Chapter IV: The Effect of the World War on Laws for Teaching History (2)

By a joint resolution of 1919 the Oklahoma legislature created a committee on Americanization and made it incumbent upon public school officials to organize classes in English and in citizenship instruction wherever a petition signed by ten residents of foreign birth over sixteen years of age was presented to them.[337] A minimum of two hundred hours of instruction during the school year aided Utah in her Americanization program which included classes in the “fundamental principles of the Constitution of the United States, American history, and such other subjects as bear on Americanization.”[338] Montana’s legislation, designed for those over sixteen years of age who were not familiar with the English language, provided for instruction in “American history and the Principles of Citizenship and any other school subjects which the school trustees deem necessary for the Americanization of the students enrolled.”[339]

The Americanization movement was further aided by a law approved April 19, 1920, in which New Jersey provided instruction for the foreign born residents of her state, over fourteen years of age, in English and “in the form of government and the laws of this State and of the United States.”[340] American history, the Constitution of the United States, with an exposition of the privileges and the duties of American citizenship tending to produce a spirit of loyalty, were phases of the Americanization programs of Ohio, Idaho, Wyoming, and Oregon in 1921.[341] In the last state, “home teachers,” whose duty it is to instruct in the fundamental principles of the American system of government and the rights and duties of citizenship, were named as an aid in carrying on the work of Americanization.[342] In Michigan, the superintendent of public instruction has been given power to provide for the education of aliens and of native illiterates over eighteen years of age who are unable “to read, write and speak the English language and who are unlearned in the principles of government” of Michigan and of the United States.[343]

In general, the most popular means for educating the alien population is by attendance at a night school, where, through evening classes, teachers regularly employed in the public schools seek to instruct in the English language and in an appreciation of and respect for “the civic and social institutions of the United States.” New York has tried the employers’ school to effect the same purpose, whereas “home teachers” are endorsed by California and Oregon. In the four years preceding the outbreak of the World War, 5,174,701 immigrants came to the United States, of whom 22.1 were unable to read and write any language. In 1920, nearly one and a half million, or 11 per cent, of the foreign-born whites in this country could not speak English. For this group, even more than for the native element, has it seemed wise to encourage education, because it has become a common belief that a lack of education endangers the well-being of the state.

FOOTNOTES:

[228] _Report of the Committee on Social Studies of the Commission on the Reorganization of Secondary Education of the National Education Association_, “The Social Studies in Secondary Education,” Bulletin, 1916, No. 28, Department of the Interior (Washington, 1916).

[229] According to a statement in _The New York Times_, March 30, 1924, the National Security League has been partly responsible for many enactments requiring the teaching of the federal constitution.

[230] _General Laws_ of Vermont, 1917, ch. 60, sec. 1277, p. 301.

[231] _Laws_ of Montana, 1917, ch. 128, par. 601, p. 309; _Digest of the Statutes of Arkansas_, 1919, ch. 158, par. 9066, p. 547. Accepted February 20, 1917.

[232] In 1921, New Hampshire included in her curriculum the study of history and civil government in a law to reinstate foreign languages as a study in the public schools. In 1919 history and civics were required for all schools. _Laws_ of New Hampshire, 1921, ch. 85, sec. 10(3), p. 125; _ibid._, 1919, ch. 106, sec. 13(1). In 1918, Connecticut carried over a law from the _Revision_ of 1902 prescribing United States history, _General Statutes_ of Connecticut, 1918, ch. 44, sec. 835, Vol. I, p. 308. Pennsylvania incorporated a law of 1911 prescribing instruction in general history and civil government in her _Statute Law_ of 1920, _Digest of the Statute Law_ of Pennsylvania, 1920, par. 5102, p. 470. In Kentucky, United States history, state history and civil government were required in 1918, carried over from a law of 1893. _Statutes_ of Kentucky, 1918, art. III, par. 4383, Vol. III, p. 866; _Laws_, 1916, ch. 24, art. III, sec. 24, p. 162. In Texas in the _Compiled Statutes_ of 1920, was again included a law requiring the teaching of civil government and state and national history. _Statutes_ of Texas, 1920, art. 2783, p. 467.

