Milford chronicle., 1920-11-19
SCHOOLS AND CITIZENSHIP

Will it help the prospective voters of the land-or the
active voters that matterto instruct them IN the
ideals theories of government and leave them at e
same time ignorance of the elaborate processes oy
which the popular will often frustrated in munich
pal state and national elections? viii it, in other Words
help youth of the country to tell 1t what TO oeheVe
rather than what to do Hardly If schools are TO un
dertake the training citizens for intelligent partcpa-
tion in elections they will have to devote less time to
theory and more to frank talk about actual practice The
difference here suggested the difference between dream
and realities.
Under the broad head of "civics" most public schools
attempt teach the fundamental rules OF politics ana
political action Boys and girls learn much about what
eminent men said in the past They do not learn half
enough about what many eminent are doing in the
present They permitted to look only at pleasing
suppose that all the truth about American
affairs may gathered from school books or from lee
lures composed with regard for the nceties OF lang
uage rather than for harsh and wholesome truth
Good citizenship as it is discussed in the schools is
supposed to be inspired chiefly by the utterances of states
men, who having lived in other generations had no op
portunty discuss issues of the sort that are present
and immediate in the States Many teachers would
hesitate to dsuson young minds by recital of the
practices by which the Toms Dicks and Harrys who
rule conventional political organizations prove in the
routine every election that the lessons of the
elder ideaissthe lessons continued in the schools
mean little to many who produce results at the polls
therefore do than any others to control
voter be safely the defensive.
1t is proper to remember all this-and a great deal
more-n considering the excellent plan outlined by Dr.
Fnegan the thorough training of boys and girls
in the ways of progressive citizenship through the med
of the Pennsylvania schools. Dr. Finegan is able
and courageous But it is easy to fancy that
he would hesitate tell all the saving truth any class
assembled to guidance through the of prac
tical politics.
How votes rounded up in emergencies? What
do the ward and division get their infinite
pains? Who pays them and why are they paid? Whom
what do they there really political bond
between reputable and disreputabe elements Amer
communities and do the you hear
so much really desire to reform? Are business poll
tics mixed and secretly association cities and
small communities?
Any high school pupil who took his course in ct-
zenship seriously would naturally these questions
sooner or later and if he did ask then the informa
ton should be proered voluntarily by teacher But
could the average teacher venture the dangerous but
highly interested ground indicated? Before he got
far the tutor would probably feel mysterious pressure
from mysterious quarters directed to shut his mouth or
force him out of his job.
Tradition in the public implies that illusions
of the young somehow not to be destroy
ed The consequence is that boys and girls into
the advanced classes and finally busy world with
lingering belief that politics is a simple matter that
the country governed according to the rules laid down
by Washington Jefferson. Lincoln, rest
and that all who achieve practical politics
are actuated by patriotism and gifted with great nte
gence. That is of the why voters are
so easily befuddled and ready to drift
Unfortunately, however. the restrictions and inhib
tons that make complete rankness difficult every one
prevail in the schools too There reasons many
them good ones why and organizations could not
be denounced to classes The truth often difficult to
recognize and sustain Lies may made to appear like
truth Then there is always the danger partisanshp
so the wise teacher of citizenship is who having
taught his pupils all that he may practical politics.
will say to his at the end II have told YOU only
half. The rest you must learn with your own eyes,
Evening Ledger.