The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-11-12
Character Building Em- phasized as Outstand- ing Essential

WaGerbury'S observance or Amerl' ban Education Week was opened Formerly yesterday afternoon witt D radio program on WATR at All with Mayor Frank Hayes delivering the principal address. Another speaker on the opening pro. gram was Miss Alice Walsh, super. visor of primary education in thC etty schools.
 A special series of American Edll- cation Week programs has been ar hanged for WATR, through the Waterbury Teachers association rhe programs will be heard eack hay this week at AIS D. m.
 Mayor Hayes yesterday made g plea for education that seeks tl build character, not one that eln- phasizes sfads'' He declared that discipline should be maintained ir education, if schools are to bring hny real benefits to those attend ng them.
 Miss Walsh described the prog less of education in Waterbury ind gave an account of the suc- pessful programs being carried on n the local schools.
 The address of Mayor Hayes fol- lows:
 Ladies and Gentlemen of the
 Radio Audience:
 It is my privilege once more to open Waterbury's part in Nation al Education Week. You will hear other speakers later who will present for your consideration matters connected with the actual work of education which they are better qualified to talk about than I am. ask for them your most thoughtful attention.
 The main topic to be treated over the air throughout the coun- try this week is, I understand, 'Education and Democracy" I cannot discuss that subject and I will tell you why.
 It is. unfortunate but true that all of us frequently confuse the words we hear with the real meaning they contain. Some years ago I was in England just about the time presidential campaign was beginning and while there met what I thought was an edu- cated Englishman. During the, course of our conversation he commented on the fact that thereA was a possibility of the United States becoming Ia republic. When I asked 2hiIm what gave him that impress Eion he said that such a move mont must be underway because pne of the candidates for the presidency was a republican I tried to explain that the term Republican meant member of Dne of our major political parties but he remained unconvinced and en all probability still thinks we hre still struggling to make the United States a republic.
 A fortnight ago a member of the board of aldermen of New York City was addressing public kathering. In the course of his re- narks he said, T hope to see the day when our speakers will never again refer to our country as a democracy. hope they will never again even refer to democratic principles"
 Democracy
 It developed upon investigation that the alderman did not mean what his words would indicate. He had come to the conclusion that by the use of the words democratic and democracy too much free advertising was being given to the opposition party and he therefore was insisting that the United States should not be spoken of as democracy but as republic.
 You will see at once why can- not take for the subject of my brief talk the main theme "Edu- cation and Democracy" I have an Idea to express on the first half of the theme but I must leave dem- ocracy out altogether if I do not want to be accused of making political speech.
 Webster's dictionary defines edu- cation as knowledge, skill, and development of character acquir- T ed by a prescribed course of study pr discipline"
 I realize that in the minds of many of our so-called educators this definition is not only obso- $ete but never should have been made. To them anything remotely Suggesting a prescribed course of Study is unthinkable and disci- 'pline is a word only to be found =In the vocabulary of despots.
 Children must be free to study or not to study, to study what 4they like and reject what they do hot like. They must be given the right of election" even when they are too young to spell the word. For a teacher to exercise discipline in any form whatever over chil- Riren is tyranny of the lowest or- ier.
 Illiteracy
 One does not have to be an edu- cator to realize that such theories, hnd they are applied all too often kn schools and colleges and uni- versities. are deadly dangerous for khe children upon whom they are
 
 NOW!