the taking of the Bastille, the fall of the Throne, the punishment
of the tyrant, the expulsion of the Girondins. We, too, have our
anniversaries, our relics, the relics of Chalier and Marat,[2197] our
processions, our services, our ritual,[2198] and the vast system of
visible pageantry by which dogmas are made manifest and propagated. But
ours, instead of leading men off to an imaginary heaven, brings them
back to a living patrimony, and, through our ceremonies as well as
through our creed, we shall preach public-spiritedness (civism).
It is important to preach this to adults, it is still more important to
teach it to children: for children are more easily molded than adults.
Our hold on these still flexible minds is complete, and, through
national education "we seize the coming generations."[2199] Naught is
more essential and naught is more legitimate.
"The country," says Robespierre, "has a right to bring up its own
children; it cannot confide this trust to family pride nor to the
prejudices of individuals, the eternal nourishment of aristocracies and
of a domestic federalism which narrows the soul by keeping it isolated."
We are determined to have "education common and equal for all French
people," and "we stamp on it a great character, analogous to the nature
of our government and the sublime doctrines of our Republic. The aim is
no longer to form gentlemen (messieurs) but citizens."[21100]
We oblige[21101] teachers, male and female, to present certificates of
civism, that is to say, of Jacobinism. We close the school if "precepts
or maxims opposed to revolutionary morality" are taught in it, that is
to say, in conformity with Christian morals. Children will learn to read
in the Declaration of Rights and in the Constitution of 1793. Republican
manuals and catechisms will be prepared for their use.[21102] "They must
be taught the virtuous traits which most honor free men, and especially
the traits characteristic of the French Revolution, the best calculated
to elevate the soul and render them worthy of equality and liberty."
The 14th of July, 10th of August, 2nd of September, 21st of January, and
31st of May must be lauded or justified in their presence. They must be
taken to meetings of the municipalities, to the law courts,[21103]
and especially to the popular clubs; from these pure sources they will
derive a knowledge of their rights, of their duties, of the laws,
of republican morality," and, on entering society, they will find
themselves imbued with all good maxims. Over and above their political
opinions we shape their ordinary habits. We apply on a grand scale the
plan of education drawn out by Jean-Jacques (Rousseau).[21104] We want
no more literary prigs; in the army, "the 'dandy' breaks down during the
first campaign;[21105] we want young men able to endure privation
and fatigue, toughened, like Emile, "by hard work" and physical
exercise.--We have, thus far, only sketched out this department of
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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