Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1917 — WILL VISIT INDIANA SCHOOLS [ARTICLE]

WILL VISIT INDIANA SCHOOLS

And Talk to Pupils on War Issues Now Confronting the Nation. That the school pupils of the state may be acquainted with the importance of the war and the real situation now confronting the nation, Mr. Asa J. Smith has been appointed State High School Organizer by the State Council of Defense, and will visit all schools in Indiana and talk to the teachers and pupils. The plan has been ratified by Horace Ellis, state superintendent of public instruction, who has sent the following notice to all county and city school superintendents and all principals of high schools in Indiana: This is the hour for bold men who —fearing not criticism but disdaining those who condemn but refuse to act —heroically forge ahead toward the accomplishment of the im-: portant tasks confronting them. It is in this spirit that we should face every issue and lend our co-opera-tion to every suggestion which comes from the National and the State Councils of Defense.

Therefore, today every high school platform should ring forth the nation’s call to the youth of America for mental alertness, unflinching courage, self sacrifice and intensified 'S'Pblication to productive employment in those hours after school and during vacation which formerly were wasted. Such a message will be brought to the boys and girls of all the high schools of Indiana by Mr. Asa J. Smith, who has just been appointed as State iHigh School Organizer for the State Council of Defense. Mr. Smith is now preparing his itinerary which will include every high school iff the state. All of the school superintendents and high school principals will kindly co-op-erate with each 1 other in arranging a schedule and providing transportation via automobile in order that wherever practical Mr. Smith can reach all the high schools in one county in one day. You Will be advised by him later just what day he expects to be in your county. When he arrives at the school it will be your duty to dispense with the classes for the next period, assemble all the students in the assembly hall and give him a fullperiod for the- natr’otie c-iess'’"? which he will bring to them. He will place particular emphasis on the U. S. Boys' Working Reserve, but will have an important message for girls as well as boys. It will be advisable for you to invite the parents of the children to attend these meetings in order that they may also be aroused to the important part that the youth of America will play in helping to win this war.