[233] _Laws_ of Delaware, 1919, 2283, sec. 11, p. 356. This is found also in _Laws_, Special Session, 1920, 97th Assembly, sec. 12, Vol. XXXI, p. 113.

[234] _General Laws_ of Alabama, 1919, art. 3, p. 571; _Acts_ of Georgia, 1919, sec. 18, p. 295.

[235] _Compilation of the Statutes of Tennessee_, 1917, art. XV, 1453, Vol. I, p. 983, _ibid._, 1454.

[236] _Statutes_ of Texas, _op. cit._

[237] _Laws_ of South Dakota, 1919, sec. 7511, p. 154.

[238] _Laws_ of California, 1917, ch. 549, p. 728. Approved May 18, 1917. It was the same for the social studies for the elementary schools in 1921. _Statutes_, 1921, ch. 486, p. 739. A law of Illinois in which instruction was to be devoted to “raising the standard of good citizenship” was passed in 1909, and was still on the statute books in 1917. _Revised Statutes_, 1917, p. 273.

[239] _Revised Code_ of South Dakota, 1919, par. 7660, p. 1917. Source 1918, ch. 39.

[240] _Statutes_ of Texas, 1920, art. 2904, aa, p. 492. _Acts_, 1918, ch. 17, sec. 1, p. 29.

[241] _Ibid._, approved March 20, 1918.

[242] _Laws_ of New York, 1918, ch. 241, art. XXVI-C, secs. 705, 706, pp. 886-887. See the discussion under Oaths of Allegiance as Teacher Requirement for a statement regarding the repeal of the Lusk Law.

[243] _General Acts_ of Massachusetts, 1918, pp. 294-295; _Acts_, 1920, ch. 411, p. 418. _General Statutes_ of Connecticut, 1918, ch. 45, sec. 852, Vol. I, p. 312. In 1903, Connecticut was a pioneer in this form of law, which was slightly changed in 1915. At this time it was prescribed that normal schools and teacher training schools should give instruction concerning methods of teaching citizenship, including the knowledge of the form of the national and local governments. Connecticut left her law of 1915 unchanged in her _General Statutes_ of 1918.

[244] _Acts_ of New Jersey, 1919, ch. 125, p. 304.

[245] _Laws_ of Pennsylvania, 1919, sec. 1607, pp. 544-545. Amends an act of May 18, 1911. In 1921 the law relating to courses of instruction for public and private elementary schools was amended but carried with it the requirement of United States history, history of Pennsylvania, and civics including “loyalty to the state and national government.” Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Public Instruction, _The School Law_ ... 1921, sec. 1607, p. 116.

[246] _Laws_ of Ohio, 1919, secs. 7645 and 7762, p. 542. Approved June 6, 1919. _Acts_ of Iowa, 1919, ch. 406, p. 535. Approved April 25, 1919. Private as well as public schools were included. _Laws_ of Kansas, 1919, ch. 257, secs. 2 and 3, p. 352; _Session Laws_ of Washington, 1919, p. 50. Alabama in 1919 added community civics to her elementary school curriculum but merely enumerated her subjects. _General Laws_ of Alabama, 1919, art. 3, sec. 7, p. 571.

[247] _Laws_ of Maryland, 1920, ch. 656, p. 1248.

[248] _Resolves_ of Maine, 1921, ch. 25, p. 27.

[249] _Laws_ of New Hampshire, 1921, ch. 85, sec. 5(3), p. 114.

[250] _Acts_ of Michigan, 1921, no. 209, secs. 1, 2. _Cf._ Iowa’s law of 1921, page 80.

[251] _Wisconsin Session Laws_, 1921, ch. 81, p. 152. Amends sec. 40. 30.

[252] _Laws_ of Illinois, 1921 (House Bill, no. 483), pp. 820-821.

[253] _Acts_ of Iowa, 1921 (S. F. 770), pp. 81-82; _Laws_ of Nebraska, 1921, ch. 53, sec. 6924, p. 230.

[254] _Acts_ of Oklahoma, 1921, ch. 112, secs. 1, 2, 3, 4. The state superintendent of instruction had power of enforcement. In case of a violation a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500 or imprisonment in the county jail for not less than thirty days nor more than six months, or both, may be the penalty. A teacher is subject to discharge or removal in case of malfeasance and a college (corporation) is liable to a revocation of its charter.

