The united American : a magazine of good citizenchip., June 01, 1925, Page 50, Image 50

Page Fifty
THE UNITED AMERICAN
JUNE 1925
(Continued from Page Five.)
participate in the af­ outside of the State Department of Public Education.
For educational purposes a volunteer in a new field
fairs of government or mark an election ballot.
If this measurement is applied to America of thé of thought is invariably a menace until he has been
present day, a fearful indictment will be written against given a course of training.
Without specific provisions for educational quali­
those in high and low stations who have contributed to
the lowering of the standards by which America fications of teachers, a state authorized plan of Ameri­
canization should NOT be proposed or adopted.
mapped out her political course.
Unless the subject is clearly understood there might
Only a comprehensive adult educational plan will
raise our standard and place the proper value on citizen­ be danger of someone obtaining arbitrary power, with
potential possibilities, over a state department, os­
ship in America.
To promote understanding and interest in adult tensibly educational, which may be used for other pur­
education among the educators of America the Depart­ poses and other interests—political, racial or sectarian.
If every- state caused its publicly supported higher
ment of Adult Education was organized by the mem­
bers of the N. E. A. Through this channel the im­ educational institutions to incorporate in the teaching
portance of citizenship training is being given a personnel (at least for the summer course) a graduate
greater measure of serious uiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiv, i n the Americanization
consideration.
study, to instruct volun-
Educators
especially
t e e r an d professional
prepared for the training
public school teachers in
of America’s children and
such a course, the country
MOT MERELY in matters material, but in
the youth of our land are
would in no time become
1' things of the spirit.
answering the call every­
equipped, almost every­
Not
merely
in
science,
inventions,
motors,
where to teach citizenship
where,
with teachers who
and skyscrapers, but also in ideals, principles,
to the people of America.
would be able to qualify
character.
The education of the
for adult native and immi­
Not merely in the calm assertion of rights,
adult is the first step to
grant education service,
but
in
the
glad
assumption
of
duties.
Americanization.
When
wherever there is a
Not flaunting her strength as a giant, but
this movement gained
country school.
bending in helpfulness over a sick and
public approval, education­
An instructor in public
wounded
world
like
a
good
Samaritan.
al leaders in several states
education having taken
planned and caused to be
Not in splendid isolation, but in courageous
the Americanization
adopted measures for an
cooperation.
course,
acting under the
intelligent program of
Not in pride, arrogance, and disdain of other
immediate supervision of
Americanization.
Under
races and peoples, but in sympathy, love, and
the State Superintendent
the direction of thoroughly
understanding.
of Public Education, should
trained teachers and di­
Not in treading again the old, worn, bloody
have little difficulty in a-
rectors these plans were
pathway which ends inevitably in chaos and
rousing the people in every
carried out. Training in
disaster, but in blazing a new trail, along which,
county and community in
Americaniz ation — the
please God, other nations will follow, into the
any staté to organize such
study of racial background,
new Jerusalem where wars shall be no more.
educational activities ac­
the cultural values of old
Some day some nation must take that path
cording to the approved
world nations and how
— unless we are to lapse once again into utter
plans and in no time put to
they may be made useful in
barbarism — and that honor I covet for my
an end the blot of illiteracy
the process of training and
beloved America.
that is upon every com­
assimilating the adult im­
And so, in that spirit and with these hopes, I
munity, where illiterates
migrant, stand a r d i z e d
say with all my heart and soul, “America first.”
reside, until the last indi­
methods of teaching,
[From a Sermon preached by the Rt. Rev. Ashton
vidual within our country
social activities, etc.,—be­
Oldham, D. D., Bishop Coadjutor of Albany, in the
is able to speak, read and
came promptly a definite
National Cathedral, Washington, D. C m , on Sunday
write the language of
September seventh, 1924.]
study subject in several
America.
eastern and midwestern E
.
.
'
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Where the budget of
universities where it has
been grouped with courses in sociological instruction. the school district will not allow an increase in the day
There should be one specific thing in mind in this teacher’s salary, for adult instruction, two or three
connection—the intellectual advancement of the people evenings a week, at the school house or any other ap­
of native and foreign birth who have had no opportu­ pointed place, such training might, under community
nity to attend primary educational schools in America ; and school board supervision, be conducted under state
their careful training and preparation for American direction by any volunteer in the community who has
citizenship. Whether they reside in the cities or in the taken the special course of Americanization at one of
most remote rural communities, they should be given the state educational institutions.
In cases where the school board cannot make allow­
educational opportunity and at the same time be given
the same protection in the matter of education as our ance for two or three night-school periods, weekly, the
children. We would exercise great precaution against adults, particularly the immigrants, will in the major­
the granting of STATE POWER for their educational ity of cases be found only too willing to pay a pro rata
care to any untrained individual, group or department tuition to compensate the teacher.
AMERICA FIRST