Today's DAR
It is back to school time! In DAR, the new kid in school is the Education Commission. Created by the Storage Administration, the Education Commission facilitates communication and coordination among the National Society’s education-related committees: American History, Community Classroom, DAR School, Junior American Citizens, Junior Membership, and Literacy Promotion. The Commission also promotes the education-related initiatives of other national committees that are not officially part of the commission.
Introducing the Education Commission
The education mission of the DAR is the same today as it was at our organization’s founding: To carry out the injunction of Washington, in his farewell address to the American people, “to promote, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge,” thus developing an enlightened public opinion, and affording to young and old such advantages as shall develop in them the largest capacity for performing the duties of American citizens. In 1903, the newly formed Patriotic Education Committee promoted the mission through lectures, in many languages, on American history and good citizenship and through fundraising for scholarships and for the “betterment” of city, mountain, and county schools. Today, the National Society has six education-related committees, a scholarship committee, and this commission, all of which are dedicated to carrying out our founders’ far-reaching and broad vision for promoting its education mission.
The Education Commission webpage is your one-stop resource for accessing national education-related initiatives that “Light the Path of Success” for students of all ages. The committee landing page has links to committee webpages and their key education-related initiatives.
Look for the Education Commission’s Light the Path of Success Newsletter coming later this fall. This newsletter will be the National Society’s only education-focused newsletter. It will highlight national education-related initiatives and programs and illuminate state and chapter success stories, such as the installation of a Book Vending Machine at a Title 1 dual-language school in Texas. In addition, it will shine the light on the positive impact of National Society’s two classroom grant programs: the Community Classroom Committee’s DAR American Revolution Legacy Grants and the Junior Membership Committee’s Classroom Grants.
Join the Education Commission on the Daughters Online Community (DOC) . This community will augment the discussions in the communities of the individual committees that are part of the commission. Initially, the Education Commission community will discuss how chapters support adult education.
Help the National Society provide grants for educational initiatives and programs for young and old anywhere in the nation or in countries with an overseas chapter by donating to the Friends of Education Fund. This fund currently finances the DAR American Revolution Legacy Grant program of the Community Classroom Committee. A contribution of $200 or more qualifies you to purchase and wear the Friends of Education pin on your official ribbon!
Add more light to your pin collection in the new year by purchasing the Light the Path of Success Pin when it becomes available. Proceeds benefit the Friends of Education Fund. The Education Commission is excited to help chapters further the DAR education mission. Together, we will Light the Path of Success for students, both young and old, during the Illuminate Our Legacy administration.