[255] _Laws_ of Colorado, 1921, ch. 216, p. 728. Approved April 5, 1921.

[256] _Acts_ of Arizona, 1921, ch. 140, sec. 1, p. 312.

[257] _Statutes_ of Nevada, 1921, p. 28 (Senate Bill No. 43).

[258] _Laws_ of New Mexico, 1921, ch. 172, p. 364. See law of 1912, page 52.

[259] _Statutes_ of California, 1921, ch. 486, p. 739. See page 43.

[260] _Acts_ of Virginia, 1922, p. 69 (amending section 702 of the _Code_). _Virginia School Laws_, 1923, p. 41; _Public Laws_ of Rhode Island, 1922, ch. 2195, sec. 17.

[261] _Laws_ of Utah, 1921, ch. 95, p. 284. Approved March 5, 1921.

[262] _Laws_ of Nevada, 1917, ch. 146, p. 245. Approved March 21, 1917. This was less than one month before the United States entered the World War, and the avowal of service in peace or in war, therefore, acquires a peculiar significance. See page 81 for Nevada’s law of 1921.

[263] _Compiled Statutes_ of Idaho, 1919, p. 269, par. 944. From the _Political Code_, 1901, sec. 1067, Vol. I, p. 329. See page 21 for the first discussion of the law.

[264] “In all public schools of this state it shall be the duty of each and every teacher to teach morality, for the purpose of elevating and refining the character of school children up to the highest plane of life; that they may know how to conduct themselves as social beings in relation to each other, as respects right and wrong and rectitude of life, ...” _Statutes_ of Wisconsin, 1917, 40. 30 (5), p. 376.

[265] Statement of the Arkansas law. _Cf._ Oklahoma law passed in 1921, page 80.

[266] _Digest of School Laws ... of Arkansas_ ... 1923, p. 166. Approved March 23, 1923, this law provides that no person can graduate from high school without at least one full year’s work in American history and civics. _School Laws of Mississippi_, 1924, ch. 283, p. 3; _School Laws of Ohio_, 1923, p. 41; _Public School Laws of Tennessee_ ... 1923, p. 35; _Acts of West Virginia_, 1923, ch. 10, sec. 92, p. 40; State of Kansas, Senate Bill No. 13, repealing Sec. 72-1103 of the _Revised Statutes_ of Kansas, 1923.

[267] _Laws_ of Alabama, 1923, p. 87, approved July 27, 1923; _School Laws of the State of Idaho_ (1923), p. 57; _Acts_ of New Jersey, 1923, ch. 17, p. 17; _Laws_ of Oregon, 1923, ch. 7, sec. 102; _Laws_ of Utah, 1923, ch. 4, approved January 27, 1923; _Laws_ of New York, 1924, ch. 64, article 26-d, sec. 707, approved March 24, 1924. _School Laws of Delaware_, 1923, pp. 62-63. _The Public School Law of North Carolina Codification_ of 1923, p. 120.

[268] _School Legislation of the Thirty-Eighth Legislature_ (of Texas), pp. 36-37. The Texas requirement comes through a resolution of the Senate of the state with the House of Representatives concurring, because “the American Bar Association, the Texas Bar Association, the bar associations of various other states, as well as other patriotic societies, are advocating the teaching of the Constitutions of the United States and of the several states in the public schools.”

[269] _Laws_ of Minnesota, 1923, ch. 291, p. 388. Approved April 17, 1923.

[270] _Laws_ of New Mexico, 1923, ch. 148, sec. 1417, p. 325; also _New Mexico School Code_, 1923, p. 34.

[271] _Statutes_ of California, 1923, ch. 176, secs. 1 and 2. _Georgia School Code_ ... 1923, p. 70, approved August 20, 1923.

