Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1920 — JUNIOR RED GROSS WORKING AT HOME [ARTICLE]

JUNIOR RED GROSS WORKING AT HOME

Production of Sound American Citizenship the First Aim, Says Dr. Farrand. _______ On . the badge of every member of the Junior Red Cross are the words ”1 Serve/’ That tells the story of the school children’s branch of the American Red Cross and Its efforts to bring happiness to children throughout the world. , Realizing that the time never was so propitious as right now for teaching the highest Ideals of citizenship, the entire present program of the Junior Red Cross has been framed under the very inclusive phrase, “Training for Citizenship Through Service” for others. Since the Junior Red Cross- Is the agency through which the American Red Cross reaches the schoolboys and the schoolgirls, all its activities are designed to come within the regular school program, and without creating new courses or increasing the number of studies to lend its aid in vitaliz” ing the work of the schools. v \ “The thing that is needed,” says Dr.

• — — • . .-J* - Livingston Farrand, Chairman of the American Red Cross Central Committee7"“ls not a perpetnation of the Junior Red Cross, but the graining and breeding of sound American citizenship inspired by the true, fundamental ideals of sound democracy. One of the great conceptions in making the Red Cross a contributor to better citizenship in our American democracy is the realization that after all the sole hope of any nation is with the children of the coiietry.” The plan of organization of the Junior Red Cross makes the school —public, parochial and private —the unit, not the Individual pupils. Mutual service, helpful community work such as clean-up campaigns, cate of the sick, promotion of health regulations, participation In civic and patriotic movements —all these creative agencies designed to translate into life and action the regular school program are parts of the machinery which the Junior Red Gross places at the disposal of the school authorities. Graded study courses giving practical methods of civic training, supplemented,by pamphlets and helpful suggestions, are supplied to the local schools by the Junior Red Cross. An elaborate plan for promoting an Interchange of correspondence between children in different sections of the United States as well as with children in foreign lands is being devised and will take a prominent place in the established classroom program. In promoting the general cause of child welfare, Red Cross courses In home hygiene and care of the sick, first aid, and dieting may be established Id all Junior Red Cross Auxiliaries, , The ideals and the objective of the Junior Red Cross are embodied in the pledge of service which the pupil takes when he signs the membership roll and pins on his coat the Junior’s badge. The pledge which binds together service and citizenship reads: “We will seek in all ways to live up to the Ideals of'the Junior Red Cross and devote ourselves to its service. “We .will strive never to bring discredit to this, our country, by any unworthy act. “We will revere and obey our country’s laws and do our best to inspire a like reverence and obedience in those about us. “We will endeavor in all these ways, as good citizens, to transmit America greater, better and more beautiful than she was transmitted to us.” At the-foundation of this school program of the Junior Red Cross is a great love for America’s children.