Evening star., 1923-03-09
PRESIDENT URGES
TEACHING CHANGE
Instruction in History Should
Take Broader View of Re-
Iations of Nations.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
BRUNSWICK, Me. March 9.-The
teaching of history should be changed
to take a broader view that would
consider the nations of the western
world in their relations to one an
other, instead of considering them
separately, President Harding said in
letter to President Kenneth c. NJ.
Sills of Bowdoin College. made public
today. The President was congratulat-
ing the college on its plans for an
institute of modern history to be held
here from April 19 to May l. Our
point of view regarding modern his
tory has been shifted greatly by the
events of the last decade. he wrote.
All the factors of the story OF
mankind, which was an essential
unity, he said, must be weighed and
appraised If any were TO be accu-
rately estimated and understood. A
broader view of history would help
greatly those having to deal with
the problem of preserving peace and
outlawing war.
Lessons Misunderstood.
1t was conceded that some of the
lessons of the past had been mis-
understood. President Harding said.
adding: 1T is peculiarly necessary
in times like these that every effort
be made to correct whatever misap
prehensions may have arisen"
In his letter the President said:
plans to hold at Bowdoin an institute
of modern history. l think you are
inaugurating a fine piece of work. and
wish | could be among those privi
legged to participate with you: which
l am sorry to say is not possible.
kind of work on the part of educa-
tional Institutes and learned Socie-
ties, not only of this country, but of
the world. l remember when I was
a very young man hearing a politi-
cal orator. in a particularly fervid
period. announce that the whole his
tory of the past must be changed
"A good deal of fun was poked at
this proposal. and l was among those
who indulged in more or less humor
in connection with 1t. Yet since the
world war | have sometimes Won
dcred whether the orator was so
hopelessly wrong as to justify all
the hilarity.
Viewpoint Shifted.
Certainly our point Of view re-
garding modern history has been
shifted greatly by the events of the
last decade. To fit into our histories
the story of the years from 1914
down to this time is requiring the
most painstaklng. thoughtful and
analytical consideration of all the
course and processes of modern his
tory.
For one thing. il seems very clear
to me that henceforward the teaching
Of history will have to be conducted.
If it is conducted wisely, on quite
different lines than in the past. There
has been too much disposition among
both the writers and students of his
tory to deal with the different ma
tions of the western world. as II were.
in separate compartments; to as
sumo that one may study and under
stand the history Of one nation with
out particularly devoting himself to
the relations of that particular ma
tion to the others. Undoubtedly we
shall from this time forward have a
much more adequate conception of
the essential unity of the whole story
of mankind and a keener realization
Of the fact that all its factors must
be weighed and appraised If any of
them are to be accurately estimated
and understood.
Il feel strongly that such broad
or view of history, if it can be plant