Special Days and Their Observance: September 1919

"Special Days and Their Observance" by Anonymous is a collection of educational materials written in the early 20th century. This work focuses on the observation of significant days in American culture, providing guidelines and exercises for teachers to celebrate holidays like Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, and Arbor Day in schools. The content emphasizes the importance of instilling patriotism, historical awareness, and moral values in students through various activities. The opening of this publication sets the stage for its purpose by outlining the educational value of celebrating specific days. It includes a foreword from the Commissioner of Education in New Jersey, which highlights the significance of these observances in fostering a spirit of patriotism among schoolchildren. The opening portion introduces concepts such as the structure of morning exercises, suggesting that these sessions should be both inspirational and engaging. It provides practical ideas for teachers to incorporate music, literature, dramatization, and worship into their curricula, thus enriching the students' understanding and appreciation of these special days.