The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-10-04

Of economic and political nationalism the
schools have greater reason than ever for
maintaining some balance. We hardly can ex-
pect them to carry on any active propaganda
against war, but they certainly should teach
the facts and create a sensible perspective on
world affairs
There is much alarm expressed lest
tariff revival, increased ornaments and the
isolationist policies of governments will pro-
mote war, but dangerous as these may be- the
teaching of narrow nationalism and super
patriotism in the schools of today is far more
menacing to the peace Of the world. Nothing
begets beIlicosty more surely than the notion
that a particular nation is unique as to virtue
and strength and that its neighbors are in
ferior and contemplate weaklings.
AS DR.. Jonathan French Scott showed con-
clusively in his patriots in the Making" pa
triotic instruction in history and geography
was bad enough before the World war. But it
has become much worse since the great con-
flict. This fact DR.. Scott made very clear in
his later volume, The Menace of Nationalism
in Education"
In France every effort is made to develop
in the minds Of the student an exalted opinion
Of his country This is achieved in part by
ignoring the history and geography of other
countries and in part by extolling the past
and present of France. In presenting such
controversial issues as the Hundred Years war.
the Napoleonic wars, the Franco-Prussian
war and the World war, France is portrayed
as being invariably on the side of right and
justice. She has always been attacked and in
vaded and has inevitably defeated and repealed
her assailants
In Germany an equally ardent patriotism
is inStilled, though not accompanied by the
invincible provincialism of the French instruc-
ton The growth of Prussia and the unifcation
OF Germany is an epic in itself. In regard to
the Franco Prussian and the World wars. the
German instruction is frankly patriotic and it
Is only an accident that it happens to accord
a little better with the truth than the French
version
Now that Hitler has assumed control. Ger
man education is becoming more intolerabv
patriotic than French. The old Teutonic sagas
are being revived. Race myths are instilled
Anti-Semitism is taught and practiced. Hatred
OF the enemies who made and enforced the
Treaty of Versailles is consciously inculcated
everything is perfectly set up to create mil
lions of arrogant little goose-steppers.
In English schools nationalism and pa
triotism are advanced mainly through subtle
and au-pervasive incubation of the SUPREMACY
OF British culture. There is little effort to
create hostility toward England's neighbors.
consequently, with the exception of the World
war, England's former enemies get fairer
treatment in the school books than the enc
mics of France and Germany receive in the
French and German texts. At the same time.
nowhere else is there such sublime self-ass11r-
ance as to cultural supremacy and q mission
to dominate the world
Our own school textbooks have achieved in
recent years unique degree of fairness in
dealing With our history and our relations with
our neighbors. Indeed, the American Legion
felt it necessary to get out a special American
history textbook in order properly to instil
patriotic principles Yet we need TO be eter-
nally vigilant
AS DR.. Bessie [. Pierce fully revealed in be,
Public Opinion and the Teaching of History"
and her Citizens Organizations and the Civic
Training of Youth" we have multiplicity of
organizations lying in wait to grab off orr
schools as agencies of patriotic and class
propaganda