of it. This can be accomplished only by showing the child the government in action and by emphasizing the personal benefits which he enjoys by reason of its existence. After his interest has been awakened in this way, he will naturally find greater interest in a study of the principles which underlie the organization of the government and will be more eager to learn something about the powers and duties of the more important officers. The prime purpose in this book is to arouse an intelligent interest. With this end in view the functional activities of the state and local governments are discussed before any attention is given to the matter of governmental organization. The same plan precisely is followed in the treatment of the national government. It is entirely natural that the child will be more interested in those activities of the government which he himself has the opportunity to observe. Many of these he has probably never connected with the government at all. It seems highly appropriate, therefore, that an elementary study of this important subject should begin with a description of the functions of local and state governments and should proceed from this to a consideration of the national government. This is the plan of presentation which is followed in this book. It seems further proper, in an elementary study such as this is, that the attention of the child should be directed especially to the government of his own state and his own local community. There are large differences in the governments of the several states of the Union, as well as in the local units of government that are established in these states. It is practically impossible to give the child any satisfactory and adequate conception of actual conditions. if the governments of all the states are to be surveyed and the treatment made comparative. This book deals, therefore, with government as it is found in Virginia. There is only occasional reference to other states. Each chapter is followed by a series of questions that may be used as a basis for class exercises. For the most part these questions are not founded upon the subject matter of the text; they are offered simply as suggestions to stimulate class interest and discussion. Perhaps the teacher herself will in some instances be unable to answer them. The teacher should encourage the pupils to consult their parents and others in the community who may be able to enlighten them in respect to these and other similar questions. In this way, it is believed, will the entire study be localized and vitalized. Every teacher will doubtless wish to expand her knowledge of this important subject beyond the somewhat elementary facts contained in this book. Material for a more detailed study of the government of Virginia is not readily available. The only general work on this subject is Dr. F. A. Magruder's Recent Administration in Virginia. This monograph, published in 1912 by the Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore, Maryland, contains an exceedingly interesting survey of the origin and development of the several administrative departments of the state government. The work of each of these departments is also described in some detail in their annual printed reports, copies of which may usually be secured by written application to the respective departments at Richmond. The state constitution and the laws enacted by the General Assembly are compiled in what is known as The Code of Vir ginia, and its several Supplements. A complete revision of this code was published in two volumes in 1919. These volumes may be consulted in the office of any lawyer. By far the best work dealing with the whole subject of national, state, and local government in the United States is Beard's American Government and Politics, published by the Macmillan Company, New York. Young's The New American Government and Its Work, Munro's The Government of the United States, Holcombe's State Government in the United States (all published by Macmillan), and Kimball's The National Government of the United States and State and Municipal Government in the United States (published by Ginn and Company) may also be recommended. Bryce's American Commonwealth, in two volumes, completely revised in 1910, is still a standard work on American government. This work also is published by the Macmillan Company and there is an abridged edition of it in a single volume. Ogg's The Governments of Europe (Macmillan) and Willoughby and Roger's An Introduction to the Problem of Government (Doubleday, Page and Company) are valuable treatises on their respective subjects. Numerous other general works on American government might be mentioned, and there are many volumes dealing in more detail with specific aspects or divisions of the government. It seems unnecessary, however, to present here anything like an elaborate bibliography. New York City, HOWARD LEE MCBAIN. |