[272] The following provide that the course start not later than the eighth grade: _Statutes_ of California, 1923, ch. 176; _Laws_ of Alabama, 1923, p. 87, law approved July 27, 1923; _School Laws of Delaware_, 1923, pp. 62-63, approved March 14, 1923; _School Laws of the State of Idaho_ (1923), p. 57; _Laws_ of Minnesota, 1923, ch. 291, p. 388, approved April 17, 1923; _Oregon School Laws_, 1923, p. 39, _Laws_, 1923, ch. 7, sec. 102; _Public School Laws_ of Tennessee, 1923, p. 35, _Laws_ of Tennessee, 1923, ch. 17, sec. 1, pp. 61-62. In New Jersey, the seventh grade is prescribed for the beginning of the study. _Acts_ of New Jersey, 1923, ch. 17, p. 17. In Arkansas, it is required that “such teaching shall commence in the lowest primary grade,” but Arkansas history may be substituted for American history in one of the grades. _Digest of School Laws of Arkansas_, _op. cit._

[273] _Congressional Record_, 68th Cong., 2d Sess., Vol. LXVI, No. 77, pp. 5396-5398. The five states not enacting social study laws for the curriculum (1917 to 1924) are Florida, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Carolina.

[274] Few states during this period have enacted new laws requiring the examination of teachers in the social studies. Nevada, by a law of 1921, has required United States history, civics and current events for elementary school certificates. _Laws_ of Nevada, 1921, ch. 208, sec. 25, p. 302. In 1923, Tennessee prescribed that all persons applying for a certificate to become teachers or superintendents in the public schools must pass a satisfactory examination upon the provisions and the principles of the Constitution of the United States. _Laws_ of Tennessee, 1923, ch. 17, sec. 2. Washington, likewise, by an enactment of 1923, has prescribed United States history for a standard elementary certificate. _Laws_ of Washington, 1923, p. 579. Florida, in 1923, enacted legislation requiring United States history, including the Constitution of the United States for primary and third grade certificates, civics for second grade, and general history, in addition to the other social studies for a first grade license. _Compilation of School Laws of Florida_, 1923, _Supplement_, pp. 4-5. Maryland, in 1922, required United States and Maryland history and community civics for elementary school certificates. _Maryland Public School Laws_, 1922, p. 40. See pages 52-56. Iowa, in 1924, made mandatory a knowledge of “the fundamental principles of a republican form of government and the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Iowa.” _Code_ of Iowa, 1924, ch. 193, sec. 3862. Kansas, in 1925, prescribed United States history and civil government for certification. See Senate Bill No. 13, 1925.

[275] _Public Acts_ of Michigan, 1915, p. 13.

[276] _Statutes of Nevada_, 1915, ch. 274, secs. 1, 2, 3, 4. Approved March 26, 1915.

[277] _Statutes_ of California, 1915, approved May 20, 1915. _School Laws_ of California, 1921, p. 203. This law does not forbid aliens to teach in colleges and universities.

[278] See page 76. _Laws_ of New York, 1917, ch. 416, par. 568, Vol. II, p. 1280.

[279] _Ibid._, 1919, ch. 120, 3, p. 218. Law, March 31, 1919. _Ibid._, 1918, ch. 158, par. 550, p. 749. Approved April 4, 1918.

[280] _Ibid._, 1921, par. 555a, Vol. III, p. 2048.

[281] _Ibid._

[282] _Laws_ of Washington, 1919, sec. 1, p. 82; _Laws_ of Nebraska, 1919, ch. 250, sec. 1, p. 1020; _Acts_ of Michigan, 1919 (no. 220), sec. 1, p. 392; _Laws_ of Tennessee, 1919, ch. 91, p. 223; _Compiled Statutes_ of Idaho, 1919, par. 946, Vol. I, p. 270. Idaho, in her _Laws_ of 1921, has another enactment, but it has the same purpose; _Laws_ of 1921, sec. 77, p. 464. _Laws_ of Montana, 1919, ch. 196, sec. 18, p. 429, amending law of 1905, by which any teacher holding a certificate and not a citizen was given time (six months) to declare his intention. _Political Code_, ch. 77, sec. 1912, p. 167. For California’s law see _School Law of California_, 1921, p. 203. North Dakota’s previous citizenship requirement is discussed on page 34. See _Laws_ of North Dakota, 1921, ch. 111, p. 90. According to letters received from the state superintendents of Mississippi and Maryland, aliens are not permitted to teach in those states.

