Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1918-10-31
DEMOCRACY'S PROBLEM
IS IN ITS SCHOOLS.
~ DR.. CLAUDE Il. VAN TYNE,
Of the University Of Michigan.

~ ouS SsSNSSe vow U
Of the University Of Michigan.
rEDITOR'S 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" IL
aimed.l
Certain fundamental American ide-
ais must be impressed upon the Amer;
lean youth. The crisis through which
this nation recently passed before 1t
could be brought to q wh0le-hearted
support Of q war begun for the pur.
pose of preserving the most vital prin-
ciples upon which It was founded has
aroused educators everywhere like
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 a comprehension Of democratic
principles.
II we can ind some definite means
Of securing an understanding Of demo-
cratic ideals, we may expect AZ q
result . patriotic zeal in defending
them. II Americanism Ii belief II
and habit Of supporting such ideals,
then we may hope that such . process
will produce It.
opposlno Theories.
Tho Americans theory Of the state
b that It exists to protect him In tho
enjoyment Of life, liberty and the pur-
suit Of happiness: that the individual
70 the important thing. not the state.
An opposing theory. and 1t happens to
be the German theory, u that ths state
b the important thing. that 70 It
the individual owes everything. life
and liberty and even blind obedience
Of ofdsfs 70 do cruel and brutal acts.
Why not teach that difference to boys
and girls -instsad Of nero dry fucts
about the organs Of sovsrnment and
their functions. Let % not be no shy
and modest about the svirtussssf our
political nsvsten. IT, s6ssmans an
not Let - ~ hant1y thaks Asnsse-
Rae5 inpkss nation II psacs, that
astsezav implies . natioa h arnns.
We ean teach f1snkiy. tpo. that Our
great psaneipas1 ee lscM asifssvsrn-
nsnt = wholly q cpnltN. With the
QseuaA aanhittons Tor wsria.smpire,
nd WITH her whole tendency Of sev.
senmsnt IN pRovinees like Poland. end
.AAaeo.lot1ainA III sx
K. ~fsash Zee Lassss.s- =.
| \ = Hlasspaxlt ,sf eur Institutions
WA1eh ~ kavs failed to inpart TO the
rising siaorations. We have BEEN
'ahtaid = stats that ear democratic
philosophy uphsids the Christian spirit
ef brotheehoedL ssssf1 the wisdom
! q s.ited action for the good Of all
and seeka to save the weak from the
aggression Of the strong. We have
rsfrained from saying that the auto.
cratic philosophy operated to deaden
the sentiment of humanity that in
1 affairs Of state 1t sncered III mercy
and gentleness, at love aud kind.
ness; that the foulfdation Of that
philosophy was the Stem law .ui
the survival Of the fittust; that, to
he concrete, Belgium, "a weak state
\ had no rights when site stood In me
way Of Germany, big state,
We have taught the American you'll
1 ali too little ahout the foundations OF
| tbeir liberty. The story of the blood
1 and suffering Of the builders, Of the
tempest ;liat ragged them while they
built, of tie martyrs who were the
lnrcliiteets Of those foundations. This
4 history has been too little told. Auto
Gratis see to II that their people are
! Impressed with their rulers virtues
and those sof their ancestors. but de-
4 mcelacies leave their citizens to take
j their liberties as they do the air they
breath. Republics are ungrateful only
because there 70 nobody whose inter
est It y to inculcate that gratitude.