Salt Lake Telegram | 1915-09-05 | Page 11 | Community Civics Are Helpful to the Child

COMMUNITY CIVICS ARE HELPFUL TO 10 THE CHILD Interesting Bulletin Is Is Issued Issued Issued Is- Is sued by U. U S. S Department Department Department Depart Depart- ment of Education Community civics civic helps helpH the child to know the meaning of or his community community ity life not merel merely a a. lot of facts about it says a bulletin just issued by lIy the lie U. U S. S bureau of ot education This bulletin was prepared by four members of the committee on social duties of oC the National Education as association RB- RB sedation Dr J J. J Lynn Lyn Barnard school of pedagogy Philadelphia F F. W. W Carrier principal of Wilmington Mass high school Arthur W. W Dunn specialist in civic education U. U S S. S bureau of education and Clarence D D. Kin Kingsley sley of the Massachusetts board of oC education The sl significance of ot the term community com corn civics' civics does no lIe in its geographical geographical geo geo- graphical implication sn says B the bulletin bulletin bulle bulle- tin but bul applies this point of ot view to the national community as well welt Emphasis Is laid upon tho the local community com corn because it Is the one with which every citizen child-citizen has most intimate relations and for Cor that reason reat rea rca t son n it i Is easier for him to enter into actual operation co-operation with It it The authors of the bulletin malic clear that the term citizenship is used broadly The good citizen they say ay is a person who habitually conducts himself with proper regard for the welfare of ot the community of ot which he is a member and is 19 active and amid intelligent in his operation co-operation with his fellow members to that end Community civics according to the bulletin should be he taught in the elementary ele ele- dc- dc grades rades of or the public schools and should be continued in lic a more comprehensive course in the first year ear of the high school Man Many pupils do donot donot donot not enter high school at all and those who should already have begun gun to acquire habits of ot civic thought and amid action netlon The greater maturity of the high school pupil makes possible the thede de development of pha phases es of the subject that are impracticable in the elementary elementary ele ele- ele- ele mentar school Many courses in civics fail the authors authol's think because the they fix Ix at attention attention at- at upon the rr of government gov gov- rather tl th tl p upon the elements elements ele ele- ments of oC 4 of welfare for which government exists They fa familiarize fit fit- the pupil with the manipulation manipulation lation of the social machinery without without with with- out showing him the Importance of the social ends end tom for wl which ch this machinery machin machin- eI cry ery exists A lesson in community civics Is not complete unless it leaves the pupil a sense of ot his responsibility and results in right action To attain these ends is perhaps the most difficult and delicate task lask of the tho teacher Much civic instruction declares declaims the bulletin has been ineffective because be- be causo cause it has left the pupil to work out for himself the application of general I principles The translation of principles principles prin prin- ciple-a ciple into conduct is more difficult than the comprehension of ot the principles principles prin prin- themselves While hUe we urge urse that the citizen should engage In these activities as far as opportunity offers It is necessary to cultivate a motive sufficiently stron strong to lead him actually to d do so 50 This motive is to tobe tobe tobe be found in the common interest which Includes his 1118 interest at least until such time as an Ideal altruism may lead to the placing of the interest of ot others and of ot the community above I the Interest of ot self