'Planned Patriotism'

[StillThePrettiest 3]

the place I've been volunteering has been undergoing major renovations since Ike (we had huge water damage), and one of my tasks was to get all the resources back onto the shelves in some sort of order... so far, so mundane, but in amongst all the 'Spelling Matters' and 'English? No problem!'s I found this little gem of a book

PLANNED PATRIOTISM - A Ten Point Plan for Teaching Americanism In Our Schools

published in 1961, it's spiral bound with a red and white striped cover, and a line drawing of the Statue of Liberty in blue... it's full of hilarious pictures, with girls happily ironing or mending in frilly frocks, and a boy walking along a path treading carefully in Uncle Sam's footprints towards a setting (rising?) sun which is the American flag... and the best of all: the one comparing 'Our Ways of Earning a Living', with a jolly looking man in a boiler suit pointing at cards saying things like 'religion', 'business', 'science', 'selling', 'medicine', etc, with the caption 'FREEDOM OF CHOICE', next to a picture of men drawn like cardboard cut-outs - they even have corners! - holding placards saying things like 'communal farms', 'military', 'mines', 'factory worker', while an officious man in a military cap points at them, with the caption 'NO FREEDOM - NO CHOICE'

but the content is best of all... here are a few of my favourite excerpts:

General Objectives:

- To teach positively that we must be FOR the American way of life first, and AGAINST that which would destroy us.

- To promote a feeling of national loyalty so deep that children will cling to it no matter what other ideology of government might be placed temptingly before them in later years.

- To instill in the child a feeling of pride in his country because it is the best. The child must be convinced that his country provides the best way of life in the entire universe [ All I can hear here is George from Two Weeks' Notice saying 'Well, that's just silly. Have you MET everyone in the universe?' (paraphrased )]

- Greater (much greater) use of 'Old Glory', on stationery, placards, clothing, decals for cars, home, business, windows, etc [such a shame they didn't take this up in Texas ]. Emphasize the respect due the flag. Take the flag out of the mothballs. Find a home for every American flag and a flag for every American home.

- Inspire patriotism by teaching fine patriotic songs that can be sung any time - not just during music period.

- Teach light music or semi-classic. Get away from the jungle or animal quality. [!?!?]

- Use futuristic, optimistic portrayal of future possibilities. Let the past, or heavy depressing things, drop out of memory. [What do they say about people who don't learn from history...?]

- Teach that the people in bread lines failed somewhere along the line to establish the proper perspective as to values. [it's your fault you're poor!' ]

The First Grade Child - suggested activities:

- read and listen to patriotic stories

- make booklets with national meaning [#######? ]

- learn patriotic songs

- make patriotic murals

- make alphabet book of America

- count the presidents of our country (teacher make picture chart)

The Eighth Grade Child -

... Basically, the overwhelming majority of eighth grade pupils really wants to hear and to accept that which is good. The are also able to cast aside that which is unwholesome, or that which would bring dishonor to their homes, school or country. Knowing the developmental stages which are marked by a period of resentment, rebellion and resistance, a teacher should accept the responsibility for placing before the young teenager the ideals, examples and opportunities to practice and to evaluate the principles of democratic living.

This is the teacher's task. [Which leaves the parents with what?]

Home Economics

The home is still the basic unit of the nation, founded on love, affection and understanding... therefore it is imperative that our girls upon completion of the Home Economics course have an understanding of their moral responsibilities to the home and community. Indeed there is a secondary need for the teaching of cooking and sewing, but this need becomes secondary where there is a lack of responsibility and understanding of homemaking... when we teach our girls the responsibilities of homemaking, which they in turn practice in their family group, we strengthen our nation's strongest link - the home and the American way of life.

Remedial Reading

Planned Patriotism can be used as the key to unlock that invisible door which seems to block the reading progress of many pupils. The true life stories of our early pioneers can be the spark that rekindles their interest to read to find out what happened as they stay with the story and learn to read for the pure joy of reading, and for the sense of accomplishment... The easiest and quickest road to take is paved with the exciting stories of our early pioneers and the heroes of American life. These must be real people and real situations. The pupils must be able to believe these stories and in fancy, travel the trails and share in all the adventures of these pioneers... They can lose themselves and their problems in reliving the experiences of the early days of our country. This serves a two-fold purpose: it stimulates the interest of pupils in reading, and it gives them an elementary understanding of the basic patriotic ideals of our founding fathers.

