E-text prepared by Al Haines
To the thousands of devoted Teachers in every part of the land, who aretraining the boys and girls of to-day to a true conception of Americancitizenship, and to a deeper love for our whole country, this littlebook is dedicated by a Brother in the work.
This text-book begins "at home." The starting-point is the family, thefirst form of government with which the child comes in contact. As hisacquaintance with rightful authority increases, the school, the civildistrict, the township, the county, the State, and the United Statesare taken up in their order.
The book is especially intended for use in the public schools. Theplan is the simplest yet devised, and is, therefore, well adapted topublic school purposes. It has been used by the author for many years,in public schools, normal schools, and teachers' institutes. Itcarefully and logically follows the much praised and much neglectedsynthetic method. All students of the science of teaching agree thatbeginners in the study of government should commence with the known,and gradually proceed to the unknown. Yet it is believed this is thefirst textbook that closely follows this method of treating the subject.
The constant aim has been to present the subject in a simple andattractive way, in accordance with sound principles of teaching--thatchildren may grow into such a knowledge of their government that thewelfare of the country may "come home to the business and bosoms" ofthe people.
The recent increase of interest among the people upon the subject ofgovernment is a hopeful sign. It will lead to a better knowledge ofour political institutions, and hence give us better citizens. Goodcitizenship is impossible unless the people understand the governmentunder which they live.
It is certainly strange that every State in the Union maintains asystem of public schools for the purpose of training citizens, and thatthe course of study in so many States omits civil government, thescience of citizenship.
The author's special thanks are due Hon. Joseph Desha Pickett, Ph.D.,Superintendent of Public Instruction of Kentucky, for the suggestionwhich led to the preparation of the work and for excellent thoughtsupon the plan. The author also desires to confess his obligation toPresident James K. Patterson, Ph.D