As the years pass, our personal recollections of the war period,—of the sacrifices, of the enthusiasms, and of the ideals of those days,—inevitably become less vivid. It is of prime importance for the future peace of the world that the present generation shall be kept alive to the spirit which marked our participation in the World War and the hopes that burned so high on the day when the successful outcome of the struggle was assured. Annually, on November 11, the lesson of that day should be retaught in our schools.
I want to suggest that one of the most important pieces of constructive teaching which we should strive to accomplish in this connection is the reconciliation, in the minds of our pupils, of the ideals of patriotism and international good-will. Even young children can be brought to sense in simple form the conflict between competition on the one hand and coöperation on the other. These two opposite ideals of conduct should be presented not merely as symbolizing the age-old antithesis of selfishness and altruism. From the point of view of national welfare itself, it should be made clear that the united effort of the group works to the benefit of its individual members much more effectively than any competitive struggle.
At 11 o'clock on the morning of November 11, 1918, an entire world, weary, worn and bent under the disaster of the World War, knelt in thanks to God. The
