Evening star., 1939-10-28
Rule Of Reason
By Roosevelt
President Issues
Education Week
Message
BY the Associated Press.

by the Associated PreSS.
President Roosevelt charged the
Nations schools last night with the
responsibility of teaching the coming
generation to solve its problems In
the democratic way, by the rule of
reason" rather than by force.
In message for American Educa-
ton Week, which will be observed
November SILL, the President added
the hope that "out of our schools
may come generation which can
persuade bleeding world to sup.
plant force with reason"
Meanwhile, the Districts schools
were preparing to celebrate the
designated week with programs
which will include the dedication
OF one new school building-the
Chamberlain Vocational School
and probably will take in special
assemblies in many other school
buildings. New auditoriums at the
Bancroft, Monroe and Giddings
Schools will also be dedicated.
Supt. Frank w. Ballou has issued
circular to all school officers calling
attention to the observance and its
various themes and suggesting that
appropriate programs be planned
for each school. DR.. Ballou will
speak over the radio November Z
under the auspices of the High
School Teachers Association.
Special Broadcast.
At the same time the National
Education Association here, which
with the American Legion was re-
sponsible for the creation Of Amer
lcan Education week, has announced
special broadcast November 8 at
6 pm. from the House of Burgesses
at Williamsburg, Va. Raymond ].
Kelly, national commander of the
American Legion, will be guest
speaker. The broadcast will be over
the National Broadcasting Cos. net
work.
Theme of this years observation is
Education for the American Way
OF Life The observance is spo1-
SoASa Joi4tly Wy Vic ~. z. "A, Gllc
Legion, the United States Office of
Education and the National Con-
gress for Parents and Teachers.
The text of President Roosevelt's
message, which was addressed to
"the patrons, students and teachers
OF American schools follows:
Let us take note. as We again OBJ
serve American Education Week
throughout our Nation, that educa-
ton in our democracy teaches the
practice of reason in human affairs.
Il refer not only to education in
fair play on the athletic field and
on the debating platform; I include
education for tolerance through par
ticipation in full, free discussion in
the classroom. Practice in the scien-
tific method by our young people
may be more important than learn
Ing the facts of science.
Education for American WAY.
From kindergarten through COL
lege our schools train us to use the
machinery of reason, parliamentary
practice, the technique of co-opera-
ton, how to accept with good grace
the will of the majority. how to de-
fend by logic and facts our deep
convictions. This is education for
the American way of life.
Our schools also bring us face to
face with men and women with
whom we shall share life's struggles.
In their lives and ours struggle will
never be absent, the struggle Of
every individual against the stream
of life, the struggle and competition
among individuals, groups, institu-
tions, states and nations.
ITO the resolution of conflicts and
struggles of life. democracy supplies
no easy answer. The easy answer,
the quick but incomplete answer, is
force; tanks and torpedoes, guns
and bombs. Democracy calls in
stead for the application of the rule
of reason to solve conflicts. 1t calls
for fair play in canvassing facts. for
discussion and for calm and orderly
handling of difficult problems. These
vital skills we Americans must ac-
quire in our schools.
I'm our schools our coming gener-
ations must learn the most difficult
art in the world-the successful
management of democracy. Let us
think of our schools during this
American education week not only
as buildings of stone and wood and
steel; not only as places to learn
how to use hand and brain; but as
training centers in the use and ap-
plication of the rule of reason in
the affairs of men, And let us hope
that out of our schools may come q
generation which can persuade a
bleeding world to supplant force
with reason"
Brio. Gen. R. n. Noble