The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1934-11-08
Special Science Courses
Explained by Miss Wilson
Cont iraind 10

| SAcSA6S vi OPli1lO1S dl1o pO11IS VI
view incites liberation, an idea
almost unique to American
thought. European and Oriental
leaders are having difficulty in
controlling the feelings of intol.
erance and hatred that constantly
arise. Let us here in Americs
continue OUR policy Of open mind.
edness and appreciation for the
other fellows viewpoint. A study
OF how the other half of the world
lives helps to strengthen such an
ideal. Is it not true that if you
know a person we'll, you cannot
hate him? The more we know
about the people of the world, the
society into which we have been
born, the more tolerant shall we
be. 1t is in people as individuals
and society as a whole that the So
cial problems classes interest them
selves.
IT the knowledge thus learned in
studying the social sciences is ap-
piled intelligently, great benefits to
society will accrue. Even a little
child learns by experience. If he
burns his fingers on hot stove, he
will not get too near the stove
again. Yet among the voters and
legislators of our country there are
many people, either ignorant or
else unthinking, who do not profit
by past experience. They allow
laws to be passed which have been
proved by history to be erroneous.
1t is the desire of the teachers of
social science to so present their
subjects that the students will see
the necessity of linking the past
with the future; of profiting by the
experience Of others. Why cannot
an intelligent civilization learn to
foresee the results of a war, of a
mania of speculation, of an era of
great unemployment, and devote all
its efforts toward preventing the re-
occurrence, of such tragedies? We
do not need to be slaves to fate, yet
we wait until these unwanted
guests have arrived, when it is
too late to prevent their coming. To
days students may be able to make
the world a more social and a more
sociable one for themselves if they
will keep in mind the mistakes, we,
their elders, have made.
There is, however, an important
factor which social science teach
er cannot contribute without the
help Of the parents: the desire on
the part of each student to make
the world better place in which to
live. Our world, parents and
friends, is one of selfshness and
greed. How gratifying it would be
II the students who are in our pub
lie schools today would strive to
live lives of service and unselfish-
ness! Such desire accompanied by
adequate knowledge and intelli-
gence would make our country a
noble example to the rest Of the
world.
Even now Europe is looking to
us for leadership in the great peace
movement on foot. America has
already shown that countries may
live peaceably side by side, for we
have had no major difficulties with
either Canada or Mexico for near
ly a century. Our treaty with
Canada permitting no battleships
on the Great Lakes is as great a
disarmament agreement as has ev-
err been made. War is brought on
by fear and hatred. At the present
time France and Germany both
fear and distrust each other so in
tensely that at any moment they
may fly at each others Threats.
The January election in the Saar
valley may very possibly cause a
conf1agration. VIII our boys and
girls carry on, substituting for war,
which today is inglorious, unneces-
sary, and disastrous to civilization,
a crusade against crime, greed, and
selfishness? If so, we can yield
our places to the coming genera
ton knowing that civilization will
progress rather than destroy itself.
Throughout the social science
courses an attempt is made to give
an entirely unbiased presentation
of the subject, showing all possible
viewpoints, and then to let the stu
dent choose for himself which
point of view he cares to accept.
His opinion will, of course, change
as he grows older. Such changes
based on sound reason mark a
persons progress. However, no
one will make up your child's mind
for him after he leaves home.
Surely, then, he should have prac-
tice while yet a high school stu
dent in deciding certain things for
himself. After all sides of ques-
ton have been presented, let him
choose to be on the side of paci-
f1sm or militarism, of nationalism or