The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-10-22
COOLIDGE ISSUES
PROCLAMAT|ONO OF
EDUCATION WEEK
knowledge Aids Cause of
Freedom President
States.

President Coolidge has proclaimed
Nov 1S to "a National Education
Week." Garland Powell, director of
Americanism for the American Le-
gion, announced here today. The
Legion is leading in plans for the OBJ
servance.
Coolidge's proclamation, received
today by Powell:
from its earliest beginnings, Amer
lea has been devoted 90 the cause of
education. This country was founded
on the ideal of ministering to the indi:
viduaL
"It was realized that this must be
done by the institutions Of religion and
government. In order that there
might be a properly educated clergy
and well trained civil magistrates, one
of the first thoughts of the early
settlers was to provide for a college
of liberal culture, while for the gen.
eraI diffusion of knowledge, primary
schools were established. This course
was taken as the necessary require
ment OF enlightened society.
Self Government and Education
such a policy. once adopted. has
continued to grow In extent. With the
adoption of the Federal Constitution
and the establishment of free govern
ments IN the States Of the Union,
there was additional reason for broad.
he
Our country adopted the principle
Of self government by a free people.
Those who were worthy Of being free
were worthy Of being educated. Those
who had the duty and responsibility
Of government, must necessarily have
the education with which to discharge
the obhgatinos of citizenship.
1.-THE sovereign had to be educated.
The sovereign had become the people.
Schools and universities were provided
by the various governments and
founded and fostered by private char
ity until. their buildinsg dotted all
the land.
THE willingness of the people 10
bear the burdens of maintaining these
institutions, and the patriotic de-
votion Of an army Of teachers, who,
IN many cases. might have earned
larger incomes in other pursuits. have
made It possible to accomplish re-
suits with which we may we'll be
sratifed. But the task is not finished,
it has only been begun.
knowledge Aids Freedom
I'VE have observed the evidences of
Il broadening vision of the whole
educational system. This has in
cluded a recognition that education
must not end with the period of
school attendance, but must be given
every encouragement thereafter.
ITO this end the night schools OF
the cities, the moonlight schools of
the southern Appalachian countries,
the extension work of the colleges and
universities. the provision for teach
ing technical, agricultural and me-
chanical arts, have marked out the
path to a broader and more widely
dlffused national culture. To insure
I the permanence and continuing i'm
provement Of such an educational
policy, there must be the fullest
public realization Of it's absolute
necessity.
Every American citizen is entitled
to a liberal education. without this,
there is no guarantee for the per-
manence of free institutions, no hope
of perpetuating self government. Des-
potism finds it's chief support in ig-
norance. knowledge and freedom go
hand in hand.
I'm order that the people OF the
Nation may think on these things, 1t
is desirable that there should be an
annual observance of Educational
week.
Citizens Urged to Cooperate
Now, therefore, I, Calvin Coolidge,
President of the United States. do
hereby proclaim the week beginning
Nov IS, as National Education Week,
and urge it's observance throughout
the country.
st recommend that the State and
local authorities cooperate with the
civic and religious bodies to secure its
most general and helpful observance,
for the purpose of more literally sup
porting and more effectively improv-
ing the educational facilities of our
country.
I'm witness whereof, I have here
unto set my hand and caused the
seal Of the United States to be