, 1922-02-27
PUT U IN t

A discussion Of the un-Americzn character of history
textbooks used in the public and private schools.
which had its origin in New York and Washington is
spreading over the country, arpusing not only school
people but everybody who loves his country and de-
sfres her history faithfully and truthfully recorded.
and as faithfully taught to the children Of the nation,
that they may grow TO manhood and womanhood with
devotion to their flag and profound loyalty to the re
public.
Wallace MeCamant, a former Justice of the Oregon
supreme court and president of TIE Sons of the Amer
of school histories worthy The attention Of school au-
thorities and textbook cersors throughout the nation.
Judge McCamant says:
"My attention has been called 90 the controversy
which has arisen in New York City with reference TO
the school histories in use in our public schools. The
subject is one Of vital interest to the National Society
in which I have been personally interested for several
years. May / presume to call your attention to the
things which / think are important to be borne in
mind IN the censorship of these school books?
"The story OF the American revolution has great
potential value for intoxicating patriotism From my
point of view it was the most heroic struggle of the
ages Great Britain has never been relatively SO pow
erful either before or since as she was at the time Of
the American Revolution The spirit Of our forefa-
theirs in Drawing the wrath of the great British en-
pire was magnificent No other period IN history was
so prolific in great men rs was the Revolutionary Pc
rod in this country. Our free institutions have come
to us not by royal grant but through heavy sacrifices
whom we owe these institutions should never be for
gotten and should be impressed upon all Americans
in sheir impressionable years.
"The story is full of dramatic incidents and the
most should be made of them by the writer of a his
tory. The history should give a realistic account of
Paul Reveros ride, the Battle of Bunker Hill, Of
Washington's crossing Of the Delaware, the George
Rogers Clark expedition, the Mo1ie Pitcher incident,
the execution of Nathan Hale, the tragedy Of Valley
Forge and the partisan warfare in the Caroiinas- Many
of the histories tell the story IN q colorless fashion and
in such manner as to deprive 1t Of all of It's value for
patriotic purposes. Some of the histories are inaccu-
rate in their statement of facts and utterly made
republic Space Is often devoted to unimportant mat
ters while the stirring and moving incidents Of the
Revolutionary war are slurred over with scanty atten-
ton
IT have no feeling OF animosity toward Great Bri-
tain On the contrary, / am mindful Of the yeoman
service which she rendered for the preservation of civ
~ilization in the world war and / believe that her serv-
ices in this respect entitle her to the gratitude Of
Americans / am, nevertheless, opposed to the emas-
cultivating friendly relations with Great Britain. Our
forefathers were right and George the Third was
wrong. This fact should never be lost sight of"
Patriotic societies and citizens who bslieve In the
free institutions set up by the fathers and preserved
and defended by the sons throughout the years have
a vital interest in the instruction given the children.
IL irresponsible writers have prepared textbooks that
into the hands of the children it is high time we all
knew it. We want the children informed but we wal
them correctly and t~ruthfuly informed If there is
anything In our history to shame us point it out that
they may avoid similar error, but where our history
is glorious add emphasis that the achievements may
encourage emulation
There is nothing in American history that cannot
be caught to our children so long as it is t~ruthfully
portrayed