Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-08-24
TEACHING THE CONSTITUTION.

Inc National Security League has been perform
ing a commendable work in its survey Of the
methods OF teaching the constitution to pupils in
public schools throughout the United States. Nat
lurally thelsurvey discloses the existence Of great
variety in the methods Of teaching the constitution.
Each state in such matters is a law unto itself and
each state establishes its own rules and formuates
Its own system. The conclusion%o of the League of
Ulcers is that a great deal remains to be done in de-
iveloplng in the children of the United States a prop
;er understanding of the constitution and a proper
regard Tor its principles. 1t is noted in a circular
issued on this subject that in some cases states have
made scarcely any specific provision in the educa-
Itlonal system for the teaching OF. the constitution as
such. This is not to be taken however as an indi-
|catlon that the constitution issnot taught and that
TT IS not taught well. The teaching of the American.
to the children who live under its judis-.
|diction is not a thing OF form. The work may be
done well by making of tia separate and distinct
number in a course of study, or. it may be done
well by treating it IN an entirely different
manner. There is in fact a danger in making a sep
arate course Of the constitution. If that is done, the
tendency will be as m all similar cases to crowd the
work, to treat it as a mere matter Of form, and to,
dismiss it after a certain number of credits have
been earned. Children will look forward to the time,
when. they, will finish the constitution just as they
now look forward to the time when they will finish
Geography or Arithmetic. In a properly conduct
ed school the study of the constitution is never fin
1shed, 1t cannot be begun too early although there
are many things in the constitution which the young
cniid cannot understand. Every child however, old
enough to go to school can understand something.
about liberty and right, and can be taught in some
measure how the constitution protects liberty and
promotes right. As the child increasesin years and
understanding, the study may be elaborated. There
is no period during the entire school life of youth in
which there should not be, a progressive teaching Of,
the principles embodied in the constitution. This
may be quite possibly be done without making a
separate constitutional course because the principles
upon which the constitution is founded enter into
everything pertaining to our social relations, and III
those things the course of study is never completed.
There is danger too in making of the c%onstitu-|
ton a separate course ofastudy too strong emphasis
will be placed on detail. Iii not highly important
that the PUBLIC schoolspupil should know exactly
how a bill is passed or what the procedure is for the
election Of a president. It is important for him to
facts which are set forth IN the preamble
to the constitution, the reasons for its adoption, and
the things which it was designed to accomplish. It
is important tor him to understand in what manner
the constitution protects the individual in his rights
and what demands il makes of him. So far as the
public schools are concerned, the constitution is al
thing Of principles, not Of details. If by means of a
separate course principles can be better taught, very
well but # the creation Of a separate course, means
the waste of time on learning details which are sure
to be speedily forgotten, then the separate course
might better not be Installed. The whole subject is
one IN which effectiveness rests on the governing
body, spirit of the educational board, and perhaps
more than anything else, on the type of teachers
employed.