The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-10-03

lt AHOlauapuuS, u.-OntHCerIuPt' < nd education for hundreds of thou sands of American children whc otherwise would not have had such opportunity, resulted from the foremost activity of the ha. tional Americanism commission ol the American Legion, according tc an advance copy of its annual re. port, prepared for the national convention to be held in Miami Florida, October 22-25. Paul Il
 Criffith, of Uniontown, Pennsyl- vAnia, is chairman of the commis' sion.
 II is declared that the school hndeet of the nation by last fall had been reduced by $37S,O00,00O, ana that more than 2,0OO scnooIs, affecting approximately 1,O0O,ooo nhildren. would have had terms ahnrter than six months. It IS rtated that 200 rural schools < failed to open at all. In thousanus of communities where there are Legion posts, committees were formed and worked with anu through the superintendent oI } echoois and boards of education III finding ways and means or pre- venting the curtailment of educa- : ton. Through this program, pup, lie confidence was awakened anu ' thousands of schools were permit ted to carry on their usual terms.
 The second great program Of the commission, the report says, was " nation-wide observance or Consti- tuition Day, September 17tn. The purpose of this particular activity was to stimulate a stuuy ma appreciation of the Constltu- lion of the United States or Amer. ica. and the rights, benefits ano urivileges guaranteed thereby. The report reads, Through this cam. paign. we sought a reawakenlng ol faifh and confidence in our Con stitution. and a rededication or the nrinciples set forth in that oocu- ment. The result of such cam. paign in defeating the inroaos ol the radical groups who seek 10 tear down our Constitution cannot oe estimated"
 Post Cooperate
 Credit is given the community service activities of the ll'oo' Legion posts throughout the couh, try was being responsible III great measure for the gooo-Ml. the legion has enjoyed Tn suppo[' of it's legislative requests.
 While declaring that subversive movements have thrived during fhe entire time since the last na- ffonal convention, the report oe- clares that the people of America have become more acquainted Wltn and acquired a more thorough knowledge of the extent to which radicalism has progressed, and pe- cause of this Knowledge of the ex- tent to which radicalism has pro Eressed. and because of this knowledge have become awakened to the menace of such propaganda and, therefore, will cooperate more completely with organizations in- terested in the combating of un- Americanism.
 These subversive groups. In the dissemination of their propa- ganda. have hidden behind the |cloak of religion and education in - number of instances" it is de- |clared. "Your commission be- .Sieves that in communities where khis is true, every effort should be made not only by Legion posts, fbut by all real Americans, to tear JRway the cloak and reveal to the Ieyes of all citizens the true facts an the case"
 A majority of the programs un- der the Americanism Commission have been grouped under the gen. eral heading of Education. Youth Activities, and Community Service.
 Appreciation is expressed to the American Legion Auxiliary for saugmenting the budget of the ..Amercanism commission to the ex- tent of $3,000, in order to carry on m extended program.
 Regarding the work of the Le- kion in the field of education dur ing 1884, it is declared that the most outstanding contribution ever made by the Legion to the schools of the nation resulted from the support of the Legion in helping keep schools going in the face of what Is called false-economy. This program of support was in cooper ation with the National Education Association, the report says. In addition, the Legion has contin- ued it's sponsorship of American Education Week. which will be November 5-11, inclusive. pro- gram founded by the Legion in 1921. During that week this year, public attention will be focused on Uuch subjects as the Ideals of democracy. Developing of New Types of Schooling, The Continu- Ance of Education Throughout Life, The Financing of Our Schools, The e Quickening of the Sense of Civil Responsibility, The Preparing of Youth for Industry or Other Call ing, and The Enriching of Char acter Through Education.
 Gave Many Medals
 Under the general heading of Education. Legion posts and Aux Hilary units presented 6,509 school award medals to the outstanding pupils of the graduating class of grammar schools. These medals were awarded to the boy or girl who received the highest total per- centage on the basis of honor. courage. scholarship. service and leadership for boys. and on cour- age, companionship. character, service and scholarship for girls.
 Other activities in which the Americanism Commission records outstanding accomplishments in- .clude citizenship courses for for aign-born: occupational introdue- kion for boys: the sponsorship bfk Boy Scouting in which the Le- wion sponsors more than 2,000