Statement By Commissioner Of Education Earl McGrath, Published in School Life

STATEMENT* Our country's natural resources have been depleted by the necessities of two world wars, and by waste reflecting the careless thinking during the days of the frontier era when our natural resourdes secmed inexhaustible. The safe-guarding of our remaining natural riches to avert the danger of America ever becoming a have-not nation is a continuing national responsibility and should be accepted by every youth and adult in the days and years ahead. Our schools are accepting the challenge, but there is still auch to be dons educationally until young and old alike become just as woll acquainted with America's Conservation Pledge as they may be with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Words of the conservation pledge are: "I give my pledge as an American to save and faithfully to defend from waste the natural resources of my country--its soil and minerals, its forests, waters, and wildlife." May all Americans, both in and out of school, learn to live up to this declaration, a democratic duty to help keep our Nation strong. By Earl J. McGrath, U.S. Commissioner of Education, Federal Security Agency, Washington, D. C. on Pledge of Allegiance to Flag on Conservation of Natural Resources, June 1949. Published in SCHOOL LIFE, October 1949