[283] _Laws_ of Ohio, 1919, supplements 7852 of _General Code_, sec. 7852-1, p. 514. _Laws_ of Colorado, 1921, ch. 213, sec. 1, p. 719. _Laws_ of Oregon, 1921, ch. 115, p. 226, approved February 18, 1921.

[284] _Statutes_ of Nevada, 1921, sec. 38, p. 303. Approved March 22, 1921. This was required of all teachers paid by the state, even those in the University.

[285] _Acts_ of Oklahoma, 1921, ch. 15, p. 141. Approved March 24, 1921.

[286] _The School Law of West Virginia_, 1923, p. 44. According to the superintendents of public instruction in Rhode Island and Kansas a pledge to support the national and state constitutions is a requirement in those states for all teachers. See _Teachers’ Pledge of Loyalty_, Rhode Island Public Education Service, and _Teachers Contract_, State of Kansas.

[287] _Laws_ of South Dakota, 1921, ch. 210, p. 317. Approved February 1, 1921. This law became effective at once, because it was “necessary for the immediate preservation of the public safety and for the support of the state government and its existing public institutions.”

[288] _Oklahoma School Laws_, 1923, p. 18; _Acts_ of Oklahoma, 1921, ch. 15, sec. 2, p. 141. California _Assembly Bill_, No. 1329, 1923, sec. 6. “Any teacher or official of any educational institution in California who shall teach or speak before his or her pupils or public gatherings of an educational nature, or publicly, slightingly or contemptuously of the Constitution of the United States, or of the framers thereof, or of the men who founded this republic, or helped preserve and defend it, or its heroes and patriots, or shall teach un-American principles, or fail to carry out and support the spirit of this act according to its true intent and meaning, shall be deemed to have voluntarily violated his or her contract or oath of office and shall be automatically removed if the charges are proven....” See page 102 for the section of the bill relating to textbooks.

[289] 68th Congress, Public--No. 595--_H. R. 12033_. An act making appropriations for the government of the District of Columbia and other activities chargeable in whole or in part against the revenues of such District for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1926, and for other purposes. According to _The World Tomorrow_, “Missouri attached a rider to its last appropriation bill forbidding State colleges and schools to employ any person ‘who teaches, or advocates in public and private that the citizens of this State should not protect the government of the United States from aggression by other nations.’” _The World Tomorrow_, Vol. VIII (June, 1925), p. 186.

[290] _Statute Law_ of Pennsylvania, 1920, art. XXVIII, par. 5393, p. 494. _Public Laws_, 1911, art. XXVIII, par. 2801, p. 309, May 18. This is quite the opposite of Arkansas’ law which prescribed that all teachers must believe in a “Supreme Being.”

[291] _General Acts_ of Massachusetts, 1913, ch. 628, p. 556. Approved May 8, 1913.

[292] _Ibid._, 1917, ch. 84, p. 76. A fine of no more than fifty dollars could be imposed for violation of this law.

[293] _Laws_ of New Jersey, 1918, ch. 44, sec. 2, p. 131. Laws have been passed in California, Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Mississippi, and West Virginia.

[294] Socrates is an example of one who, in ancient times, was penalized for holding doctrines then unacceptable.

[295] _Laws_ of Maryland, 1918, ch. 75, sec. 1, 176a, p. 121. Approved April 10, 1918.

[296] _Ibid._, 1920, ch. 381, sec. 1, p. 665. Approved April 16, 1920. In Michigan all applicants for an eighth grade diploma have been required to pass an examination on “the first verse of the Star Spangled Banner and the words of America.” _General School Laws of Michigan_, 1923, p. 107, am. 1919, act 72 (275), par. 5824, sec. 2.

[297] _Acts_ of Oklahoma, 1921, ch. III, p. 137. Approved March 24, 1921.

[298] _Laws_ of Minnesota, 1917, ch. 108, sec. 1, p. 135. Approved March 26, 1917.

[299] _General Laws_ of Alabama, 1919, no. 733, p. 1083. See page 62 for a law of Oregon passed in 1921.

[300] _Public School Law of North Carolina_, pt. XIII, art. 38, sec. 367.

[301] _School Laws of Oklahoma_, 1923, p. 69; _Session Laws_, 1921, sec. 342.

