Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-02-10
ROTARIANS ASK
SCHOOL COURSE
IN GOVERNMENT
Resolutions Urge Adoption of
Definite Program of
AmericanizatiOn.

Resolutions containing a definite pro-
gram of education in Americanism, rec
commended for adoption by the public
schools, were adopted by the indianapolis
Rotary club at it's meeting today. The
resolutions call for the teaching of the
principles on which the American gov
eminent is based from the lowest grades
of the elementary schools through the
high schools.
The club recommended that the Indi-
annapolis school board adopt such pro-
gram and it was said that e. U. Graft,
superintendent of the Indianapolis
schools, approves the plan. In this con
nectiOn the club also went on record as
supporting measures for additional COM
pensatiOn for teachers.
The Americanization resolution, which
was first drawn by Frederick e. Matson,
president of the club, has been before a
committee of the club for some time. 1t
was approved by the committee and re-
Gently approved by the board of directors
of the organization.
RESOLUTION
AS ADOPTED.
The resolution follows:
"Whereas, The social and industrial
unrest now spreading in our country and
constituting a serious menace to our in
situations is due to lack of knowledge and
appreciation of, the principles of civil
liberty guaranteed by the constitution
and exemplifed by the history of the
United States; and
Whereas, the stability of our institu-
lions and the future welfare of our civ
ilizatlon requires not only the education
Of the present foreign born element OF
our population, but also the careful ed
ucation of the coming generation OF cit
izen; and
whereas, we recognize in the comm on
and public schools throughout the coun-
try a far-reaching agency, already or
ganised and waiting to be used, for the
instruction Of the youth OF the land on
this most important of all subjects, and
We believe that systematic education In
Americanism must no longer be omitted
from our public schools or left to the
casual efforts of individual localities or
individual teachers, but that the lessons
Of applied patriotism must be adopted
and seriously taught in all grades of our
public schools; now, therefore,
SHOULD BE GIVEN
IN ALL GRADES.
"Be it resolved, that 1t Is the opinion
of the Rotary club of Indianapolis. and
1t is hereby declared that properly re
lated courses of instruction in history
economics and civil government should be
adopted and required in every public
school; that these branches should be
given in all grades. beginning with the
youngest and continuing through the
high schools, and should be taught in clear
81, nj
the different grades aud with the same
system and regularity as other fundamen-
tai subjects are taught; that such in
struction should include the following
Such incidents from American history and
pages from the lives of our great men as
will inspire love Of country and devotion
to American ideals; the long proven ad-
vantage of our American form of repre-
sentative government as distinguished
from a pure democracy; that domination
by any class or group or the enforcement
of demands by any method other than
due process of law, is destructive of all
liberty; that all necessary changes in LAW
can be obtained in due time by orderly
and constitutional methods whenever the
majority of our people earnestly desire
them; that the right to own property Is
itself an attribute of liberty and an IS.
progress; that all kinds Of labor, whether
of hand or brain, are equally necessary,
and must have equal honor and consid
Grafton; the elementary economic princi'
pie that every man shall enjoy the right
to work, to own and save the just fruits
Of his labor, and that capital is only the
accumulation Of individual savings; that
artificial restriction of output is an eco
nomic waste, which involves loss of op-
portunity to the individual worker and
violates the rights of the public; that
civil liberty consists of the due relation
Of individual rights, checks against arbi-
trary power and guarantees Of self gov,
eminent; and all other essential princi-
pies Of American constitutional govern
ment as established by our forefathers
and under which. for nearly century
and half, the people Of America have en-
joyed the greatest degree of freedom