Paris High School - Arena Yearbook (Paris, IL)

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• I' ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ OUR SCHOOL

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13 JOHN R. MOSS, B.S., A.M. Su pcrintcndcnt Ltd ettLOt to With the rise of dictatorships in many of the great countries of the world, the thought of the security of our own democratic form of government naturally comes to our minds. Too many of us have assumed that our institutions, based upon the right of every citizen to participate directly or indirectly in their management, are part of the scheme of things in America. However, this idea is misleading. Democracy can- not be assumed to exist as the air we breathe. The laws which proclaim liberty do not assure it. Alexander Hamil- ton has nicely expressed this conception when he wrote, Whatever fine declarations may be inserted in any constitution respecting it (liberty), must altogether depend upon public opinion and on the general spirit of the people and of the government.” To contribute powerfully to the making of this opinion and this spirit is an undoubted task of civic instruction in the schools. No more important theme for the Arena could be selected than Education In a Democracy.” , oM