The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-01-26
MAKERS OF NEW AMERICANS


to task on the ground that ] had been
writing articles in which ] always
condemned things. He asked me II
there were not something that
might find 10 commend.
IL IL not pleasant to be called
knocker and regarded as pessimist,
either directly or by implication.
Neither. on the other hand, Is 1t
usually worthwhile to go about com
mending things unless they are
worthy and need a defense. II would
seem a more useful thing to point
out defects and suggest remedies.
But his words set me to thinking;
and in a town with a Normal School
fit objects for commentator are seen
at all times.
It is necessary to be making new
generations of American citizens con-
stantly. This necessity presents it.
self in the natural order of circum-
stances, and IL cannot be evaded II
anything like the present order OF
society Is to exist. And IL such an
order or anything approaching it is
TO continue, there must be continu-
ity of tendency and purpose in the
making Of the new citizens.
The making of citizens is the train
ing of citizens, and the elementary
training for citizenship can be given
only in childhood. And even for those
citizens who expect to work with their
hands at unskilled or common labor,
the same sort of elementary training
is necessary that is necessary for the
skilled artisan or the intellectual
worker. For even the decencies and
comforts of life in these complicated
and competitive days, depend upon a
certain amount Of learning from
books and from more or less highly
trained people. And the great null
titude Of laborers must be educated
to a certain extent If our government
is to respond even feebly to the needs
of our people. For the laborers are
in the majority, and in the last anal
ysis their votes determine our poll
cies as a nation.
And for those who would do men,
tai work, the training that makes
their work directly possible is based
upon elementary training. And the
better this early training, the better
the foundation and the quality of the
training will be; and upon this final
training all efficiency depends.
To go step farther into the re
quirements for the learned profess
sions-these professions require the
very best elementary training, II
those who practice them are to dc
themselves credit and benefit theil
fellows and earn the substantial re
wards that their services bring. Ant
any American who does not earn tho
money that is paid him by trusting
patronage is not good American
There is something wrong with the
original quality of the man, or with
his training. And elementary train
ing has made the professions posi-
bic.
There is a group Of people whose
business it is to prepare the new
Americans for citizenship as they are
required for the various duties Of the
times. I am not sure that I know
why they are in this business. But
am sure that they are not in the bust
ness because the work is easy, or be
cause it sets them in a high place
or because the people overwhelm then
with honors and riches. For most
Of these people are poor, and they
stay poor. Yet many Of them go OF
training Americans in the element,
Of good citizenship until death put.
a period to their labors. They Civ,
up their lives to the public schools
and their reward is small. They d,
not make good wages. 1t is bao
business. 1t is the most poorly paic
Of all the professions, yet it is tn,
greatest and most necessary of al
professions, for it makes all tn,
other professions possible. Tn,
teachers in the common schools arr
the most useful people in America
and it is not well that we forget il
Alison Baker