Page Six
THE JEWISH MEWS
Miry, Nay ‘1, 1943
"41111r
Eighth Graders
Exa ne Their. Attitudes
A compilation E'y teachers of flie Eighth Grades of Corpus Christi School,
• Catholic parochial school in New York City. Its program of education for
social responsibility and Americanism is outstanding. The Rev: George B.
Ford is pastor of the parish.
E'DITOR'S NOTE: The Jewish
News presents this interesting
study through the courtesy of the
National Conference of Chris-
tians and Jews. The study orig-
inally appeared in the special
issue of the Journal of Educa-
tional Sociology sponsored by the
Conference. It shows the need for
education among American child-
ren in the interest of amity and
good will.
T
HE PRESENT WORLD
situation with its succession of stirring
events has done much to revive old
prejudices and create new ones. Today,
an intelligent citizen must be on
guard against the distortion of truth
by propagandists. The schools have a
responsibility to teach children tech-
niques of identifying and analyzing
these prejudices and conflicting prop-
agandas.
group. The children ex-tressed their
sentiments in these words:
The Jews are clannish and aggres-
sive. They are overrunning our coun-
try and taking business away from our
people.
One never sees a Jewish person do-
ing menial work.
My uncle had some business deal-
ings with a Jewish man. He says the
Jews are not honest.
The Negroes would rather live on
relief than work for an honest living.
My father will not hire a Negro
man to work for him.
The Negroes are dishonest. A Ne-
gro boy stole my brother's car.
I am afraid of the Negroes because
they do so much killing.
Our country is made up of people
who differ in race, nationality, and re-
ligion. If we are to protect our demo-
cratic freedom, it is essential for teach-
ers to lead pupils to understand their
fellowmen; to respect the differences
they offer, particularly differences in
race, nationality, and religion; to let
that understanding and respect shape
their behavior and their relations with
their neighbors; to throw a search-
light of truth on propaganda to see if
it is upheld by facts.
Every time I go to Harlem I wish
some one would take it over and clean
it up. The Negroes are lazy.
• When I was playing a piece com-
posed by Beethoven, my mother told
me to stop playing it because Beetho-
ven .was a German.
I distrust the Russians becauselof
ports I've heard about them.
The Japanese are sly and tricky.
Too many refugees are coming to
our country. They are taking work
away from the Americans.
Wholesome Attitudes
Danger of Spreading
A program such as is described be-
low will do much to develop open-
mindedness, critical thinking, and
wholesome attitudes among the pupils
and will inevitably turn out children
who will be more tolerant of other
people. That some children have
prejudices that need to be ironed out
is evident. A great deal of ill feeling
that exists today among the peoples
and nations is due to the failure to
bring citizens to think kindly of all
people. The elementary-school teacher
is faced with the problem of educat-
ing forgood fellowship.
These attitudes could not be over-
come merely by preaching good will.
It was necessary to get at the root of
them in order to eliminate such mis-
understanding.
If only the bad points of any group
are stressed, there is danger of spread.
ing prejudices among children who
have none. By emphasizing the good
qualities of a people much ill will
may be overcome. What one sees de-
pends on what one is looking for.
There must be recognition that there
are good and bad traits in all peoples.
Negative points were analyzed in
terms of environmental background.
The following is a description of a
program carried out by the Eighth
Grades in Corpus Christi School.
After listening to a discussion and
dramatization on the "United Na-
tions" by the School of the Air of the
Americas, the eighth graders launched
into a lively and interesting discus-
sion. During the discussion many
problems arose. These are some of the
most pertinent:
What causes disunity among na-
tions?
How can a better understanding
among people be developed?
Have we Americans a need for bet-
ter understanding of each other?
Why are we prejudiced against cer-
tain people or groups of people?
Their Prejudices
An exploratory period followed this
discussion. This was designed • to give
opportunity to read, to discuss, and to
delve into recent books and pamphlets
on this question. It was of interest to
note that many of the prejudices of
these children were not created by the
present world war. Personal experi-
ence as well as family background
colored the feelings of this particular
Reading and research work were
done by individual pupils and by
committees. The classes met frequent.
ly to discuss their findings and to pool
their ideas. At these informal meet-
ings differences of opinion were freely
discussed, critical thinking was en-
conraged, and a candid expression Of
thought solicited. One of th'e children
suggested that the classes assembleoi.
a discussion that would bring out only:'
o
the good points of any minority
group. This was done. As the discus-
sion proceeded it became clear,
each mistrusted group had signic
ant
Contributions to bring to the general
well-being of society. A perusal of the
folloWing comments of the children
shOWs the development that took plke
in their thinking as they brought out
each worthy quality discovered in the
peoples whom they were describing:
Why Criticize Them?
