The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-03-09
INFORMATION LISM is PATRIOTISM'S
MTNOTATTR

MINOIAUR
The agitation now going on in New York.
Washington, and other cities against the use
of certain American histories as textbooks In
the public schools is worthy of the serious at
tention Of school authorities and citizens gen
orally in other parts of the country. The books
in question have been criticized because OF the
un-American way in which they present the
history Of the Revolutionary period, their dis
tinct tendency toward socialism, and an attl-
tude of hostility toward Congress that is likely
to breed a spirit of bolsheyism in the student
The future of the United States is IN the
hands of the generation now receiving its edu-
cation in our schools Too much care cannot be
given to the selection Of textbooks and the ap-
pointment of teacher Impressions gained by
the student will last him through life, and lntlu-
ence his vote and civic attitude in later years.
1t is of the utmost Importance that he should
be taught respect for the Constitution and for
the government formed Hereunder, that social
and economic doctrines Of proved soundness on
ly should be laid before him and that his pa
triotism should not be dampened by the onis-
sion or misstatencnt of historical events rich
in example of American prowess and sacrifice.
It has been openly charged that there is
concerted movement to rewrite American text
Of the colopists and bring into stronger relief
the virtues of Englshmen of the period. One
textbook emphasizes the fact that George III
was of German ancestry and declares that the
Revolution was really contest between Ger
man tyranny and English freedom" Another
author omits mention of scores of American
heroes, and makes ''no apology for the omission
of many of the yarns of American history"
Still another insists that the War Of 1912 'was
q mistake" The officials cf New York City are
investigating no less than eight school histor-
lies that grossly slight the story Of the Ma
\ TONS earlyoyears.
Demand for use of American histories made
in America" is not refusal to recognize the
merits of few books written by foreigners
on related subjects, Bryce's American Com
monwealth" has been accorded a favorable at
tention, and doubtless other books frankly dis
cussing our institutions are we'll worth our
reading, though written by citizens of other
nations What Americans object to is pro-
paganda antagonistic to our institutions COW
erty woven into histories designation use in
the schools by children whose minds are i'm
mature We need text books on American his
tory written BY loyal Americans from an
American viewpoint.
The material is not lacking, and we have
patriotic societies that should be eager to un-
dertake the work No activity in which they
engage, and no dollar which they could spend,
would rebound more to the future welfare of
the country. The Daughters of the American
Revolution, the Sons of the American Revolt
ton, and other organizations deriving their
inspiration from Washington's time, are COM
petent to gather and collect the facts for such
a book, and their endorsement of the completed
volume should be sufficient to place it at once
in the schools of every city
The miasma of internationalism that swept
over the country shortly after the war ended
gave the propagandists encouragement to en-
ter the schools with their literature But the
cloud is now dispelled, and he people are in
determined mood to cast out colored histories
and return to the teachings of former years
Were such book available, full of the lcro
tales Cyapns', if you please of American his
tory, it would be hailed as supplying a great
need, and it's wide acceptance would be mme-
date.