The Glenwood post., 1923-10-18
Uncle Ted's Bed Time Stories
Current Events for the Children
and Grown-ups, Too
KNOWLEDGE AND FREEDOM
AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK

Jack were having a slight argument
with their mother about studying.
"But 1 studied all 1 need to today"
said Jack.
$50 did - was Ruth IS reply.
''Now, you children know very
we'll" began Mother, "that there is a
certain amount of studying that you
must do at home. If you could only
iealize that it is for your own good
yon wouldn't fuss about it so much"
"Another war on books, scratch
pads, pencils, etc, I suppose" said
Uncle Ted, who had just appeared on
the scene. "What is the reason for
not studying now?"
CT don't need to,'' answered Jack.
"Then you are the first person !
ever met in all my life who didn It
need to study said Uncle Ted.
"what do you meant" queried
Jack.
doesn't matter how much you know in
this world, you always can learn some
more and there aren't enough years in
your life in which to learn enough to
satisfy yourself when you become old
er. That is hard for you to under
stand now, but some day it will be
easy to grasp. I want to tell you some
more about this studying business. So
if you will study for half hour, real
hard, get ready for bed and call me,
I'll tell you little story about learn
ing enough -
The time passed quickly and our
three friends were gathered together
once more.
"Kiddies, we Americans like to brag
a lot about how much we KNOW be-
gan Uncle Ted. eve like to tell the
world on everything. That s a good
thing in some ways. Confidence is
necessary for the individual and the
combination of individuals, but we
ought to stop once in while and take
stock of ourselves and see if we really
are as good as we think. We all be
lieve that the United States is made
up of the best educated people in the
world. As a matter of fact we stack
up fifteenth on that point. We have
n greater per cent of illiteracy thar
any other of fifteen countries and
Germany comes first! That means we
have more people than any other OF
fifteen countries who cannot read OF
write. We shouldn't t be so proud Of
that should we,
"'To Eelp that condition the indi
vidual states and the government a
Washington are doing all they can t.
place teachers where they can be avail
able TO these people and to make then
see that education is as necessary a
any other part of their life. You sec
this education business is not jus
making it possible for John Jones an'
Mary Smith to write their names AM
read them. 1t is the business of max
ing them real citizens. Education
must come not only to the younge
generat on, but to those who COM
from across the sea to Join us, befor,
II is possible to study the Constitu
tion. the Declaration of independence,
and the many other documents repre-
sentirg our republic and what goe!
with it.
"Cur government at Washington
through the department of the interior
has worked out fine plan with which
20 help this situation. This plan cen
ters around the observance of Amer
i"an Education Week, to he held the
week of November 1924 A program
has been outlined by the bureau of
education of the interior department
and it has the support of the American
Legion and the National Educational
association. The subjects outlined for
the program bring out what I have
been saying.
"On the Sunday starting the week,
the ministers of all churches have been
asked to preach at least one sermon
on education. The next day will be
called American Constitution Day. No
vember 90 will be Patriotism Day when
the schools will have all pupils study
the nations great men and women.