Evening Star Newspaper, February 23, 1926, Page 12

COOLIDGE UPHOLDS FAITHINEDUCATION Declares School and Church Are Corner Stones of F American Prosperity. President Calvin Coolidge, speaking hefore a visible audience of 6,000 out- standing educators gathered in the Washington Auditorium and an in- visible audience of countless thou- sands all over the country, last night credited America’s prosperity and se- curity to the school and church in a patriotic address in which he extoll- ed George Was axample of ch: ‘Our ‘count President said, “our Government fs se- cure. But that prosperity and that security flow from the school and the ‘hurch. They are the product of the The text of President Coolidge’s speech last night before the depart- ment of superintendence of the Na- tional Education Assoclation follows in full: Ladies and Gentlemen— It is doubtful if any one outside of certain great religious teachers ever 80 thoroughly impressed himself on the heart of humanity as has George Washington. No figure in America has been the subject of more memo- rial tributes and more unstinted pratse. And yet the subject never seems to be exhausted and the public interest never seems to be decreased. The larger our experience with affairs of the world, the more familiar we be- come with his life and teachings, the more our admiration enlarges, and the greater grows our estimation of his wisdom, He represented the mar- velous combination of the soldler, the pdtriot and the statesman. In the character of each he stands supreme. As a brave soldier he won the Rev- olutionary War. As an unselfish pa- triot he refused to use the results of that victory for his own benefit, but bestowed them all on his fellow coun- trymen. As a wise statesman, gather- ing around him the best talent of his mind and the soul. They are the re- sult of the character of the American people. . L . mualice, uncharitableness, class jealousies, race prejudices and international enmities are not real- fties,” the President reminded the edu- cators. “They do not abide. They are only the fictions of unenlightened comprehension. Those who preach them are not safe advisers and not sound leaders. Nothing but discord and disaster at home and abroad can result from following these policies. View of Washington. “Washington was the antithesis of all this. He viewed the right as a sal principle to be applied, not to_ himself, but to others; not to his own State, but to the Na- tion; not only to his own countrymen, but to foreigners. There was ing about him of the small Ame Dr. Frank W. Ballou, president of the department of superintendence, in introdueing the President to his fel- low educators last night, “This assemblage comprises prac- tically all of the school officials in di- rective educational positions through- out the country. These officers are in direct contact with the great body of nearly 800,000 teachers of the United States. “These officers are responsible for the supervision of the dally education of more than 25,000,000 school chil- dren in the public schools of the Na- tion. Conditions Have Changed. “Conditions have materially changed since ast met in Washington 18 vears ago. Not only has the depart- ment increased in size, but the impor- tance of our educational meetings has increased enormously, until today the meeting of the department of super- intendence is considered the greatest educational gathering held anywhere in the world. “We, the superintendents here as- sembled, are profoundly appreciative of the consideration which has been shown us by the speakeér of the eve- ning in honoring us with his presen and In addressing us on this occasion. The program was preceded by a Navy Band concert, Charles Benter directing. FOREMAN TRAINING COURSES ARE URGED Speakers Say They Are Essential to Vocational Education Program. The training of foremen should be made a definite part of any program for vocational education, Thomas Dia~ mond, associate professor of vocation- al education. University of Michigan, told the Department of Vocational Education at its meeting this after- noon in the American Red Cross Building. Such trainin; the speaker said, is necessary “since the local school au- thorities are responsible for all edu- cational work in the community; since full measure of success in any pro- m for vocational education is pos- sible only through the active co-opera- tion of the foreman and since the foreman needs and desires training.” “The foreman as a member of the community has a right to demand that his desire for training be met, therefore the training of foremen is a direct responsibility of the city school authorities, and, as should be included as an integral part of the program for vocational education. “The success of any plan for ap- prenticeship training, co-operative training, vocational guidance or part- time education depends almost entire- Iy upon the willingness to co-operate of the people with whom the workers come in contact. This is particularly true in regard to the foreman, the man to whom the workers report di- rectly, and upon whose aid and advice the director