American Notes-Editorial

We believe that it is the solemn duty of every editor, every minister, every statesman, and every person who has influence over other minds, to advocate the American ideals of disarmament, the universal brotherhood of mankind and permanent peace for the nations of the world. The fearful object-lesson which the European war affords, of the folly, waste and woe of war, should be impressed indelibly upon the minds of the present and the coming generations. If this can be done it will be altogether the greatest result of the war, whoever wins and whatsoever other advantage any one may possibly gain from it. It is humiliating to reflect that the race has been to school so long in the school of bitter experience, and remained so dull and stupid that the lesson has to be finally beaten in by so heavy a chastisement. We rejoice, however, that our own nation has seen so clearly and thought so deeply into the meaning of the present stupendous conflict. Our people are profoundly moved with sympathy for all the combatants. We are in a position to see the great moral principles involved, and to weigh the delicate questions that always arise out of such a clash of human interests, and to reach conclusions that are dispassionate, clear and convincing. We have a President, who by training and experience as well as by endowment and disposition, is well qualified to lead in the proffer of the friendly offices of the United States in bringing about an ultimate peace. Public sentiment must unanimously sustain him. The teachers can do much to conserve the influences for good that will arise out of the situation. While refraining from all idle discussions of the war and its horrors they may lead the minds and hearts of their pupils ever toward the thought of the blessings of peace. The duty and the privilege of brotherliness, the joy of forgiveness, the satisfactions arising out of unselfish ministration to those in poverty, distress and need can be dwelt upon and practically illustrated. We understand that a plan is on foot for the children of the United States to load a ship with Christmas presents to be sent over to the poor suffering children of Europe, many of them orphaned and friendless and certain to have no Christmas cheer save by some such kindly thoughtfulness by strangers from over the seas. Let us hope that this beautiful, Christlike idea will materialize and that it will be effective in showing the children of both parts of the world how much more blessed it is to love than to hate.

The Hon. Carl Schurz, a distinguished American Citizen of German birth, has given utterance to sentiments of peace which are so forceful and so profound that we are glad to reproduce them in this department of EDUCATION. He says:

"As an American, proud of his country and anxious that this republic should prove itself equal to the most glorious of its opportunities, I cannot but denounce as a wretched fatuity that so-called patriotism which will not remember that we are the envy of the whole world for the priceless privilege of being exempt from the oppressive burden of warlike preparations; which, when it sees other nations groaning under that load, tauntingly asks, "Why do you not disarm?" and then insists that the American people, too, shall put the incubus of a heavy armament on their backs, which would drag this republic down from its high degree of the championship of peace among nations, and degrade it to the vulgar level of the bully ready and eager for a fight. We hear much of the necessity of an elaborate system of coast fortifications to protect our seaports from assault. How far such a system may be desirable I will not here discuss. But I am confident our strongest, most effective, most trustworthy and infinitely the cheapest coast defence will consist in Fort Justice,' 'Fort Good Sense,' 'Fort Self-respect,' 'Fort Good Will,' and, if international differences really do arise, 'Fort Arbitration.'

Let no one accuse me of resorting to the claptrap of the stump speech in discussing this grave subject. I mean exactly what I say, and am solemnly in earnest. This republic can have no other armament so effective as the weapons of peace. Its security, its influence, its happiness and its glory will be greater the less it thinks of war. Its moral authority will be far more potent than heavy squadrons and big guns. And this authority will, in its intercourse with foreign nations, be best maintained by that justice which is the duty of all; by that generous regard not only for the rights, but also the self-respect of others, which is the distinguishing mark of the true gentleman; and by that patient forbearance which is the most gracious virtue of the strong."

A home-education division of the Bureau of Education has been established. Its objects are: "To help parents in the home education of their children with reference to health, games, and play, early mental development, and formation of moral habits; to interest boys and girls, who have left school and are still at home, by directing their home reading and study; and to further the education of the parents in the home."

To help accomplish this the Bureau of Education co-operates with the National Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teacher Associations, with a view to reaching as many homes as possible. A series of bulletins on home educational problems has been prepared and parents desiring advice in child nurture and home making may receive it from the Bureau.

As a basis for further work the home-education division has obtained a carefully selected list of women in all parts of the United

States to co-operate in extension of opportunities to all parents for education in home making. County superintendents of schools were asked to furnish the names of women in their communities who could be depended upon for a certain amount of initiative and leadership. Through the efforts of the 1,593 women thus selected and from other sources, the Bureau has been furnished with nearly 40,000 names of mothers who feel the need of information on the care and home training of children, and it is with these 40,000 mothers that a beginning has been made.

The bulk of the requests are for help in the problems of home making and care of the children. The mothers ask the Bureau for help in choosing literature, in reading courses for themselves and for their children. They ask for bulletins on "home matters;" material for home study for boys and girls; literature on moral training; books. suitable to children who have completed the common school course; methods of bringing together the home and the school; suggestions for forming sewing and cooking classes; and information necessary for organizing parent-teacher associations.

