Evening star., 1925-11-17
PATRIOTISM MADE
VITAL IN SCHOOLS
Principles Are Taught Pupils
From kindergarten
Through Grades.

~ Carter. starting III IIIt Eeil lSil,
the public school children of Washing
Ion, are imbued With the principles of
patriotism, Selden NJ Ely, supervising
principal of the fifth division, pointed
out in a statement issued today in
connection with the observance of
''Patriotism day" of American Educa-
ton week The various means of de-
veloping a patriotic sense in the chill
stlren were outlined in a similar paper
prepared by Walter l.. Smith, princi-
pal of Dunbar High School Both
statements We're written at the re-
quest of Supt. Frank w. Ballou as
part of the program of school authori-
ties in observing Education week.
''In the Washington schools the in
stilling of patriotic principles begins
in the kindergarten, said Mr.. Ely.
Even in this grade the formal salute
to the flag is taught with proper ges-
lures. \ fayorite kindergarten march
Is the one with the flag held by each
child in proper position. Stories of
knighthood with patriotic morals are
told by the teachers. America is
sung, especially the first verse, with
considerable accuracy and understand
inig. The spirit OF the Red Cross is
also utilized as we'll as the bringing of
flowers for Memorial day. The national
holidays are stressed together with
their meaning.
Salute Is Taught.
In the first grade the salute to the
flag IS, OF course, continued. as it is in
all remaining grades. The first grade
also utiliZeS the national HOLIDAYS.
dwelling especially on birthdays of
such characters as Washington and
Lincoln.
The second grade, of course. also
utiliZeS the holidays The children in
this group are taught about the early
settlers and the hardships they under
went. Songs play an important part
In the second grade.
''Third-grade children sing America
all the way through from memory
They are taught the story of the Pill
grlmS and what they meant to our
country. Thanksgiving day is stressed.
The fourth grade children memor-
lie the Athenian oath, and carry the
thought over to their own country
The Star Spangled Banner is sung
from memory. Holiday programs are
given either i'll the individual rooms
or general assemblies. The need for
citizenship is taught. especially in
communities where there are numbers
of recent arrivals from foreign coun-
tries. The Salute to the Flag is given
with much meaning.
The Americans Creed is memor-
lied by all the children of the fifth
Athenian oath of tho previous grade.
The holidays are utilized to teach
love of country and thought of
the men who helped to make it The
relationship of one citizen to another
and why there should be 4 community
spirit is developed. The biographical
history lessons in this grade afford
a great opportunity TO teach patriot
ism How 10 display the flag cor
rectly is taught and emphasized in
every grade thereafter.
Sixth Grade Teaching.
"The sixth year utilizes the Salute
to the Flag The Americans Creed
and many OF the patriotic songs in
their opening exercises. The more
formal history Of the sixth grade is
a splendid vehicle for patriotism. Cur
rent events are utilized. The duties
of oneEcitizen to another as well as
of one community to another, are
stressed
THE seventh grade reaches the
Revolutionary period and the period
of the Constitution in American his
tory The seventh grade course pro
vides much patriotic readins-for eX-
ample. The Man Without a Coun-
try" by Edward f. Hale. The need
to obey laws is brought out.
The Constitution of the United
States IS formally taught in the eighth
grade. There is perhaps not so much
memoriZing Of the Constitution as in
previous wears, but its meaning and
its application to real life are made
clearer year by year. The eighth grade
pupils recite the classic patriotic ad-
dresses, but much better they make
speeches 0f their own under the aus
picas OF their debating societies. good
English clubs or other organization
under some appropriate name. Patri-
otic quotations are utilized not only
for memory selections, but also for
penmanShip exercises. The compost
tions IN this grade dwell on such sub
jects as patriotic soldiers. sailors. mer-
chants, statesmen and women, as we'll
as rulers. BY the time the eighth
grade IS finished most of the patriotic
songs have been committed to memory.
More and more the children from
the kindergarten to the eighth grade
are being impressed with the thought
that they must live the facts taught
by history and civics SO that they may
be the loyal, useful patriots of today
and tomorrow. The meaning of the
flag both as to form and color are
early impressed but what is more i'm
portant, they are given the thought
that they themselves are really the
flag and that the flag is the symbol of
their highest aspirations"
Mr.. Smiths Statement.
Firmly believing that the crowning
achievement of education is the pro-
duction of the good citizen and that
patriotism is the foundation of good
citizenship" read Mr.. Smiths state
ment, 'the schools of Washington de-
vote much time to the development of
the patriotic sense. both by formal
lesson and by exercises in small and
large groups.
when daily assemblies are posi-
BILE. following devotions. the salute
HNUo II Nh II