Statement by Commissioner of Education Earl McGrath at the Midcentury White House Conference on Children and Youth
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OCR Page 1 of 6STATEMENT*
The basic idea of the child as a citizen is the starting
point for the Midcentury White House Conference. But, as the
Conference statement of focus makes clear, we must make a total,
rather than a segmented view of citizenship if our children and
youth are to grow into mature, resourceful adults capable of
making their fullest possible contributions to society.
This new, broad approach recognizes that citizenship begins
the moment we acquire our first childhood impressions. It is
complete social participation- continual, never-ending process--
and by the time a young person reaches the age of 18, he has already
formed a good share of the important habits and attitudes of
citizenship.
Therefore, in evaluating where we are in citizenship train-
ing. (so that we might accurately determine where we are heading),
it is essential that we ask ourselves the right questions-questions
which may be quite painful, but which must be answered nonetheless
if an effective action program is to be built. Parents must look
at the home, where the citizen-child takes on lifetime habits and
attitudes; teachers must assess the role the school plays in shaping
*By Earl James McGrath, U. S. Commissioner of Education, Federal
Security Agency, Chairman of Midcentury White House Conference
Panel Number Eight: "The Meaning of Citizen Responsibility in Our
Society,' December 4, 1950.
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