of vocational education depends. M. M. Proffitt, specialist in_indus- trial education. United States Bureau of Education, discussed the topic “Re- lating Foreman Training Programs to the Program of Vocational Education in a City cipal Fra timore, and W. Frank Clark of Cen- tral High School, this city, also spoke. TWO FRATERNITIES HOLD DINNERS WITH MEETING Kappa Phi Kappa and Phi Sigma Sigma Give Banquets in Con- nection With Convention. Two fraternity dinners were given last night in connection with the con- vention of the Department of Super- itendence of the National Education Association. A dinner of the Kappa Phi Kappa Fraternity at the Willard Hotel was presided over by Prof. R. H. Jordon of Cornell University, na- tional president, and 9 of the 18 chap- ters_were represented. Dr. Charles A. Foos, superintendent of schools emeritus of Reading, was the guest o1 honor at a dinner of the Phi Sigma Sigma at the Raleigh Hotel, at which he was elected a life member of the fraternity, which is composed of the secretaries of State teacher associa- tions. The following new alumni members were_admitted to Kappa Phi Kappa: Dr. E. L. Silver, president of the Normal School of Plymouth, N. H.; J. E Mallonee, principal of the high school of Hopewell, Va.; L. Snyder, supervising principal schools of Mauch Chunk, Pa., and Paul Al- bert of Chicago. The Colgate Alumni Association gave a dinner at the City Club last night, at which Robert W. Moore, head of the German department of Colgate University, was the guest of honor and principal speaker. ——— Fire in Drug Warehouse. discovered in the drug warehouse of Dr. Redmond Mayo, 3600 Twelfth street northeast, about 10 o'clock last night. The flames before the arrival of firemen, and damage to the building and stock was estimated at $1,500. wisin of the Bke was not determined, Fire was b ) 2 time, he created the American Repub- | lic. "All the increasing years only re- veal to us how universally great he was. If to set a mark upon the minds of men which changes the whole course of human events is teaching, then Washington ranks as a prince of teachers. World Better Today. The world is not the same as that into which he was born on that Feb- ruary day In 1732. It is a better world. The stately march of clviliza- tion which has since advanced so far, has proceeded in a course which he marked out. The imposing edifice of human progress which has since been raised so high rests to a large extent upon the foundations which he wrought. To those who wish more civilization and more progress there must be a_ continuing determination to hold to that course and to maintain those foundations. If any doubt what benefit these have been, they have but to compare the present state of America especially, or even of the rest of the world, with what it was when Washington was born. History seems to indicate that he led and directed a transformation that was growing with an increasing strength over western civilization. The fires of the Middle Ages had burned out. The reaction from the days of Cromwell had run its course in England. The glory of the old re- gime in France was declining. The power of Spain was shifting to other hands. But while the old was passing the new had not vet begun. Material- ly and spliritnally, things were at a low ebb in the Old World. It has been described as a time “when poetry sank into dull prose; when philosophy rarely soared above the material or the purely logical; when the only earnestness existing took the direction of greed or self-indulgence; when the public service was corrupt: when public morals were licentious an when common language was profane. Finances Disordered. The finances of the people were in a disordered condition. It was dis- tinctly a transition period in America. The early settlers who had come from the old country had passed away. very large proportion of the inhab- itants of the Colonies, estinated by some as nearly 90 per cent, were na- tive born. The .ploneer crusading fervor was gone. The new awakening had not come. The attachment to those institutions that are represented by an order of nobility was breaking down. Both in the Old World and in the New the anclent aristocracy was crumbling; but the modern democracy had not yet arisen. An era was ap- proaching which was to give less and less attention to kings and more and more attention to the people. In that era Washington was to be the heroic figure. No doubt the most powerful influ- ence which was working to establish the new order was the revival of re- ligion. This movement had been started in England by John Wesley and George Whitefield in 1729. It was distinctly an effort to reach the com- mon people. They went down among those who were not otherwise reached, preaching the gospel. In America, Jonathan Edwards led two revival movements, culminating in 1742. Whitefield came to this country and preached to great congregations dur- ing this period, and the followers of ‘Wesley sent Bishop Asbury here in 1771. These religious activities were distinctly popular movements. They rested on the theory that every human soul was