Evening star., 1927-09-12
Constitution Day.


proclaimed by the governors of twelve
States and will be observed through
out the country on next Saturday.
Mayors of thirty-three cities have
the programs of patriotic meetings ar
ranged by the National Security
League. which is directing a propa-
ganda to encourage the understand
ing, and the teaching, of the Consti-
tuition in the schools of the land.
We have Mothers day, Fathers
day. independence day, Decoration
day, Armistice day, Labor day, Apple
week, Thrift week. Safe-Driving
week and host Of other days
and weeks dedicated to this, that
and the other thing. Some Of
them are important and some of
them are silly. But none is more
fundamental than Constitution day.
And it is to be hoped that in popular.
izing the observance of Constitution
day those directing the movement will
emphasize the fact that there are
three hundred and sixty-five days in
the year. and that Constitution day
is only one of them. The ultimate
aim of the Security League is, and
should be, so to focus attention on
the Constitution on one day that in
terest in the subject will stretch the
year around.
Our primary schools teach smat.
tering Of history, inject dose of
political science and civics and eco
nomics, and furnish their pupils with
an introduction to the rules of gram.
mar, which gives them speaking ac-
quaintance with the English language.
A systematic study Of the Constitu-
ton would be an excellent addition to
the curriculum of the preparatory
schools. 1t should be made the text
for a study of history, political
science, economies, civics and English
combined, and not treated superficial
ly as an historical incident. The boy
or girl graduating from high school
should be able not only to name the
articles and the amendments to the
Constitution, but should know what
principle is involved in each of them;
should know what lay behind their
adoption; should have rudimentary
knowledge of their Interpretation by
the courts and the manner in which
each of them works in the day-to-day
procedure Of the Government. Such
course would be far more valuable
than one which informs the student
that Columbus sailed the ocean blue
in fourteen hundred and ninety.two,
and that Queen Isabella is alleged to
have pawned her jewels to let him
do it. High school is none too early
to begin such course. A years
study provides none too firm a foun.
dation.
1t Is only through a widely held and
intelligently understood knowledge of
the principles Of the American Gov.
ernment, as embodied in its Consti-
tuition. that it's institutions will con.
tinue. Such a knowledge, as the Sc
curity League points out, Twill prove
the only antidote for radical and So.
cialistic propaganda" That is very
true. Radicalism, in it's accepted
meaning. fattens most quickly on ig-
norance. 1t is constantly being pic
tured as bloodthirsty creature which
prowls the land seeking small children
to devour. The ignorant, discontented
individual Is apt to be drawn to it by
the mystery which surrounds it as a
way out Of his difficulties. In such
an individual lies the greatest danger.
There will always be radicals. But
the intelligent radical does not throw
bombs. The young man or woman
with a basic knowledge of our Con-
stitution will at least be able mental.
ly to compare some of the funda.
| mental differences between the Ameri-
can form of government and that
which would be set up by the radical
/ theorist. He will be able to weigh
one against the other. In his com.
mon sense should lie his greatest Sc.
curity, and the security of his country.
According to some theories one way