Many of the Jews are deeply re-
ligious.
The Jews are to be admired because
they are ambitious to get ahead and
better themselves.
History tells us that the Jewish
people as far back as the time of
Christ • have been limited to dealing
not home to -eve these children the
training, that our mothers give us be-
cause many of the Negro women are
forced to be the support of their fami-
lies since we will not employ the men.
with money to make a living. They
have ability along this line; why criti-
cize them for it?
The Jews are aggressive because for
centuries they have been persecuted.
We have limited the Negroes to
such jobs as porters, houseworkers,
and similar tasks that require very lit-
tle training.
Because I chanced to be born white
does not give me license to segregate
the Negroes and act uncharitably to-
ward them. They were born black.
Labor unions have existed for over a
hundred years, yet only within the last
few months have some of these
opened their doors to Negro people.
Those of us who discriminate
against Jews, Negroes, or foreigners
should remember that it is only be-
cause of the hospitality of Americans
of another generation that we are here
today to enjoy the blessings of Ameri-
can life.
We should think intelligently and
independently and not allow ourselves
to be swayed by propaganda.
We would think 'more kindly of
each other if we remember that all
of us are brothers because we have
a common Father, God.
It is important to study the history
of each persecuted group and guard
against getting our causes and ef-
fects confused.
Negroes are not lazy—. We have de-
prived them of the opportunity to
work.
Because Negro men cannot find
employment, the Negro mother is
obliged to do menial work which
takes her away from her family.
Climatic conditions have made the
Negroes a slow-moving race.
Welcome Oppressed
It has been the tradition of this
country to welcome the oppressed and
suffering from every land.
We should be glad for every other
human being.
Continued Study
A whole group or race of people
should not be criticized for the faults
of individuals.
From the preceding comments of
the pupils it is apparent that an un-
derstanding of the question has come
to them. They realize that they have
not solved the problem. One of the
children summed up the need for
continued study in these words, "I
think that this isn't a matter that
can be settled entirely by small dis-
cussion groups such as ours, but by
further study in high schools and by
national speeches. All of our people
need to be educated."
-1
These children are being guided
to examine their prejudices and find
out how they as individuals can help
to wipe out ill-feeling toward other
races. It is true that at times their
emotional reactions may get the up-
per hand, but it is also true that they
are beginning to develop sound cri-
teria for examining such reactions.
When true Christian living follows
on such education, we shall transcend
our humanity, accepting all men as
brothers under the common father-
hood of God. Then we shall respect
our fellowmen as individuals who are
endowed with all the rights that make
them members of a great human fra-
ternity.
Many people of different national-
ides, races, and creeds have contrib-
uted to the upkeep of America.
A good Christian will not think of a
person as a Jew, a Negro, or a for-
eigner; he will think of him only as a
human being.
One of the children sensed that the
idealism expressed in these statements
might be lost for lack of being prac-
tical. She said, "I think we should
analyze our faults which tend to bring
out these undesirable traits in other
groups. My mother taught me this
prayer, 'Lord, reform the world but
begin on me.' " Directly the pupils
began searching their own hearts
which bore fruit in a fund of signifi-
cant -suggestions:
Un-American
Spirit
Jews are as sensitive to prejudice as
we are; by trying to keep them down
we have brought out the worst in
them. We have made them aggressive.
It is because we have suppressed and
persecuted the Jews and Negroes that
they have been forced 'to do things
which make them appear crafty, un-
derhanded, and sly.
By being mean and distant toward
the Negroes we have mani-
fested an un-Christian and un-
American spirit.
-
have been critical to-
ward the Negroes for not
working and for living on
relief,• We Americans can
blame ourselves for this con-
dition because we have given
the Negroes only menial tasks.
I know such degrading work
would not be an - inspiration
to me.
I understand now why
many of the Negro children
I know are lawless and
destructive. Their mothers are
A
Fascinating Chapter
In Michigan Jewish History
will be published in next week's issue of
•.The - 'Jewish News.
Dr. Leo M. Franklin
will review the interesting history of the Jew-
ish back-to-the-soil movement from 189• to
1900, in his comments on Dr. Gabriel David-
soil's. "Our Jewish Farmers."
BE SURE TO READ THIS
IMPORTANT ARTICLE