preeious. They resulted in a leveling process; but it was not a leveling down, it was a leveling up. They raised every person that came under their influence to a higher con- ception of life. A new recognition of spiritual worth gave to all humanity an increased importance. Education Takes Stage. Another very predominating fnflu- ence, supplementing religion and flow- tng from it, was education. This movement was not new in the Colonies, but it increased in volume after 1732. It has been claimed that the Reformed Dutch Church of New York founded an academy in 1633 and that the Boston Latin School was established in 1635. In the same yvear Boston took action in a town meeting to sup- port a school, and in Connecticut and Rhode Island schools were opened within a few vears. In Philadelphia, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina, and other Colonies, early action was taken to provide schools, but the effort was not fol- lowed up so assiduously as it was in New England, where the clergy were very active in its promotion. This in- fluence was seen in the first compul- sory school law in America, which passed in Massachusetts in 1647. *'s * it being one chief proj- ect of the old deluder Satan to Keep men from the knowledge of the Scrip- tures,” the preamble recited, the Gen- eral Court ordered that each township “after the Lord hath increased them to the number of 50 householders shall then forthwith appoint one within ‘every town to teach all such children to write and read.” Towns of 100 familles were required to have a grammar school and a teacher able to prepare youths for the university. Penalties were fixed for the violation of this law. In 1732 there were already three colleges in, America—Harvard, Wil- llam and Mary, and Yale—with a com- bined attendance which is estimated at about 276 students. Colleges Grew Rapldly. The intellectual awakening that went on between that time and_ the opening of ‘the Revolutionary War could not be more plainly revealed than by the establishment during that period of only a little over 40 years of no less than 10 additional colleges. Then were laid the begin- nings, of. such ,great institutions_as Pennsylvania, Princeton, .Columbia, Brown and Dartmouth. When it is remembered that a knowledge of the truth has always been the maker of freedom, this remarkable quickening of the religious and intellectual life of the Colonies in these years just prior to the Declaration of Independ- ence becomes of enormous signifi- cance. Rightly considered, it would have been an ominous warning to the British government that America had long since hegun to think for it- | self and- unless justly treated would soon begin to act for itself. While this intellectual and spiritual awaken- ing was taking place during the youth and matwing years of MWashington, -}, TEXT OF PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS BEFORE N. E. A. CONVENTION HERE | managed with success. | geometry and mathematics (with due A |lese in 1788, he benefited by it not so much from taking part in it as in later directing the results of it. Although he lived in one of the most populous and per- haps richest of the Colonies, popular education around him was still un- developed. Newspapers were almost unknown in the New World and permanent and regular lines of u-m;lar portation did not exist. About the only regular visitors to His Colony were forelgn tobacco traders, dealers in fur and peddlers. The clergy were almost the only professional _cl.usd The people were very largely engage in agriculture. At the early age of 3, however, Washington was placed under the in- struction of a tutor, who seems to have confined his teaching to the most rudimentary subjects. When he was 11 another man-took charge of his education and began to fnstruct him in the fundamentals of the forms of business. Some of his copy books of that day still are in existence. There is evidence that he was taught some' Latin, but his preliminary education was virtually completed when he was 18 years old. Paul Lelcester Ford ys that: s""‘The end of Washington’s school days left him a good cipherer, a bad speller, and a still worse grammarian; but fortunately the termination of in- struction did not by any means end his education.” Studied Surveying. After this he studied surveying and pursued that occupation for several years. This was an exacting calling, training him in accuracy. But when he was 15 he came into close contact with Lord Fairfax, a cultured gentle- man of 60 years, who had a consider- able library. His diaries of that pe- riod show him reading English history and essays in the Spectator. But these early opportunities constituted only the beginning of his educatlon, which he continued in one form or another almost to the end of his days. His experience, his power of observa- tion and absorption finally overcome this lack of early training, so that in his later days his writings, correct in form and taste, adequately revealed the great strength of character which he had developed. Perhaps because of his own early experience he was the more solicitous for the members