[302] _Laws_ of Washington, 1921, ch. 56, p. 171. “Victory and Admission Day.” California added Armistice Day to her legal holidays in 1921, likewise including “Admission Day” on September ninth. _Statutes_ of California, 1921, ch. 350, p. 481. _School Law_ of West Virginia, 1923, p. 32.

[303] _Laws_ of Maryland, 1920, pp. 1448-1449.

[304] _Laws_ of Wisconsin, 1923, ch. 337, amending section 40.28 of the statutes.

[305] _Educational Laws_ of North Dakota, 1923, ch. 282, p. 45. See page 62 for Oregon’s law of 1921 setting aside Columbus Day for observance.

[306] _General School Laws of Michigan_, 1923, p. 107.

[307] _Laws_ of South Dakota, 1921, ch. 144, secs. 1, 2, pp. 235-236. The certificates were to be presented with proper ceremony at some place where there were patriotic addresses and music. Approved March 8, 1921. In South Dakota an observance of “Frances Willard Day,” besides the recognition of the benefits of prohibition, had the additional duty of stimulating “patriotism and civic improvements.” _Revised Code_, 1919, par. 7662. Washington set aside January sixteenth as “Temperance and Good Citizenship Day” for studying the biographies of great leaders in “temperance and good citizenship.” _Session Laws_ of Washington, 1923, ch. 76, p. 236.

[308] _Acts_ of Georgia, 1919, sec. 18, p. 295; _Laws_ of Florida, 1917, ch. 7374 (no. 116), p. 230, added to United States history, history of the state and civil government, _Laws_ of 1911-12, for high schools American history and civil government, English history, and general history; _General Laws_ of Alabama, 1919, art. 23, p. 634; _Digest of the Statutes_ of Arkansas, 1921, par. 9066, p. 2330, also _Laws_, 1921, act 285, p. 328 for regular grade work; _Compilation of Laws_ of Tennessee, 1917, art. XVII, 1461a 24, Vol. I, p. 993, also _Laws_, 1919, ch. 142, sec. 3, p. 525, Sen. Bill no. 506; _Code_ of West Virginia, 1916, ch. 45, par. 155a, p. 594. General history was also included. _Public School Law of North Carolina_, 1923, p. 87, art. 30, sec. 322.

[309] _Laws_ of Georgia, 1918, p. 919 (no. 60). This is probably an outgrowth of the movement found in the previous period to teach history and government from a pro-Southern viewpoint.

[310] _Laws_ of New York, 1918, 674, p. 892, approved April 17, 1918.

[311] _Laws_ of New Hampshire, 1921, ch. 85, sec. 13, p. 125.

[312] _Acts_ of Georgia, 1919, p. 295; _General Laws_ of Alabama, 1919, p. 634; _Compilation of Laws_ of Tennessee, 1917, 1461a 24, Vol. I, p. 993; _Statutes and Amendments_ Code of California, 1917, ch. 552, 1607, p. 736.

[313] For a full discussion see chapter VII.

[314] “..., the state superintendent shall fix a time for a public hearing upon such a complaint, which shall not be more than thirty days from the date of filing said complaint, and shall be conducted by the state superintendent or the assistant state superintendent, or by one of the state inspectors of schools, to be designated by the superintendent, and which hearing shall be held at the county seat of the county where the complainants reside. Notice of such hearing shall be given at least ten days prior to the date thereof through the public press and by registered mail to the complainants, the school board interested and to the publishers of such textbooks.” _Laws_ of Wisconsin, 1923, ch. 21, sec. 40.30. Massachusetts House Bill No. 718. “An Act relative to Certain Textbooks in the Public Schools.”

[315] _Oregon School Laws_, 1923, ch. III, sec. 571, p. 169.

[316] Assembly Bill (California) No. 1329, introduced by Mr. Ball.

[317] State of New York, 3d Rdg. 652, Nos. 602, 1781, 1997, Int. 581. In Senate, February 7, 1923.

[318] State of New York: No. 1186, Int. 1086. In Senate, March 5, 1924. Introduced by Mr. Higgins.

[319] _The New York Times_, March 19, 1924.