Some of the states, through packet libraries and by other means, are reaching these people who are without access to the usual sources of information; but in most localities no effort is made to reach the mothers themselves with the facts that are essential to the sound development of the children and the home. It is in this field that the home-education division plans to do its work, not by interference with local conditions, but as a clearing house of information for state and local authorities.

At a meeting of the Conference on Civic Secretaryship as Public Service held in June last at Wisconsin's capitol, Miss Margaret Wilson made the following valuable suggestion:

"The public school principals are the persons to serve as civic secretaries. I foresee the time when this office will be recognized as the greatest in any community."

In accordance with this thought we are informed that "in a hundred Wisconsin schoolhouses during the coming season, lantern slides and motion pictures showing everything from "The Merchant of Venice' to "The Making of Hoisery, not forgetting 'Mexico,' "The Evolution of the Silkworm' or 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,' will be displayed. Each of these Neighborhood Buildings becomes a motion picture theatre with a weekly slide and film service that could not be duplicated by purchase for less than four thousand, five hundred dollars. But except in Osseo and Sank City, the only people who have the right to any benefit or enjoyment of these motion pictures are the school pupils. If the principals happen to be willing in other communities to donate their service as a charity to the adult citizens and to the young men and women, so that they may see the pictures at even

ing exhibits, they may do so, but the adults and older youth have no right to expect it, for the principals are hired to serve only the children. In Osseo and Sank City, on the other hand, the motion picture machine comes definitely, and without any charity on the part of the principal, into its true place as, not only a vitalizing force in the instruction of the children in the day time, but as a marvelous social magnet and dynamo of common interest and enthusiasm for all the people, as they gather for its use in the evening. This service costs not one cent more in these towns where all the people will have its benefit of evenings, than in those where it will be enjoyed only in its daytime use by the school children. The one question is whether the school principal is made responsible for service to the children only, or, being paid for work as Civic Secretary, is made responsible for service to all the people."

We are glad to call attention to an article in the October number of "The Forum", by Helen S. Gray, on the subject of vaccination, because we have convictions on this subject which are in general accord with those of the author of the said article.

Miss Gray quotes Dr. Charles Creighton, an eminent English physician who has made a special study of epidemics and was engaged to write an article for "The Encyclopedia Brittanica" on vaccination. At that time he was a believer in it but changed his views when he investigated the subject. What he wrote is in the ninth English edition, but was omitted from some or all of the American editions. "As a medical man", he once declared, "I assert that vaccination is an insult to common sense; that it is superstitious in its origin, unsatisfactory in theory and practice, and useless and dangerous in its character." He testified before the British Royal Commission on Vaccination that in his opinion it affords no protection whatever. He has written several books on the subject.

"Vaccination is an economic question, not a medical one," George Bernard Shaw declares in the preface to his "Doctor's Dilemma." Protest is growing rapidly. Niagara Falls, North Tonowanda, Olean, Oswego, Berkeley, California, and Toledo are some of the places where large numbers of parents have refused compliance and fought the issue. When a vaccination order was promulgated last winter in Toledo, the parents of 18,000 children kept them out of school. The Board of Education got around the difficulty by extending the Christmas vacation for another week and then admitting pupils regardless of vaccination. As superintendents, principals and teachers are liable to lose their positions if they engage in an anti-vaccination crusade, parents are the ones to do it.

There has been such constant iteration of the germ theory in newspapers and magazines that to many people it never occurs that

there can be any alternative. If germs do not cause disease, what does? If germs do not spread it in epidemics, how is it spread, and how are epidemics ended? If vaccines, serums and antitoxins do not effect a cure or immunity, what does? These are the questions the article deals with. The views of some of the most distinguished physicians of various schools, including a few of the regulars, are cited on these subjects.

Examinations for important positions in the United States Bureau of Education at Washington will be held during September and Octo

ber.

The places to be filled are: Specialist in Industrial Education, at $3,500; specialist in educational systems, $1,800; specialist in school and home gardening, $3,000, with an assistant at $1,600; specialist in home economics, $3,500; specialist in agricultural education, $3,500; translator, $1,800; and assistant in rural education, $1,800. Women are desired for the positions of specialist in home economics, specialist in educational systems, assistant in school and home gardening, and assistant in rural education. The other positions are open to

men.

Full information as to date and place of the examinations may be obtained from the Civil Service Commission, Washington, D. C.

The official reports for the several state penitentiaries and jails make an interesting showing as to the number of prisoners in state penal institutions as between the states under prohibition and those under license. The states of Kansas, Maine and North Dakota are the only three states which have been under prohibition during the past ten years. The number of state prisioners per 100,000 population in Kansas is 85.4; the number in Maine is 98.3; the number in North Dakota is 63.6, while the number in the state of Massachusetts is 199.3.

This ratio, moreover, holds good in the classification of all the states. The average number of state prisoners per 100,000 population in the three prohibition states named above is 84.4. In the seventeen near prohibition states the average number is 115.8. In the thirteen partial license states the average number is 118, while in the nine extreme license states the average number is 130.