of his family. To one who was charged with the care of John Washington he wrote as follows: “In respect to the kinds and manner of his study I leave it wholly to your better judgment. Had he begun, or rather pursued, his study of the Greek language, I should have thought it no bad acquisition, but whether if he ac- quire this now he may not forego some useful branches of learning is a matter worthy of consideration. To be acquainted with the French tongue 1s become part of polite education, and to a man who has the prospect of mixing in a large circle, absolutely necessary. Without arithmetic, the common affairs of life are not to be The study of regard to the limits of it) is equally advantageous. The principles of phi- losophy, morals, etc., I should think a very desirable knowledge for a gentle- man.” His practical Interest in education in his later life was further manifest by his accepting the position of a chancellor of Willlam and Mary Col- ‘Was Religious Conformist. In religlon he conformed to the practice of his time. It is related that he was baptized when 2 months old and probably attended church reg- ularly until he was 16. From that time until 1759 he was largely en- gaged in expeditions. After his mar. riage and settlement at Mount Ver- non he was made vestryman in two parishes, for one of which he was in- strumental In erecting a building. ‘While he was not a constant church attendant, he was a constant con- tributor and always gave respectful consideration to the religious beliefs of others. He was tolerant in all things. The mature opinion of Washington upon the importance of the intelleo- tual, moral and religious forces of the Nation is not only revealed by his ac- tions but is clearly set forth in his statements. He looked upon these at- tributes as the foundation which sup- ported the institutions of our republic. This opinion was most forcibly ex- pressed in his farewell address, where he said: “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, re- liglon and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the plous man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all thelr connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation de- sert the oaths, which are the instru. ments of investigation in courts of Justice? And let us with caution in- dulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Praised Religion. ““Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of pecullar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to ex- pect that national morality can pre. vail in exclusion of religious prin- ciple. 'Tis substantially true that virtue or morality is a necet spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who that is a sincere friend to it can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the founda- tion of the fabric?” The policies of Washington always had a national outlook. He warned his country against sectionalism. He promoted Internal improvements cal- culated to bring together different parts of the Nation. When he came to the consideration of the problem of training the youth of the country he was not only in faver of education for its own sake, but sought to make it contribute to the national spirit. Belleving thoroughly in American ideals and In the American Union, it early occurred to him that a national university would be beneficial both by the power it would have to present the principles on which the republic was founded and the power it would have to resist provincialism by creat. 3‘.& a tx;rum {or the ;‘x’ghange of {deals rough a student body drawn all guarters of the Nation. e Volced Thought Early. It 1s said that he expressed this thought soon after he took command of the Continental Army at Cam- bridge. He referred to it in a general \illscusslol; cl'ztl the subject of education n one of his early messages to Con‘greu. lnl vlvhich he said: the “Nor am I less persuaded that yor will agree with me in the opinion t{:n‘: there is nothing which can better de- serve your .patronage than the pro- motion of &clence " and literature. Knowledge 1s, In every country, the surest basis of happiness. In one in which the measures of government receive their impressions so immedi- ately from the sense of the community as In ours it is proportionably essen- tial. To the security of a free con- stitution it contributes in various ‘ways—by convineing those who are in- terested with the public administra. tion that every valuable end of gov- ernment is bhest answered by the en- lightened confidence of the people and by teaching the people themselves ti know and 1o value their own rights; te dlacwrn epd provida egatngt o vasions of them; to distinguish be- tween oppression and the necessary exercise of lawful authority, between brethren, proceeding from a disregard to their convenience, and those result- ing from the Inevitable exigencies of soclety; to discriminate the spirit of Uberty from that of licentiousness, cherishing the first and avolding the last; and uniting a speedy but tem perate vigilance against encroach- ments with an inviolable respect for the laws. “Whether