The Evening critic., 1882-03-24
THE NATIONS EDUCATORS.
rho superintendcnts aud the Con-
gress Commistccs-An Interesting
Interview To-dny-what the Edu-
caters of the Country want.

AZ tho session OF the convention OF tho Ma
tional Educational Association last night the
committee TO whom was referred tho matter OF
drafting a memorial for presentation to the
Joint committee CT Congress on Education and
Labor submitted their report. committee,
consisting Of DR.. J. w. Dickinson, OF Massa-
chusetts; II. ]. Orr Georgia; NJ A. Newell,
Maryland; j. II. Smart Indiana, and Hugh
Thompson, south Carolina, was then mp.
pointed 10 present tho memorial TO the Joint
committee OF Congress.
at the Capitol.
Shortly after 10 O'Clock this morning the dol
egatcs TO the convention, with the joint COM
mittee, assembled in the Senate committee
room on Patents. Senator Blair called the
meeting to order. DR.. ]. W. Dickinson, secro-
iary Of the Board OF Education OF Massachu-
setts, was then introduced, and spoke us fol-
DIR. Dichiuson's Address.
M. thdiimdn and members Of The COMMITTEE on
Education and Ld6Or
We appear before your honorable body at
this time as committee chosen by the Ma
tional Association Of Superintcndcnts OF Pub.
lie Instruction In the several states OF the
country TO urge upon the National Govern
ment the necessity and tho duty of passing
bill to aid in the establishment aud support Of
our common public schools.
Believing, as we do, that States should main
tain their existence as States, simply for tho
accomplishment of two cnds--the protection
OF the people in the full aud free enjoyment
| of the objects of their natural rights aud for
| their moro perfect developments that the pro-
| exact proportion to their right development
| and that their development depends on the
character and extent of their public educa-
| tional insiitutions-wc claim that II is the
right and the duty OF a democratic State, first
of all, to make as ample provision as Its re.
sources Will allow for the establishment and
| support OF these institutions.
| 1t would seem to be In accordance with
sound philosophy for the National Govern
ment 10 do anything and everything, as far
| Its ability extends, which is necessary to be
done TOR Its own preservation and for the de
| velopment of Its people), and which the States
| or the people cannot do as individuals acting
| alone. Ignorance is dangerous element in
| any community; 1t always has and It always
| Will prove fatal TO republics. For this reason,
| and for the sake of the citizens, considered
| each as an end unto himself, our Republic
should make all possible haste to render uni
| velsal those institutions which have for their
| objects intelligence and virtue.
The last census has Just brought to us the
| alarming information that over 6,000O00, or
| 12h per cent, of our people are ignorant of
the very elements of knowledge.
| We also know that very large portion of
| these illiterate ones are TO be found in that
| portion of our country made desolate by the
| ravages of a destructive war;
This knowledge has assembled for the past
two days, in this Capital City OF the Nation,
| the leading educators and friends of popular
| education from every section OF our country.
| These men, who are devoting their strength
| to the great work of organizing and direct
| ing the educational Institutions of the
States, have come together to consult with
| one another for solution of the terrible prob
| lens created ON the one hand by the vast num-
| ber of illiterate persons In our free communi-
| tics, made to be citizens by the laws and on the
other by the utter inability of many OF these
communities to provide themselves with those
institutions which alone are adapted TO train
| the ignorant into the possession OF q vlrtuouS
| intelligence.
The consultation has been earnest and
| thoughtful, and has resulted In a complete
| unity of sentiment and resolution. They are
that the General Government ought and
must grant temporary aid to the people OF the
country in establishing and supporting COM
| mon public schools that all the children of
the people may have the opportunities of OBJ
tanning sound education.
Mi. Chairman and gentlemen, IL has been
agreed by this committee of the National
Association of Superlntendents of Public In
struction in the States and representing all
sections OF the country, to represent to y0u the
educational wants of these sections; then to
urge upon you the imperative necessity of
meeting these wants blythe passage of a bill in
aid Of establishing and supporting those
schools at least which furnish tho means of
| elementary instruction.
| That these schools may be supplied with
| competent teachers we also ask for tho means
| OF establishing and supporting teachers insti-
tntes, training schools and normal schools.
We recommend that the basis on which the
funds provided shall be distributed be that OF
illiteracy, for in this way the people who most
| need the aid will receive 1t; that the mode OF
distribution be through State agencies, made
responsible TO the Secretary of the Interior
through the Bureau OF Education; this Will
render unnecessary the creation of new Offices
and prevent the clashtng OF conflicting authori
ties; that no State shall receive its share of the
| Iuuu unleES II raises 1tS own SCHOOLS an
amount Of money equal, at least, to one-third
OF what 1t would receive from the appropria
tion. This would require the States to use
their powers in helping themselves in proper
tion as they are helped; that the aid shall be
furnished at once, for when a nation or indt
yiduals are In peril, there is no time to be
lost; and finally 1t is recommended that the
power OF administering the law, granting the
aid, shall be vested in the Secretary Of the
Interior, for then the same power that made
the law can compel its faithful execution.
For the political and moral support Of such
q law, am sure have right to pledge Massa-
chusetts and New England, for the Old Com
monwealth through all the years of her his
tory has been thoroughly and intelligently
| interested in popular education. John Adams
| expressed the universal sentiment of hi:
State, when he said that the instruction of tn,
people in every kind of knowledge that can bt
of use to them in the discharge OF their mora
duties as men, citizens and Christians, or o
their civil duties as members OF society ant
freemen, ought to be the care of the publ
and of all those who have anything to do witt
Massachusetts owes her prosperity and he
SUCH sentiments s as &at TO- her ree rab
= schools. And now, gentlemen, allow me :
present to you one who has given the strength
tion. and In that portion of the country noN
suffering from the appalling dangers I
which ignorance always exposes free pee
pie. have the pleasure of introducing t
you Dr.. Orr, of Georgia, who will speak of tn
!, needs OF his state. and the aid they must rt
ceive that they may help themselves
0 The Case Presented.
0 DR.. Orr spoke about fifteen minutes on tn
4 needs of his State and the South generally 70
j. national aid to maintain the public -schoC
0 system. He gave an encouraging outlook
i the present growing condition of the publ
y | schools OF Georgia, but said that TO put theI
d ON a footing with the schools OF the North
was necessary for the National Government
aid them.
,, South Carolina was heard from through NJ
Hugh Thompson, who is q most eloqueI
I speaker. He said the public schools OF h
Z State were making rapid strides, but hi
j people are poor and sadly In need OF nationi
4 aid TO maintain them. The white people
o South Carolina are perfectly willing 10 contrS
n colored lliteracy, but are unable to do so O
% account OF their impoverishment. They fe'
y that The safety and prosperity OF the Stai
depends upon tho education OF tho colore
10 people, but without helping hand
4. given by the General Governmei
a that cannot be done, and South Carolin
% like other Southern States, Will continue
70 send forth illiterate voters. The speaker sal
10 that there were fully 5,O00,000 children In Il
South who were In need tof education, and
educate that number an appropriation OF
considerable amount would be required. II
people did not wish 10 appear In the light
mendicants and beggars, but they put for
this appeal for national aid 10 maintain the
public schools, because they were unable
help themselves. Mr.. Thompson's addre
was listened TO with great attention.
T. Rev. DR.. Mayo made strong and efectl'
O. speech in favor on giving the South lmmedia
I'd aid.for educational purposes. He.appealed