. The American Red Cross in the great war . ildrens natural workshop — it must teach him to dealwith life, or its mission has failed. He can learn to controlhuman situations only through meeting them. Togetherthese two great forces, the school and the Red Cross, gavethe boys and girls of America their rightful place in thenations work. By opening the road of mercy beyond the town oi^hanageto the pain-racked thousands of France, the Red Crossoffered the children of America an active part in the greatissues of to-day. It put the schoolhouse in perspectivewith the world situation. For children, a
. The American Red Cross in the great war . ildrens natural workshop — it must teach him to dealwith life, or its mission has failed. He can learn to controlhuman situations only through meeting them. Togetherthese two great forces, the school and the Red Cross, gavethe boys and girls of America their rightful place in thenations work. By opening the road of mercy beyond the town oi^hanageto the pain-racked thousands of France, the Red Crossoffered the children of America an active part in the greatissues of to-day. It put the schoolhouse in perspectivewith the world situation. For children, as well as for menand women, work strengthened the emotional thrill arousedby the Stars and Stripes into something more durable andactive — the will to serve. In many cases the thing went farther than the instance, in a Chicago school a whirlwind campaign hadwon 100 per cent membership and the children were veryproud of their new Red Cross buttons. At the end of theday one boy brought his badge to the teacher with a request. MOBILIZING THE CHILDREN 101 that she keep it overnight, his father having promised togive him a beating if he came home with any such teacher explained that the button was his own respon-sibility ; that he had wanted to join the Red Cross and hecould not be a member in school and a non-member out-side; and that he could not check his membership withher to be called for the next day. The boy saw the issueat once and wore his button home with a good deal oftrepidation. The next day he was looking cheerful. Hehad not been punished, though family disapproval wasdeep. Work progressed, and with it the Juniors en-thusiasm. A month later the boys father appeared at theschool. The teacher prepared for a struggle. Say, heasked, can I get one of those buttons Uke my boywears? All through the Southwest the Junior Red Cross brokethrough the barriers that confronted foreigners too shy togo to Chapter workrooms or talk with strangers. Theseali
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectworldwar19141918
