SUNY at Fredonia - Fredonian Yearbook (Fredonia, NY)

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JUNE THE NORMAL LEADER 1918 and intelligently and who act on their' own convictions. The boys and girls of otu' schools constitute the source from which a thinking citizenship of this kind must be developed. ln their hands rests the future destiny of the state. All countries recognize the duty of the state to provide for the education of its royal families. Every child of the United States belongs to the royal family. Each is growing up to become a gov- ernor in a self-governing nation. So it is the duty of the State not only to enable him to become fit for this citizenship but to compel the parents and employers of the community to respect the right of the children to such an education. U One of the lacts revealed by the war is the serious condition of illiteracy in this country. Secretary Lane says that the condition is one of urgency upon which the country should. act. It is a sur- prise to many of our citizens to find that we have a great body of our own people, nve and one-halt millions who cannot read or write the language of this country. Of these a million and a half are native born. Since 'April lst, last year, forty thousand men have been drafted into the army who cannot sign their names, cannot rea.d orders post- ed. on camp bulletin boards, cannot study their manual of arms, and cannot understand the messages of the Signal Corps in the time of battle. Vlfhat a hindrance and what a retardation this means to the -training camps alone. Americans have long prided themselves on the high intelligence of this country. But we must awaken to the fact that here are cer- tain conditions of illiteracy to be remedied before we can boast of our intelligence. But how are we to meet this situation? Insteadot a majority of states with compulsory education laws we must have all states with such measures. Besides the children subject to these laws there are ,the adult aliens in our land who must be assimilated. America has been called the melting pot ot the nations yet the process of melting has not been satisfactorily accomplished. Can we gather together people of diderent races, creeds and customs into one social unit? lf not we fail as a nations The land of liberty must not: become the landi of ignorance. The cause of Russials disaster is the ignorance of her people, eighty per cent of whom cannot read or write or par- ticipate in her public aHa.irs. NfVe feel that the war which has cast 'all nations into a melting

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JUNE THE NORMAL LEADER 1918 ' i Bbucatlon jfor Eemocracy Salutatortg Florence L. Slaght Another class. is assembled to offer its last greeting to the friends, teachers, and fellowstudents of this Normal school. As we meet tonight it seems alvery brief time since We were juniors wit- nessing the classnight of our predecessors. Then we did not think that one more turn of the wheel of fate would place us in the self- same position. NVhcn. the Roman gladiators were assembled in the arena it was their custom to address the multitude in this manner, t'We about to die, salute you. If I might take a liberty with the gladiators saluta- tion, I would say, We about to live and to do, salute you. T outhe gladiators it did not seem hard to- encounter the tigers, lions and wild beasts. They entered upon their tasks with brave hearts full of ho-pe to win the laurels. So it is with us as we meet for this lasti Welcome. VVe do not go out to take our places in the worlds arena with 'saddened hearts, but as the gladiators with brave: hopes for the future. We, the members of this: graduating class, have before us the greatest opportunity for service and patriotism, that any class have ever had: Never before has the world been so revolutionized as by the present war. So vast and stupendous is it that it in- fluences all lives, the lowly as well as the higher classes of society. To some it brings only dismay, to some sacrifice and sor- row, and to others inspiration-while to us it means a challenge. Upon the teacher as well as on the man in the trenches rests the solution of the great problems confronting the world. President VVilsown,s. famous statement, Toi ,make the' world safe for democracy, has become a popular slogan but to us who serve at home belongs the duty of making democracy' safe for the world. We ask ourselves when is democracy safe for a nation? Only when that nation is composed of citizens who think seriously

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JUNE THE NORMAL LEADER 1918 pot will pour them forth into a new mould. Democracy will re- sult as people from all races, creeds, and stations of life stand shoulder to shoulder in battle. But while war is in progress by establishing a common ground between Americans and foreigners a great step toward reconstruction can be taken. Through factory schools, through night schoo-ls, through children in the day schools the teachers must do their part in bringing the people together. It has been said that we need not fear-the racial. future of our country so long as die child of European parents loves the flag, longs to become a voter and boastsof the fact that he -is an 1477'Zq61'iCCZ'7l. In ways such as these the teachers, if they but realize it, have within them the power and opportunity to build up a better nation. In the keeping of the public schools are many of the things most es- sential to our life as a nation. lt is the pupils of the schools of to- day who are to establish the world anew. Dr. -Finley brought back from France this message. Do not let the needs of the hour, how- ever heavily they fall upon men and women of the day, permit neg- lect of the defenses of tomorrow. May teachers give some strength to those defenses through the best instruction of their boys and girls. The pupils should be taught not to fear hard work, to re- joice in effort, to practice self-control and to appreciate the value of civic character and public spirit. In the use of self-control the child not only feels the desire to do right but he has the will to keep him from doing wrong. Civic character and public spirit must grow out of an unselfish dealing with all men,'enemy as well as friend, and an adherence to a principal though at a sacrifice. VVe as a class of teachers should inculcate these qualities in every student. VVhile the soldiers are fighting for world demcracy' the schools should make that democracy lasting. They also serve who only stand and teach. The principles and spirit of the new democracy must be ftaught or else in the hands of an ignorant people such democracy will die In this we find our challenge. Wfhether it be met courageously and hopefully depends upon us as individual teachers. ln our own way We must create the spirit in our pupils to transmit this country, notonly not less, but greater, better, and more beautiful than it was transmitted to them. Thus we shall each do our part that the govern- ment of the people, by the people, and for' the pupil shall not perish from the earth. ' ,I Again, we bid you welcome. Y