The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-07-08
WISE WORDS OF
THE TEACHERS
Declaration By the Fifth An
nual Convention of Ameri-
can Federation of
Teachers
AMERICANIZATION


of the problem of Americanization.
Those who write and speak of it
and the common conception of what
it means agree in throwing the
emphasis of the problem in the
wrong place. They would make it
the problem of assimilation of the
immigrant. This we believe is not
the true theory of Americanzation.
The necessity for Americaniza-
tion applies as fully to the navtive
born as to the immigrant. The
ignorance and apathy of the Amer
lean citizen and voter are the most
perilous factors in our politics.
This is indicated by the discrep-
ancy between the census and the
poll lists, and between the regis.
tration and the vote cast. 1t is
further shown by the general ignor-
ance of political organization and
methods, the lack of interest in or
attendance upon meetings of county,
city and school governing bodies,
the sheep-like dependence on party
organs, or party leaders as sub
ed on knowledge of the facts.
To remove this ignorance, to
abolish this apathy, ought therefore
to be a principal function of edu-
cation. The schools must be the
agency by which citizens shall be
trained to an understanding of the
| machinery of government, be made
to realize the Importance of person
al attendance of citizens on meet
ings of governing bodies, in order
to exercise that eternal vigilance
which is the price of liberty.
Citizens must be trained to exer-
else their privilege and duty of
voting and to understand how in
evitably abstention from this priv
ilege and duty throws political DOM
nance into the hands of the worst
elements among citizens. Citizens
must be inspired to the study of
public affairs, to deliberate choice
between divergent measures. All
this, in the measure to which it can
be attained, is the work of the
teacher.
1t is the purpose of the American
Federation of Teachers to urge up
on its membership the Importance
of this work, and the splendid ser
vice which they can give to the
nation by doing it faithfully and
consistently
Amy announcement of a program
for Americanization should contain
defination of what meaning shall
be attached to Americanism.
For those who assume that none
but foreigners need to be amer
icanized" a satisfactory method ap-
parently would be painless but
complete eXcision from the for
eigner's heart and brain of every
tie that connects him by loving
memories with his native land If
this wonder could be performed the
further assumption is required that
clean, intelligent, overwhelming
tide of affection for America as it
is now must flood the whole being
of the newcomer to our shores.
He must at once fully understand
and approve our land, our institu-
tions, our laws, our customs. He
must revere the Constitution and
adore the flag. He must become
a political optimist, convinced that
the United States government is
the best of all possible governments.
He must be at once naive and
docile in his acceptance and keen
in appreciation of the beauties of
our system.
If he is so unfortunate as to fail
to take this humbly receptive at
titude toward all that he finds here,
he runs great risk of being classed
as a dangerous radical. If he bal
ances in his mind and expresses in
speech or writing a doubt as to the
superiority of American ideas and
institutions over those to which he
is accustomed or for which he has
been striving in his homeland. if
he belives that some matters here
might be and ought to be improved,
he becomes suspect. If he becomes
indignant under exploitation amid
conditions of existence and de-
nounces those conditions, he is sub
ject to deportation.
But in fact, if that view is the
true view of what makes an Amer
lean, how many of the native born
are good Americans Do we not
in all the groups and categories of
our citizenship entertain our hopes
and fears. our aspirations and our
deep mispivings about many of the
present phases of the national de-
velopment? Should we ask more
of the immigrant in loyalty and
submission than we are able to give
as sons and daughters of this land
As educators our first duty is
intellectual honesty Our function
of instruction becomes mockery