Evening star., 1941-11-02
Citizenship Group
Reports Progress
In Civic Education
Catholic University Stoff
Directs Publication
Of Courses Of Study

Progress which civic education
has made during the last year is
reflected in the second annual re-
port of the Commission on American
Citizenship, made public yesterday
by the Most Rev. Joseph M. Cor
rigan, its president, and Dir. Rob-
ert H. COnnery, director of the Or
ganization.
The commission was created III
1889 with a membership of lis
American citizens of all faiths who
Joined in the work of fostering good
citizenship. twenty-five new men,
bers were added during the year.
The program of the commission
includes the preparation of courses
of study and textbooks to stimulate
thinking and discussion of the prob
lens of civic education, to supple
ment and develop the moral con-
seriousness of all students from the
parochial school grades through
their academic work in institutions
of higher learning. The prepara-
tion and publishing OF the series is
being directed by the professional
staff of Catholic University, with
the cooperation and active assist
ance of educators and civic leaders
from the various walks of life in
cluded in the commission member
ship. Periodical material for chill
dren, a college manual series, study
club outlines, radio programs and
pulpit material all touching on the
subject of inculculating sound traits
of character and principles of good
citizenship are included in the COM
missions program.
Need of Moral Guidance.
"Never before have Americans
been in greater need of moral guld-
ance, never before have they had
fewer standards to govern deci-
sions." said Bishop Corrigan in the
commissions report. Our younger
generation has been. allowed to come
to maturity deprived of moral safe
guards which are still vital enough
in their elders to sustain the thought
of dependence on God and a conSe-
quent unwillingness to find a ma
tional remedy in violence. Youth
today comes to manhood morally
unequipped to meet the problems
of vigorous citizenship.
In America, national defense,
therefore, must do more than merely
provide tanks and guns, battle
ships and airplanes There must be
a rebuilding and revitalizlng of the
moral fiber of our people so that they
may steer their way through this
revolutionary era along channels of
peaceful change"
Debaters Accept Freshmen.
The Shahan Debating Society, or
eanized during the rectorship of the
late Most Rev. Thomas j. Shahan
and for years one of the leading
cultural organizations at the uni
verify, has taken into membership
a large number Of the freshmen
class and plans a series of frosh
debates with other colleges Of Wash
tngton during the winter. Under
the leadership of President Yer
non Won Drehle, a senior from
High Point, N. c., who was one of
the star debaters on las years
team, the society also plans num-
ber of intercollegiate matches with
schools on the Atlantic seaboard
during January and February.
In preparation for these engage
ments the Shahan members are be-
ing tutored by the Rev. Patrick j..
O'Connor, professor of eloquence on
the university faculty, who is mod
orator of the society, and the Rev.
John H. Schultz. professor of hom-
iletics and sacred eloquence of the
preachers institute of the university.
The society meets each Monday
night to engage in eXtemporaneous
speaking and participate in planned
debates.