![]() “The general natural Tendency of Reading good History,” he wrote, “must be, to fix in the Minds of Youth deep Impressions of the Beauty and Usefulness of Virtue of all Kinds. is necessary for the yeomanry of a republican state.” He also recommended that children be taught “submission to superiors and to laws,” explaining that “the virtues of men are of more consequence to society than their abilities and for this reason, the heart should be cultivated with more assiduity than the head.”īenjamin Franklin, although far less religious than his contemporary Webster, agreed. Webster also highlighted virtue as one of the chief components of education, noting that “an acquaintance with ethics. She even expected him to grow up to be a loser because when he was born she named him Goofus. And of course, the famous Goofus and Gallant always contrast the difference between virtuous and nonvirtuous living! I always imagined that both of the kids mothers wrote the text, and according to poor Goofus mom, he could never do anything right. The same issue features an adapted story from the biblical book of Exodus, recounting the Israelites complaining in the wilderness because of a lack of food. The opening editorial in the February issue, for example, encourages children to love their parents and be open and honest with them, recognizing that they want what's best for their children. (Annie Holmquist)īut the old editions of Highlights don’t just cover history and American heroes they’re also heavy on lessons of virtue. The comic strip Goofus and Gallant appeared monthly in Highlights. Other issues recounted tales of the Pilgrims, featured Thomas Jefferson, and even discussed the freedom of assembly enshrined in the U.S. It wasn’t just the February issue that featured patriotic themes. Even the hidden picture puzzle was full of Americana references, instructing children to look for the heads of Washington, Lincoln, and Thomas Edison, along with images of Valley Forge, the Liberty Bell, and an eagle. The February issue featured stories on both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln that recounted their histories and extolled their virtues, quoted from the Declaration of Independence, and gave instructions on how to host a patriotic party. One of the first things I noticed was the heavy presence of patriotic themes in the magazines. In nearly every issue of Highlights magazine since 1948, Goofus and Gallant. And as I paged through the faded and fragile pages, I began to realize that these magazines offered an education far more in line with the idea our nation’s founders had than the one that schools seem to offer today. Gallant moved to Highlights for Children when the magazine was founded in 1946. Cracking open the February 1952 edition of Highlights, I discovered that Malkin wasn’t joking.
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