha
German ambitions Tor world-empira;
and with her whole tendency o. rov:
eminent In provinces Ike Poland and
.Alsace-Lorraine..
! ATeaoh Tee. Llttlo,s
, It IL the spirit Of our institutions
which we have failed 70 impart 10 It'd
rising generations We have been
afraid to state that our democfetid
philosophy upholds the Christian spariA
|of brotherhood, asserts the wisdom
of united action for the rood az AM
and seeks 10 save the weak from th1
aggression Of the strong. We have
refrained from saying that the auto.
cratic philosophy operated to deaded
the sentiment Of humanity, that 81
affairs Of state e sneered at mercy
and gentleness. at love and kind.
ness: that the Foundation a. that
philosophy was tho stern law q
the survival Of the nttest; that . |
be concrete. Belgium, ! yeak statoI
had no rights when m stood n the
way Of Germany, I big stata
We have taught the American youth
all too little about tho foundations 81 !
their liberty. The s1oey of the blood |
and suffering Of 10 b61ld6Ro, q The
tempest that RACED them while they
built Of the martyrs Who were the |
architects q those foundations This |
history has been too uttle told Anto1
Gratis Bee . 4 that their peoQlo an
impressed with their xulee4 N.Y.
and those ok their aneootofa buke o
leayo tholR eltl1ooo q 80
their liberties = tA1y 40 ~ ~ theg /
breath Republics ~ unetQtsc1l only |
bocou4o theeo 3 ueoq1Y Whooo int6ee
II & = 3 hsug1 (t ot1ts1n