Milford chronicle., 1921-09-16
l34TH:ANNIVERSARY
U. S. CONSTITUTION TO Be OBSERVED
IN DELAWARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The Superintendent of Delaware
Schools mailed the following letter to
every public school in Delaware last
week, viz:
On September II, 1887, the Consti-
tuition of the United States was sign
ed by the members of the convention
which had drawn it, and it was short
ly thereafter submitted by Congress
to the States for ratification. AS it
was ratified at various times by diff
ferent States, the one outstanding date
connected with our Constitution is
that of it's formal approval by the
convention. This day, therefore, takes
rank next to that of the signing of
the Declaration of Independence in
our national annals. Indeed, that let
ter would have brought small perma-
nent result had it not been for the
adoption of the Constitution. The con-
ditiOn of America, a group of small
and antagOnistic nations, would have
been scarcely better than that of Cen
trail America now, or the Balkans.
The appropriate observance of
Constitution Day" is an opportunity
to impress upon young citizens the
significance of the making of the Con-
stitutiOn of the United States and the
essential principles of our democratic
civilization. The present stress on
AmericanizatiOn is an eloquent appeal
to the school to neglect no OppOrtun-
ity to teach American ideals and to
inspire in pupils a loyal faith in Am
erican principles of popular govern
ment. But this must not be blind faith.
The only worth while faith will be
built on knowledge of our past his
tory and embedded in popular COM
prehension of the principles of our
government and our civilization.
The conditions which make ours
the best country, in the world in which
to live, depend primarily upon our
fundamental law - the Constitution.
Upon 1.-THE grandest document ever
struck off at one time by the brain of
men rests all our government and
most of our happiness. The pupils
should be shown the contrast between
the United States and countries with
other forms of government, as to live,
and contrast between the United
States and other countries, such as
Soviet Russia, where principles more
or less like ours, have been failure
in making happy and prosperous ma
tions. The danger of the Red in Am
erica may thus be brought out.
The program for such an occasion
should include three separate sub
jects:
l. Instruction.
2. Inspiration.
5. Enjoyment.
The actual procedure may include
recitations, songs, students essays,
and talk by the teacher or an in
teresting speaker on the meaning of
the Constitution
Poems for reading and recitatiOns
may be found in whatever material is
available. \
Songs suggested are: America"
"The Star Spangled Banner" Battle
Hymn of the Republic" ," America, the
Columbia, the Gem of the I
Ocean, and the Battle Cry of Free
DOM"
Appropriate essays can be written
by students on subjects suggested by /
he above OF gotten from American
of 1783-17S9,
References suggested are: t1Ske,
John, Critical Period of American
History" Dillon, American Anniver-
;aries," Dillon Pub. Co., N. Y. Any
rood United States History.
1t is sincerely hoped that the edu-
,ational opportunity afforded by a
thoughtful celebration of September
Z, Constitution Day, will not be lost
" a single school in Delaware.
If any teacher finds that it will be
because of the short time
between now and September II, to
orange suitable celebration it is sug-
rested that she let the day pass with
mentio of it's significance, and have
fitting program prepared for De-
ember z, the anniversary of ratitica-
ion by Delaware.