Part 8 (1/2)

Show how the pupil who does as he pleases in school may interfere with the rights and liberties of other pupils. Is it right that his liberty should then be restricted? Why? Is liberty the right to do as one pleases? If not, what is it?

Read together in cla.s.s the preamble to the Const.i.tution and carefully discuss the meaning of each phrase.

READINGS

Lessons in Community and National Life:

Series B: Lesson 17, The development of a system of laws.

Series C: Lesson 17, Custom as a basis for law.

Lesson 18, Cooperation through law.

In Long's American Patriotic Prose:

Lincoln, ”Mob Law,” pp. 173-177.

Lincoln, ”Back to the Declaration,” pp. 170-181.

McKinley, ”Liberty is Responsibility, Not License,” pp. 254-255.

The Declaration of Independence, pp. 67-71.

Beard, Chas. A., American Citizens.h.i.+p, chap, i (”The Nature of Modern Government”).

Franklin, Benjamin, Autobiography.

CHAPTER V

WHAT IS CITIZENs.h.i.+P?

WHAT MEMBERs.h.i.+P MEANS

Before we go further, let us get a definite idea of what it means to be a citizen.

IN THE BODY

We have frequently referred to the fact that we are ”members” of various communities. Our bodies have members, such as arms and hands. The tongue has been called an unruly member. ”It is a little member and boasteth great things.” [Footnote: James iii: 5.]

There are two important facts about members of the body. One is THAT THEY GET THEIR LIFE FROM THE BODY. If the hand is cut off, it quickly ceases to be a hand because it is severed from the source of life. If the body is seriously ill, its members are unable to perform their proper work.

The second important fact is THAT THE BODY IS DEPENDENT UPON ITS MEMBERS FOR ITS LIFE. If the hand is cut off, or an eye put out, the body does not necessarily die, but it is seriously handicapped. If a member is paralyzed or diseased it may be a positive hindrance to the body, and the disease may spread to other members. The body may suffer merely because its members are poorly trained.

IN THE COMMUNITY

That is what it means to be a member of the body; and members.h.i.+p in a family, or a school, or a club, or a community, is just the same. We have already seen, and we shall see more fully as we go on with our study, how completely we are dependent upon our communities for food, for the protection of life, for education, and for all else that makes up our life. The community that does not provide for its members in these things is like a sick body.