The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1923-11-15
AMERICAN EDUCATION
WEEK PROCLAIMED
Officially BY President Coolidge
For Week of November 1924

Il VI NeSh VI 1NON SUlDtE 1871
The week of November IS to 81 has
been officially set aside as American
Education Week by President Cool
idge in a proclamation recently issued.
The proclamation, like Mr.. CooIidge's
other writings on education, shows a
clear grasp Of the basic Importance
of education in the life of the nation.
The proclamation is as follows:
"From its earliest beginnings, Am
erica has been devoted to the cause of
education. This country was founded
on the ideal of ministering to the in
dividual. 1t was realized that this
must be done by the institutions Of
religion and government. In order
that there might be a properly edu-
Gated clergy and well-trained civil
magistrates, one Of the first thoughts
of the early settlers was to provide
for college Of liberal culture, while
for the general diffusion of knowledge
primary schools were established.
This course was taken as the neces-
sary requirement of enlightened So
ciety.
"Such a policy, once adopted, has
continued to grow in extent. With
the adoption of the Federal Constitu-
ton and the establishment of free
government in the States of the I'm
ion, there was additional reason for
broadening the opportunity for edu-
cation. Our country adopted the prin-
ciple Of elf-government by free
people. Those who were worthy Of
being free were worthy Of being edu-
Gated. Those who had the duty and
responsibility of government. must
necessarily have the education with
which to discharge the obligations of
citizenship. The sovereign had to be
educated. The sovereign had become
the people. Schools and universities
were provided by the various govern
ments, and founded and fostered by
private charity until their buildings
dotted all the land
"The willingness of the people to
bear the burdens of maintaining these
institutions, and the patriotic devo-
ton of an army Of teachers, who, in
many cases, might have earned larger
incomes in other pursuits, have made
it possible to accomplish results with
which we may we'll be gratifed But
the task is not finished, it has only
been begun.
eve have observed the evidences of
a broadening vision Of the whole ed
vocational system. This has included
a recognition that education must not
end with the period Of school attend
ance, but must be given every encour-
agement thereafter, To this end the
night schools Of the cities. the moon
light schools Of the southern Appala-
chan countries, the extension work
of the colleges and universities, the
provision for teaching technical, agri-
cultural and mechanical arts, have
marked out the path to a broader and
more widely diffused National cul-
ture. To insure the permanence and
continuing Improvement Of such an
educational policy there must be the
fullest public realization of its abso-
lutte necessity. Every American cit
izen is entitled to liberal education.
Without this, there is no guarantee
for the pelmanence of free institu-
tions, no hope of perpetuating self
government. Despotisn' finds its
chief support in ignorance. Knowl-
edge and freedom go hand in hand.
"In order that the people of the Ma
ton may think on these things, it is
desirable that there should be an an
nual observance of Educational Week.
''Now, therefore, |, Calvin Coolidge,
President of the United States, do
hereby proclaim the week beginning
on the eighteenth of November, next,
as National Education Week, and urge
its observance throughout the coun-
try. l 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.
an Witness Whereof, l have here
unto set my hand and caused the seal
of the United States to be affixed.
Done, in the City of Washington
this twenty-siXth day of September,
in the year of our Lord, One Thous-
and Nine Hundred and Twenty-three,
and of the Independence Of the Uni
ted States the One Hundred and For
ty-eighth.
"CALVIN COOLIDGE"
n