Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-09-14
WORK OF SCHOOLS
HAS GREATER SCOPE
Courses sare> Prepared For
Their Value to Pupils and
Community and to Meet
War Conditions.

community's thoughts naturally
world crisis enhances the seriousness
of these reflections. When every
loyal citizen is eager to do what will
count most in the winning of the war,
and to provide for the reconstruction
that will follow, teachers and patrons
may we'll ask, What is the mission
of the schools?"
Democracy requires for its success
universal knowledge, intelligence, a
high degree of virtue, it must pro-
tect itself from weakness and corrup-
ton within no less than from foreign
propaganda, and invasion by foreign
foes. 1t is of the greatest Importance
that during the war and many years
following the efficiency of the schools
be not lowered, but on the contrary
that it be increased in every way
possible to prepare the youth Of today
TO assume the responsibilities of citi-
zenship tomorrow. After the Great
War the period of internal recon
struction will demand of our citizens
a training and an industrial eff
cheney of the highest order, and the
commercial and industrial struggle
among nations will be such that those
nations will win whose citizens have
broad general intelligence and can
think commercially in international
terms.
The fact that our country is at war
necessarily effects the schools as we'll
as every other phase of community
and national life. Much Of the school
process must be changed temporarily,
and many changes being made will
be permanent The opportunities
now presented to teach the youth
the lessons of thrift, sacrifice, CO.
operation, and devotion to ideals, and
to our country are very great and
inc LSdCHlHS VI ouCn LuuudlhCutal
principles must become vital and
permanent part of our educational
process.
The opportunity for schools to
function more directly for both com
munity and national service is great
er than ever before The school as
a Junior Red Cross organization can
do much in producing materials
which are needed in army hospitals
and by those destitute in the devas
tated countries of Europe The
school is permitted to stimulate ma
terial aid to the national government
by encouraging the purchase of thrift
stamps. Boys and girls who save for
this purpose not only are acquiring
the habit of saving but they are en-
gagged in a patriotic duty in lending
money to the National Government
with which TO carry on the war for
liberty. School gardens may be en-
eouraged and maintained thru the
need of good production The MAX
ing of articles for use in Y. M. c. A- |
and social halls of our army canton
ments can be done by the Manual
Training departments of the schools.
While the schools can do much
that will aid in winning the war, it
must be borne in mind that its chief
function is in preparing boys and
girls for future service, either in the |
war or for the duties of citizenship |
after the war is won. There is a |
need in war service for young men
and women of scientific knowledge, |
training, and skill and this need
will become more pressing the longer |
the war lasts The government is i
recognizing the value of technically |
trained men in its policy of allowing |
course before Joining the colors.
Major General Wood has said Boys |
should remember that they are now
serving in the best possible way by
preparing themselves to serve more
efficiently when the time comes to
serve. It is a mistake for partly
educated young boys to rush to the
colors now We don't need them
It is very important that they should
finish their education. The above
quotation no doubt referred to High
School boys below the draft age
which at present has been lowered
to eighteen years.
Moreover 1t must be borne in
mind that there will be a period
when the school children of to-day
win be the citizens of the Republic,
whose duty it will be to reconstruct
the economic and social life of the
country, and this responsibility will
require wisdom, and training of