Milford chronicle., 1923-10-12
UNCLE TED'S BEDTIME
STORIES
knowledge and FreedOm-American
Education Week
az:

!
It was after supper and Ruth and
Jack were having slight argument
with their mother about studying.
But I studied all need to today,
said Jack.
so did l." was Ruth's reply.
"Now you children know very well,
began Mother, "that there is a certain
amount of studying that you must do
at home. If you could only realize that
it is for your own good you wouldn't
fuss about it so much"
another war on books, scratch
pads, pencils, etc., suppose" said I'm
Gle Ted who had just appeared on the
scene. "What is the reason for not
studying now?"
"I don't need to-" answer Jack.
"Then you are the first person ev-
er met in all my life who didn't need
to study" said Uncle Ted.
"What do you mean?" queried Jack.
Gust that" said Uncle Ted. 1T
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
older. That is hard for you to under
stand now but some day it will be
easy to grasp. want to tell you some
more about this studying business. So
if YOU will study for a 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. 1--WE 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
I'D of the best educated people in the
world. AS a matter of fact we stack
I'D fifteenth on that point. We have
greater percentage Of illiteracy than
any other of fifteen countries and Ger
many comes first! That means we
have more people than any other OF
fifteen countries who cannot read or
write. We shouldn't be so proud OF
that, should we?
"To help that condition the individ-
ual states and the Government at
washington are doing all they can to
place teachers where they can be
available to these people and to make
them see that education is as neces-
sary as any other part Of their LIE.
You see, this education business 1t
not Just making 1t possible for Jonn
Jones and Mary Smith to write their
names and read them. 1t is the busl-
ness of making them real citizens.
Education must come not only to the
Younger generation but to those VINO
come from across the sea to join U.S.
before it is possible to study the Con-
stitution, the Declaration of Indepen-
dence and the many other documents
representing our Republic ana WnaC
goes with 1t.
"Our Government at Washington, |
through the Department Of the Inter
ior, has worked out a fine plan with
which to help this situation. This plan
centers around the observance OF Am
erican Education Week, to be 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 Amert-
can Legion and the National Educa-
tional Association. The subjects out
lined for the program bring out what
I have been saying.
ION the Sunday starting the week.
the ministers of all churches have
been asked to preach at least one ser
mon on education. The next day Will
be called American Constitution Day.
20, will be Patriotism Day
when the schools will have all pupils
study the Nations great men and wo-
men. Other days will include School
and Teacher Day. Illiteracy Day when
plans will be studied to help enlighten
the totally ignorant by education.
Community day and Physical educa-
ton day will end the week.
president Coolidge thinks enough
Of this idea to issue a proclamation
calling for the observance Of this
week in which he says several 1mpor-
tant things. He shows how America
from the very beginning has been de-
voted to education because the coun-
try was founded upon the idea Of
serving the Individual Pointing out
The development of our educational
system and showing that there is still
much room for improvement, the
President says: Every American citi-
zen is entitled to a liberal education.
this, there is no guarantee
or the permanence Of free institu-
ions, no hope Of perpetuating self
DespOtism finds its chief
support in ignorance. KNOWLEDGE
AND FREEDOM GO HAND IN HAND
"Now do you kiddies see what I
mean by learning enough? That can
lot be done. When you want to fuss
bout studying think Of the thousands
If foreign born citizens who just crave
he time and money to learn. And they
20 learn, too, whenever it is their Op-
,ortunity. Are you going to let them
ret ahead of you,"
"I'm not" said Jack.
Neither am l." answered Ruth.
"All right then, skip along to bed.
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