, 1922-11-09
OBSERVANCE OF AMERICAN
EDUCATION WEEK

(By John j. Tigert, U. s. Commits
sioner of Education.)
Two eay & DR.. P. P. C~laxton,
former Commissioner of Education.
instituted the observance of the first
week in December as Education
Week" The American Legion last
year became interested in the per-
petuation Of such a week and took
the initiative in inviting the Nation
al Education Association and other
organizations to cooperate in the OBJ
servance of American Education
Week" This year the United States
Bureau of Education is cooperating
with the American Legion and the
National Education Association in
inviting every American organization,
club. church, school, newspaper,
magazine, theatre n individual and
bodies of every description to partici-
pate In making the week, December
3-9, a real nationwide revival of edu-
cational enthusiasm.
The Am%ericanism Commission of
the American Legion called upon the
Commissioners of Education to in
vite President Harding to issue a
PROCLAMATION for the observance of
this week. The President has given
assurance of his desire and willing
ness to do this.
The Bureau OF Education has ar
ranged with the interdepartment Ad-
visory Committee on government
radio broadcasting to use the gov
ernment broadcasting stations twice
a day throughout the week for the
PRONUNCIATION of educational radio
material in connection with the
weeks campaign.
Tho Cor,,;,;ou -
called upon Will H. Hays, president
of the Motion Picture Producers and
Distributors OF America. to discover
to what extent the motion picture
houses of America would cooperate.
MIR. Hays was very generous and en-
thusiastic and has definitely ar
ranged for the working out of a pro-
gram in which the facilities of the
motion picture houses may be Used
effectively during American Educa-
ton Week.
All governors, mayors, and others
IN places of executive authority are
expected and invited to issue procla-
nations and otherwise promote gem
eral observance of this great move
ment in behalf of education. The
newspapers and press generally have
been invited to issue special educa-
tional editions II possible, and IL
THIS Is not possible to emphasize edu-
cation during these days by editor
ials. special articles. and in such
other ways as they find possible.
1t seemed wise, in order thai the
campaign might be concentrated up
on phases OF education which are of
outstanding Significance, to designate
certain days on which topics should
be stressed. These days are as fol-
lows: Sunday, December 3. God and
Country; Monday. December 4, Amer
lean Citizenship: Tuesday. December
o. patriotism: Wednesday. December
6. School and Teacher; Thursday.
December Z. Illiteracy; Friday. De-
cember 8. Equality of Opportunity,
and Saturday, December 8. Physical
Education and Hygiene. These top
les have been selected because they
are considered to be matters of ma
tional Importance and desirable
throughout the country. 1t is sug-
gested that these topics should not
preclude-the various States from en-
phasizing those features Of educa-
ton which need to be emphasized at
this time in their respective States.
nor should they prevent cities and To-
calities from pushing their individual
needs.
1t hardly seems necessary % urge
upon the schools and those respons-
ible for the administration and In
struction in the schools that II ia ex-
pected that all will Join in the gen
eral observance OF promoting educa-
% during American Education
week to the utmost extent Of hteir
abiiities. Programs can be effective
~ throughout all OF our
schoois which Will materially en-
nance the value of this ~vener,, az