[320] _Assembly, No. 14 (with Amendments), State of New Jersey._ Introduced January 8, 1924, by Mr. Williams. (For the Speaker.) The bill provided also that any forty citizens of a school district could file complaints against histories and a public hearing should be held within thirty days.

[321] _The New York Times_, February 12, 1924. The endorsement given this bill by patriotic and fraternal groups is treated on pages 275-276.

[322] _Ibid._, April 19, 1923, _The Freeman_, Vol. VII (May 2, 1923), p. 170. The Oklahoma legislature of 1923 forbade the use of textbooks teaching the “‘Materialistic Conception of History’ (_i.e._) The Darwinian Theory of Creation vs. the Bible Account of Creation.” Approved March 24, 1923. House Bill No. 197. The use of the term “materialistic conception of history” is interesting in this connection.

[323] Among the states which have Americanization laws that have no specific statement prescribing the teaching of American citizenship are Alabama, Connecticut, Iowa, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Virginia and West Virginia. Most of these laws were enacted in 1919, some prescribing the establishment of classes for uneducated adults, others specifying Americanization courses. In North Carolina, there is a law to remove illiteracy, and in New Mexico the schools are to give “nocturnal courses of instruction.” These laws are not discussed because they do not provide for the teaching of citizenship. One of the earliest evening schools was in Massachusetts, 1886, where United States history was one of the prescribed subjects. _Supplement to Public Statutes of Massachusetts_, 1882-1888, ch. 174, p. 117, “An Act for the Establishment and Maintenance of Evening Schools.”

[324] _Statutes_ of California, 1917, ch. 552, p. 742.

[325] _Ibid._, 1919, ch. 605, sec. 4, p. 1049.

[326] _Ibid._, 1921, ch. 489, p. 742. Approved May 27, 1921.

[327] _Laws_ of New York, 1918, ch. 415, pp. 1257-1258.

[328] _Ibid._, 1921, ch. 327, Vol. II, p. 1037.

[329] _General Laws Relating to Education, Massachusetts_, 1923, p. 18. “Education and Protection of Aliens,” 1917, 321, par. 2; 1919, 350, par. 59; 1920, 72.

[330] _Acts_ of Arizona, 1918, ch. 10, sec. 1, p. 29 (Sen. Bill No. 19). In 1921 a bill for the education of foreigners in the public schools was passed.

[331] _Laws_ of Maine, 1919, ch. 148, p. 148. Revision of ch. 116, sec. 137. Approved April 1, 1919.

[332] _Laws_ of New Hampshire, 1919, ch. 106, secs. 5 and 30, pp. 157, 165. Also _Laws_, 1921, ch. 85, sec. 5, p. 113.

[333] _Acts and Resolves_ of Rhode Island, 1919, ch. 1802, sec. 2, p. 212.

[334] _Laws_ of Pennsylvania, 1919, no. 311.

[335] _Laws_ of Delaware, 1919, ch. 158, sec. 1, p. 452; also by a similar law approved April 7, 1921, _Laws_, 1921, ch. 165, p. 550. For California, see page 106.

[336] _General Laws_ of Minnesota, 1919, for ch. 356 of _General Laws_, 1917.

[337] _Session Laws_ of Oklahoma, 1919, ch. 135, p. 467. Approved March 10, 1919.

[338] _Laws_ of Utah, 1919, ch. 93, sec. 4, p. 285. Approved March 20, 1919. This law was added to in 1921 with a provision for fees.

[339] _Laws_ of Montana, 1919, ch. 38, sec. 1, p. 91. Approved February 21, 1919.

[340] _Acts_ of New Jersey, 1920, ch. 197, p. 387.

[341] _General Laws_ of Ohio, 1921, sec. 7761-3, p. 101; _General Laws_ of Idaho, 1921, p. 418; _Session Laws_ of Wyoming, ch. 127, sec. 1, p. 188; _General Laws_ of Oregon, 1921, ch. 87, sec. 1, p. 139 (S. B. 171).

[342] _Ibid._ New York and Arizona also have laws in 1921. See page 106.

[343] State of Michigan, Department of Public Instruction, _Explanation of School Laws of Michigan_, Supplement to Bulletin No. 13. Published 1921, p. 7.