The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-16
For Social Health
BY IN. ADDTNGrON BRUcR

Emphatical1y hold with John Dewey that
whatever else is taught in our schools these
three things should be taught
Real patriotism.
Amity and goodwill for other races and
other nationalities.
Insight into the problems of capital and
labor.
To begin with the last. it may be said
without exaggeration that the ideal social
solidarity, so necessary to social health, viii
never come anywhere near being realized as
long Is children are permitted to grow to
manhood and womanhood ignorant of eco
nomic principles. ~
+ of people a grievous misunderstanding of the
respective parts played by labor and capital
IN production.
Because Of this Misunderstanding, and fos-
tered by prejudices acquired from the per
sonal environments, there are on the one
hand those who underestimate labor and
would deny labor,s rights and proper claims,
and on the other hand those who would
sweep capital away in blind oyer-exaltation
of labor. =
The latter, in soviet Russia, have CON con
vefted desire into deed. with conseQuenees
appalling to the civilized world. Their per
Torrance, it may safely be predicted, will be
repeated elsewhere if the educational pro-
gram is not improved to include teaching
OF economic first principles, -
To reinforce this teaching, an aid without
which for that matter it will lack vitality.
is needed the teaching of real patriotism.
Real patriotism involves much more than
Willingness to die II need be for ones coun-
try. 1t involves determination so TO live that
a..
best be served. {
That is to say, it Involves personal ideal
ism translated into action in everyday liy-
ing Under the Impulses Of real patriotism,
selfishness will be reduced to minimum,
the gaining Of riches will cease to allure,
hygienic habits of thinking and doing will be
the rule.
Graft and greed will be seen in their true
light as essentially as unpatriotic as giving
aid and comfort to an enemy in time of war.
The wastrel Of his own health, the grasping
exploiter Of 'others--whether he be factory,
store or farm exploiter Of the labor. Of chill
dren, food manipulation, cunning workman
whoa deliberately underworks, or any other
kind of an exploiter win be recognized for
the unpatriotic wretch he Is.
This, say, is what will follow when real
patriotism is taught in the schools. Ism,
1t ABOUT time program was 1ormuiated Iof
teaching it with the greatest possible effec
tiveness7
As for the teaching Of international friend,
ship, Of the essential kinshipaof the races,o
mankind, thRt also is manifestly needful for
social health, g<N
What often is taught--especiaHy through
histories instilling prejudiees agains his peo-
pie or thAtZis international dislike and dis
trust. Hereby the seeds 1of war are sown
And not even the horrors of the latest war
the well-named World War--will suffice to
prevent future wars unless the schools dill
gently develop peace-pFomoting sentiments.
Too long has the educational emphasis
been on the notwithstanding competency Of
the educated. The sooner broader vision
motiyates education, the better place the
1 world viii be for all in it--and the more
easily, SO far as that is concerned, will all in
It earn a livelihood. $50