Future Teachers Clubs

We have an obligation to create in the minds of pupils a desire to become school teachers. While it is true that many seventh and eighth grade pupils do not yet know what may be their life's work, they are old enough to understand some of the dignity [!] and rewards [!!] of the teaching profession.

:lol:

I think this explains a GREAT DEAL

[*julez* 124]

Utterly bizarre. Really makes me proud to be an American.....where at least I know I'm free....

Eighth graders are a pack of weirdos. I live with one and he definitely doesn't really want to hear and to accept that which is good. He is also unable to cast aside that which is unwholesome, or that which would bring dishonor to their homes, school or country.

Kids his age really don't care about anything but themselves, in my experience. Its a time in life where you begin making decisions for yourself, and most often they are bad choices. Its how you learn.

And they certainly don't want to resist and stay away from jungle and animal music.

[StillThePrettiest 3]

but that's why we must DO IT FOR THEM!!! *earnest look*

I SO agree with you about eighth graders

when i used to teach, I loved them, but they ARE total misfits, and I can't believe they were ever anything different... I think Everett E. Cooke (the author of this magnificent tome) has his head up his in the clouds

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I like how the woman-folk prove their patriotism through Home Economics. I'm doomed as a patriot, I tell you.

[StillThePrettiest 3]

bloody hell... I just found it listed as a serious purchase on eBay

'a wonderful book for teaching homeschoolers'

[*julez* 124]

Remedial Reading

Planned Patriotism can be used as the key to unlock that invisible door which seems to block the reading progress of many pupils. The true life stories of our early pioneers can be the spark that rekindles their interest to read to find out what happened as they stay with the story and learn to read for the pure joy of reading, and for the sense of accomplishment... The easiest and quickest road to take is paved with the exciting stories of our early pioneers and the heroes of American life. These must be real people and real situations. The pupils must be able to believe these stories and in fancy, travel the trails and share in all the adventures of these pioneers... They can lose themselves and their problems in reliving the experiences of the early days of our country. This serves a two-fold purpose: it stimulates the interest of pupils in reading, and it gives them an elementary understanding of the basic patriotic ideals of our founding fathers.

Here I can only draw on my own personal experience as a voracious reader who has passed on that same hunger for reading to my 3 children. Now, I'm not saying that reading about early pioneers isn't fulfilling, but my kids really repsonded more to Harry Potter and Eragon and the Narnia Chronicles and stuff like that. They like magical stuff for some reason, and so do many young readers, if the best sellers list is to be believed.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Well - I did like the Little House books as a youngster. Do they count?

By the time I hit 10-11, it was all about Judy Blume. I wonder what they did to instill my patriotism?

[Jeraly 4]

Taken from the eBay listing:

Wonderful book for teaching homeschoolers. If you have any questions at all, please email us.

Read as:

"Wonderful book for the indoctrination and brainwashing of easily-influenced children"

[StillThePrettiest 3]

and 'lots of great illustrations'

that says even more about the poster's sanity... the illustrations are DIRE; all fifties children in crewcuts (boys) or frocks (girls) doing Earnest Civic Things like singing or making campfires

plus a recurring picture of Abe Lincoln looking surprised... sort of 'what the dang am I doing in HERE?! helppppp meeee!'

[*julez* 124]

Well - I did like the Little House books as a youngster. Do they count?

By the time I hit 10-11, it was all about Judy Blume. I wonder what they did to instill my patriotism?

I liked those too. I tried to get my daughter to read them, but she just wasn't into them.

[NickyMcMillan 0]

That is quality!!

[Jeraly 4]

Ohhh StP - I don't suppose you have a scanner do you?!!?

And I used to read Judy Blume too along with Enid Blyton and other such gems I still have them all as well

[*julez* 124]

I remember reading, with particular horror, that Margaret actually wanted to get her period. Psycho.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

For sale by the eBay seller currently flogging Planned Patriotism: This Handy Tome.

[Jeraly 4]

For sale by the eBay seller currently flogging Planned Patriotism: This Handy Tome.

Looks to me like someone in the family died and they are clearing out an attic maybe?!

Julez - I think it is one of those things where you just want to be like everyone else and know that you are normal and then as soon as the novelty wears off (right away you wish you hadn't been so... eager ) I remember always wanting to catch up with my friends as I was a bit of a late bloomer...