The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-05-26

patriotic, loyal and determined
teachers who have stood like stone
walls against such attempts to in
flame and confuse the minds Of our
school children. The majority of
the school teachers here in North
Carolina have not only endeavored
to combat such subversive doc
trines, but they have with patriotic
fidelity endeavored to impress up
on our children the advantages Of
American citizenship. For such 10y
atty and fidelity to the cause of free
government and a better citizenship,
every patriotic citizen in this state
is indeed grateful.
BY opposing in our schools IN
fiuences which we believe are sub
versive and un-American, there is
no effort to keep from our school
Children the fact with respect to
other governments, evevn though
such government may adopt forms
that are repugnant to our concept of
good government. We believe that
proper comparison of our form of
government with that of the dicta-
tor can and will only result in fin
er appreciation of the advantages of
American citizenship. It is import
ant that every boy and girl in
America shall fully appreciate the
fact that we have here in this coun-
try constitutional form of govern
ment whereby every citizen is guar
.anteed the right of trial by jury;
the right to worship God in accord
ance with the dictates of ones own
conscience; the right of free speech
and free press; the right of assem-
bly, and petition and above all that
we are guaranteed the continued ex-
istence of a representative form of
government, whereby we are privi-
legged to elect, without coercion, and
by means of free ballot, those who
represent us in the administration
of our government. It is also well
for the children of this country to
be informed that all such rights
and privileges of citizenship are
now being denied the people of
Europe who have adopted the dicta-
tor form of government. A finer
appreciation of the privileges of
American citizenship can only result
from a fair comparison with the
lack of such privileges of citizenship
in other countries.
While the solution to the problem
of illiteracy devolves primarily up
on the schools and while the bur-
den of holding before our children
the privileges and the responsible
ties of American citizenship rests
heavily upon them, there are still
other phases of our youth problem
which require the most serious con-
sideration by those charged with
the responsibility of instruction in
our schools.
There never was a time in the
history of our country when crime
appeared to attract youth so much
as it does today. The youthful COM
plexion of our prison population is
such as to cause serious concern to
every good citizen of our dear
state. During the years 1888 and
1884 prison statistics show that
more than five thousands children of
school age were placed behind pris-
on bars by the State of North Car
DINA. Each two years period since
that time has shown an increase
in numbers. Such figures are ap-
palling. They call for constructive
action on the part of every agency
charged with responsibility of good
government and the promotion of
good citizenship here in our state.
The great problem that confronts
our state in this connection today
is not one of crime detection. The
whole problem will be solved if we
can in some way thoroughly instill
into the lives and thought of the
youth of our state the fundamental
principles of good citizenship. These
principles are those of honesty, of
industry and clean living. Youth
can be instructed and guided along
these lines. 1t is in the performance
of such task that we now look to
our schools to function in a more
effective way than any other agen-
cy.
In the great task of leading the
youth of our state to higher planes
of citizenship the schools, however,
must have the aid and cooperation
of the parents, as well as that of
all good citizens. The schools can
not be expected to carry the entire
burden. The American Legion is
not unmindful of its obligation and
responsibility in this connection.
The Legion is thus engaged in spon-