The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-08-31

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schools, but too little is said of the
reasons why they should be maintain
ed. The parent who has children at
tending the schools is naturally in
terested in them, but that interest is
often based only on the selfish one
of having his own children educated
at the public expense. That selfish
interest, however, is not incompatible
with the interests of the public. In
fact, that selfish interest is beneficial
to the public interest in maintaining
the schools at the highest standard of
excellence and makes the parent a
student Of the public school system.
Public School Safeguards Nation
The larger public interest in the
maintenance of the public school sys-
tenn is not, however, the private inter-
est of the parent or of the child, but
the creation Of good and capable flu
ture citizens of the Republic. If it
were not for that purpose, it would
be immaterial to the state how its
children were educated. In a republic
like that of ours education is the
cornerstone of the whole govern
mental structure. It is the source of
strength against assaults upon the
Government from enemies within or
without it's boundaries. But for the
purposes of republic the education
of it's citizens must contain certain
fundamental characteristics. One Of
these fundamentals is an understand
ing by one man of his fellow-man.
That Understanding is not the result
of an elaborate educational system
but merely the result of contact with
others under circumstances making
that contact form a lasting impress
sion upon the inner nature. Such a
point of contact enables a man,
whether rich or poor, to Understand the
hopes, aspirations and life of his fel-
bowman. That understanding is ne
cessary in a government where every
man is either direct or indirect law
maker. Some men acquire that un-
derstanding through their business
relations, while others acquire it at
school or by membership in some or
ganization where all face a common
danger such as in an army in &C.
ton. But, unfortunately, many peo-
pie never acquire it. There is one
universal place, however, where all
citizens should meet each other on a
common level and ON terms of equali-
ty, and that is in their early youth
in the common public schools. In
the elementary common schools the
child meets or should meet all his fu-
ture fellow-citizens. It will have a
broadening effect not only upon those
who will be forced to leave school
early in life but also ON those who
are able to obtain a university edu-
cation. It will fit all who thus meet
as children of the Republic to live
on terms Of real democracy and with
a realization that each is essential in
the complete scheme of life. Much
of the misunderstanding and social
unrest of the present time is the re-
suit of the failure on the part of
people in different walks of life to
really understand one another.
Democratic Institution Will Develop
Child Properly
Besides, a truly democratic educa-
ton will develop character, and
character will give rise to ideals
based on it instead of upon wealth
and evanescent show. No man of
wealth should allow his children to
attend a private school during the
early and formative period of child
hood. His children, without the bene-
fit of common public education,
will have missed something which
they may never acquire later and
which is essential to their success if
they are to become leaders in the
community in political professional or
commercial life.
The public schools are the common
sources Of knowledge of the nature
of our government and of its aims
and purposes. It is there that all
children should learn the great beam