Special Days and Their Observance: September 1919Anonymous
History
Special Days and Their Observance: September 1919
Anonymous
Holidays -- United States; Schools -- Exercises and recreations -- New Jersey
The placing in schools of Lincoln Memorial Bronze Tablets containing
the Gettysburg Speech will give special significance to the observance.
This practice should be promoted. Every new school should have its
Lincoln Memorial Tablet.
The most interesting persons in the eyes of children are children. They
are most concerned with what kind of a boy Lincoln was. Books such as
"Life of Abraham Lincoln for Boys and Girls," by C. W. Moores, and
"The Boy's Life of Abraham Lincoln," by J. G. Nicolay, should be made
available. Pupils should be encouraged to tell to the class what they
have found of interest in the accounts of his boyhood. Incidents of
his honesty, his desire for learning, and habit of hard work, will be
brought forth and no effort should be spared to emphasize these most
important characteristics. Strive for enthusiastic admiration, and the
imitation of these most desirable qualities will follow.
Stories from his life, incidents in his experience, and periods in his
career, such as the twenty-two years on the farm, the twenty-seven
years in intellectual pursuits, and the seven years in national
service, will give profitable material for work in English. Oral and
written reproductions should be taught for some time before the holiday
observance and the best of these used on this occasion. Mr. Judd
Stewart's suggestions (given on another page) respecting the study of
Lincoln's English are very valuable.
Give an exercise or two in acrostic writing with the aim of setting
forth in a succinct way his admirable character and laudable
accomplishments. A problem of this type appeals to children and has
value in it.
The humorous stories of Lincoln should not be neglected. There is
great need for high standards of humor, jokes and jests with boys and
girls. Every one should be able to tell a good story well. The humor in
Lincoln's life presents good material for such teaching.
A study and memorizing of quotations may be begun early in the fall;
in fact, such study should be pursued throughout the whole school
course. If this is done many pupils will be able to give on February
twelfth their choice from among Lincoln's sayings with reasons for
their selections and with statements respecting the source of their
admiration. Every pupil should have a stock of Lincoln sayings at his
command. These selected thoughts should be a part of the thinking of
boys and girls.
Readings for the week preceding the holiday observance can be made from
the following brief publications:
"Lincoln Centenary Ode," Percy MacKaye
"Commemorative Ode," James Russell Lowell
"Abraham Lincoln," Carl Schurz
"Abraham Lincoln," George Bancroft
"The Perfect Tribute," Mary Shipman Andrews
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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