The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-12-03
TEAcHING Of AMERIclN4sH

nv HILE advocating The teaching Of patriotism
Wv and 100 percent nericaniSm i would be well
to investigate a little more closely the teaching forces
that ar. to transmit the ideals which we hope to nstll.
In our larger colleges there are instructors able
and competent to handle the subiecs which they
teach perhaps masters and authorizes upon thsiI
especial. topics. who have twisted and distorted mental
hobbies and who may be. outside Of their class rooms,
and even within, far from the patriotic, loyal nd-
viduals they should be.
Free thought is all night. and America leaves the
individual unshackled to follow bis Inspirations unless
they happen to conflict with the law, but the ehAsers
of these modern bubbles Of skepticism and f~anatieism
ought to be dissevered from the class room where the
chance is most open to lead young minds out into
eccentric mental avenues that end nowhere and only
bring about an unsatished cropping intelligence that
accepts little that is solid and true because it is old
fashioned and not of the modem school,
An instructor from one Of our universities not so
long ago married another teacher in the institution by
civil ceremony. not only not seeking the blessing Of any
church upon the marriage but making quite a point of
not doing so. As individuals they had q perfect
right to do this if they wished, but as instructors and
mentors for The youth Of America they should both
have been dismissed from that college, regardless OF
their value in inspiring Information in their PARTICULAR
class work.
The youth Of America needs more than an
education in science, or art, or literature today, it
needs to return to a reverence for the things that made
this country great. The attitude-of Miss M. Carey
Thomas. president of Byn Mawr College, shows how
far astray we are in conRding our education to the
wrong hands, and how dangerous such persons can be
when in charge as is Miss Thomas of 500 girls from
the best American homes: Miss Thomas denounces
the teaching in the schools of patriotism and Amer
icanism, Of reverence for the flag and the constitution
as follows:
But this new and almost universal appreciation
of the power of education has brought upon US what |
regard as the most terrible menace to American schools
and colleges and to free and liberal thought that has
come in my lifetime. The federal and state govern
ments, boards Of education, AmeTicanization societies.
American legions and organizations of every kind are
demanding hat children and college students should
be taught patriotism, concrete citizenship and lOO per
cent Americanism. This means that school teachers
and college professors, as yet only m public schools
and state universities, but unless the movement IS
deteminedly opposed sooner or later everywhere are
being required 10 teach not how to make things as they
Should be, but that things as they arc arc night; that
the United States Constitution, as written l34 years
ago. is perfect; that our highly unsatisfactory govern
ment must not be criticized; that the United States
flag, which, as we all know, flies over many cruel
iniustices which we hope to set right, must be reverence
ed as a sacred symbol of upchanglng social order OF
political death in life"
Miss Thomas may, unfortunately proceed as
head Of this girls school to emphasize The shortcom-
ings, as she thinks, of the constitution upon which
America has arisen; may drill into her students the
mistakes Of The government. and introduce, what to
her, seem highly efficient remedies. which will add
still more to the disturbing influence of radlcalism IN
the next generation. 1t is time for this sort Of thing to
stop. To lift our educational outlook to the point
wherc-it belongs, it is time to see to it that the midi
vidual on the COLLEGE faculty must qualify as well a;
n. instructor. Education colored by advanced
thought bubble chasers is best banished.