The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-11-01
Schools Doing Their Job?
(The Rotarian Magazine)

It's fair question: Are our schools
doing what they should? We-and
THAT I'VE" means society in general
have by tacit consent or implicit di-
rection saddled them with the major
part Of the task of supplying boys
and girls with what they should know
to become good citizens. In grand
fathers time 1t was quite different.
Then the home was the dominating
influence in the life Of q child: it Is
hardly SO now.
No, we expect more Of our schools
than ever before. Fewer children
work, and each year we send an in
creasing number of them to school.
Sons and daughters Of parents who
can not write learn their A B C's
side by side with children Of parents
who went to college. But more. In
school they form habits that will
stick throughout their lives. What
policies on domestic and international
issues the voters of decade or SO
hence will dictate to their govern
ments is in large measure determined
| by attitudes towards others that boys
and girls are acquiring in schools
today.
This is serious and pregnant
truth, of which we need some recur-
ring reminder just as the December
leaf on q business mans calendar Is
notice that January first is inventory
day. In the United States 1t happens
to be the annual American Educa-
ton Week." which this year comes
November sixth to twelfth. During
this week, parents are invited to visit
schools and ascertain for themselves
whether the educational system is do
ing its job for the money it costs.
It is not difficult to find out
whether reading and writing and
arithmetic and the other subjects are
properly taught; it is less easy to
measure all-important attitudes. In
this, perhaps the following "Ten
Commandments for School Children,
which comes from Czecho-slovakia
|may give some help.
l. Love your schoolmates; they will
be your companions for life and work
2. Love instruction, the food Of the
spirit Be thankful to your teachers
as to your own parents.
3. Consecrate every day by one
good useful deed and kindness.
1. Honor all honest people: esteem
men but humble yourself before NJ
man.
S. Suppress al hatred and beware
Of insulting your neighbor; be not re.
vengeful but protect your own rightl
and those Of others. Love justice and
bear pain and misfortune courage
|ously.
8. Observe carefully and reflect
we'll in order to get at truth. De-
lceive not yourself Or others and be-
ware of lying, for lies destroy thu
heart, the soul, and the character
Suppress passions and radiate low
land peace.
| Z. Consider that animals also have
q right to your sympathy and do MOI
harm them or tease.
8. Think that oil good Is the re.
suit Of work; he who enjoys without
working is stealing bread from TIL
mouth OF the worker.
8. Call no man . patriot who hates
or has contempt for other nations. o.
who wishes and approves wars. Wa
; Is the remains Of barbarian.
j 10. Love your country and your ma.
ton but be co.workers In the higl
task that shall make all men live TO-
gether like brothers In peace and hap
piness.
II And, when the educational inven,
/ tory Is done, II the teachers are f6uns
to be well trained, conscientious ans
sincere, it isn't bad parent-busines
to give them q verbal pat on the back
They are working against heavy odd
) in these days Of economic retrench
, ment, and need al Of the encourage
ment that can be conscientiousl.
given.