Note 43 — Chapter II · Nationalism and Localism in History Legislation, 1860-1900

General Statutes of Minnesota, 1881 (including Statutes, 1878), ch. 36, sec. 178, Vol. II; General Statutes, 1894, ch. 36 (Title 5), sec. 3889, sec. 3890, sec. 3891, p. 1053. The law provided “that all school officers in the state may introduce, as part of the daily exercises of each school in their jurisdiction, instruction in the elements of social and moral science, including industry, order, economy, punctuality, patience, self-denial, health, purity, temperance, cleanliness, honesty, truth, justice, politeness, peace, fidelity, philanthropy, patriotism, self-respect, hope, perseverance, cheerfulness, courage, self-reliance, gratitude, pity, mercy, kindness, conscience, reflection, and the will.” Further provisions suggested the mode for carrying out the law. “That it may be the duty of the teachers to give a short oral lesson every day upon one of the topics mentioned ..., and to require the pupils to furnish illustrations of the same upon the following morning.” If only one lesson were given and only one topic discussed daily by the teacher, a full calendar month would have been spent in the carrying out of this law.