this desirable object will be best promoted by affordl seminaries of learning already estab. lished, by the institution of a national university, or by any other expedients, will be worthy of a place in the de- liberations of the legislaturs Quotes Washington’s View. And in his farewell address he again uttered this same thought as follows: “Promote, then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opin- fon, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.” He urged it more strongly in a let- ter to the Commissioners of the Dis- trict of Columbia in 1795, and finally he declared in his will— “That as it has always been a source of serious regret with me to see the youth of these United States sent to foreign countries for the pur- pose of education, often before their minds were formed or they had im- bibed any adequate ideas of the happi- ness of their own, contracting too fre- quently not only habits of dissipation and extravagance, but principles un- friendly to republican government and to the true and genuine liberties of mankind, which thereafter are rarely overcome. JFor these reasons it has been:my ardent wish to see a plan devised on a liberal scale which would have a tendency to spread sys- tematic ideas through all parts of this rising empire, thereby to do away local attachments and State prejudices as far as the nature of things would, or indeed ought to admit, from our national councils. I sources and opportunities lo- cated in the Capital City. The Fed- eral Government, however, has not been remiss in the support of ad- vanced learning and of vocational training, for which it has appropriated more than $90,000,000 in the last 85 years, while for general educational purposes it has donated about 95,000, 000 acres of the public lands. Precepts Followed. The country at large has not failed to follow the precepts of Washingtn. From institutions of higher learning in existence at the time of his birth the number has grown to 913, with a total enrollment of over 664,000 students and over 56,000 teachers, an endowment of nearly $815,000,000 and a property value of $1,000,000,000. Our elementary and secondary schools have expanded until they provide for more than 26,000,000 pupils and re- quire over 822,000 teachers. In 1912 the total amount expended yearly for all educational purposes was about $706,000,000. This has been increasing with great rapidity, until in 1924 it reached $2,400,000,000. The source of this enormous expenditune, so far as the of a university in a central part of the United States to which the youth of fortune and talents from all parts thereof might be sent for the com- etion of their education in all the ranches of polite literature In arts and sclences—in acquiring knowledge in the principles of politics and good government—and (as a matter of infi- nite importance in my judgment) by associating with each other and form- ing friendships in juvenile years, be enabled to free themselves in a proper. degree from those local prejudices and habitual jealousies which have just been mentioned and which when car- rled to excess are never falling sources of disquietude to the public mind and pregnant of mischievous consequences to this country.” Called Upon Government. And he therefore made a bequest to the National Government on con- dition that it co-operate in carrying out his wish for a national university. His desire for the increase of knowl- edge was further elaborated and re- iterated in his will. In that instru- ment he even provided for educating the slave children which he set free. He made bequests to two academies public money s concerned, is almost entirely from the local and State gov- ernments. This represents the result which has been secured by the carrying out of some of the most important policles of our first President. It should be besides that for the founding of a na- [noted that these are the policies of tional university. Although the Con-|peace. They are based on a desire gress falled to co-operate, so that this |for intellectual and moral enlighten. wish was never carrled into effect as | ment. They are the only means by he had contemplated it, yet the City |which misunderstandings, suspicions, of Washington has been made the seat | hatreds and wars can finally be eradl- of no less than 10 colleges and uni-|cated from the earth. They are the versities, and the larger institutions | foundation of order, of law and of an all over our country are more national | advancing civilization, It is these ele- than local in their precepts and teach- [ments of domestic tranquillity and ing. foreign harmony that Washington While there has been agitation last- | helped to build into the structure of ing almost up to the present day for is no other » natlonal university. if the {dea ever h they can rest. prevadls it will probably not be an in- Prai i stitution devoted to the regular col- o8 Vil SHiows: legiate courses, but one for post-{ Envy, malice, uncharitableness, graduate and original research work, |class jealousies, race prejudices and for which there are such abundant !international enmitles are not real- HE PENN ELECTRIC CO., damaged during the Capital Wall Paper Co. fire, must dispose of their entire stock to facilitate the papering, painting and re- decorating of their entire building. Drastic Reductions on Entire Stock Here’s an opportunity to save real money—Every fixture and sample included all at prices far below their real value. “Real Bar- gains” you'll say. .Come to this sale early Wednesday if you really want to save on Fixtures. 3 Light Showers 33.49 Completely Wired Floor Lamps and Values Up to $35 45 upto 31 350 NO C.0.D.s NO CHARGES PENN ELECTRIC CO. 911 Seventh Street N. W. : Opposite Goldenberg’s Department Store ities. They do not abide. They are only the fictions of unenlightened com- prehension. Those who preach them are not safe advisers and not sound leaders. Nothing but discord and dis- ter at home and abroad can result from following these policies. Wash- ington was the antithesis of all this. His writings and teachings breathe a higher, broader purpose, a more in- spired leadership. No man clung more tenaciously to what he believed was right, or was prepared to make greater sacrifices in its support. But he viewed the right as a universal principle, to be applied not only to himself but to others, not only to his own State but to the Natlon, not only to his own countrymen but to foreign- ers. There was nothing about him of the small American. He belleved our own political insti- tutions were superior to those of other countries, but he never preached ha- tred of all things foreign and he made large concessions in the negotiation of treaties for the settiement of disputed questions which were for the advan- tage of furelgn natlons. He believed that obligations were mutual; that what we expected to receive we should affairs. He was surpassingly great in all of that. But ho was very much more. He wished to see his country not only materfally prosperous and politically successful, but beyond that, and above it, he wished to see the ir tellectual, moral and epiritual life of the people developed. This is the side of Washington to which too li tle attention has been given. He ald not fall during his lifetime to give the most painstaking thought to thesa subjects. In his farewell address he solemnly warned his countrymen that these are the foundations on which rest all American institutions. More than that, they are the foundations on which all civilization must rest It 18 as an expounder of these great principles that he performed the great est service for the world. Our country has prospered, our Gov ernment 1s secure. But that prosper ity and that security flow from the school and the church. They are the roduct of the mind and the soul. hey are the resuit of the character of the American people. Through and through, Washington Is the great ex ample of character. He sought to br stow that heritage upon his country be ready to give, both in the fleld of | We shall fail in our estimation and citizenship and in the larger domain of international relations. He clung to the realities. That was his great- ness. Washington has been known as one of the most practical of leaders. He was not emotional. He was possessed of that broad comprehension of a situ- ation which made his judgment emi- nently sound. With the possible ex- ception of the fleld of Monmouth, when disobedlence to his orders amounting almost to treachery was losing the day, history always reveals him as calm, cool and collected. He always knew what he was doing. He was not a sentimentalist. But he was a man capable of deep and abiding affection and of exalted and Inspiring ideals. He loved his country with an abounding devotion. He lavished upon it a wealth of genius. We are wont to think of him as a military commander and a civil ad- ministrator—as a man of public . Clipping from The Washington Post Feb 16th 2 and 3 Light Bronze Statues 37-98 and 38.98 Regular $18 Value NO DELIVERIES understanding of him unless we r: member that during his lifetime he helped to build a place of religlous worship; in his will he provided for in stitutions of learning, and in his fare well address he emphasized the spirit ual value of life. But what he did was even more eloquent than what he sald. He was a soldler, a patriot, . statesman; but in addition to all thes« he was a great teacher. SR . W. C. Hill Will Is Found. The will of William Corcoran Hil’ dated May 14, 1894, has been filed for probate. The document was found in a safe deposit box of the Nationa! Savings and Trust Company by Depu ty Register of Wills Sheil. It gives the entire estate, the value of which is not stated, to his widow, Mrs. Sallic P. Hill, and names her as executrix. Every conceivable lighting unit is here awaiting your selection. Fixtures for all rooms, Floor Lamps, Boudoir Lamps, Reading Lamps, Table Lamps, Electric Heaters, and appliances of every description. All fixtures and appliances offered in this Sale guaranteed to be in perfect working order. Space permits the listing of only a few of the wonderful bargains offered during this Sensational FIRE SALE. Marcel Wavers $]40 ' Phone Main 1855