The South western news. (Dawson, GA.) 188?-1889, 1889-02-06
A Great Question.

North Georgia Methodist confersn-
ce, and which he has repeated on
several subsequent occasionr since,
has caused considerable comment
and, we have no doubt, has awak-
ened the thought of many people
on this important subject.
We are glad to know that the
address viii soon be issued in
pamphlet from. It is compreh>
enbive and able study of the great~
est question which contronts the
p ople of Georgia today. We do
not indoIse all the positions taken
by DR.. Clark, especially its advoc-
acy of compulsory education and
theory that the best system Of pub
lie schools would be one under
which the general fund would be
! distributed among the varions re-
ligious denominations for the sup
port ofsectarian schools. But DR..
Clark makes these preferences mer.
ely incidental to his main plea for
better schools. He makes two COM
plants, both OF which, we belive, are
well grounded. He charges that
the state does not properly support
the common schools, and that a
proportion of the white people in
Georgia do not appreciate even the
door educational advantages which
are offered to their children. The
doctor illustrates both these propos-
itions in a striking maner, He
shows that. while the average white
child in Georgia has chance to 90
to a free school only three months
in the year, the average negro child,
by treason OF outside co tributions
and the remarkable enthusiasm
among the colored race on the sub
ject of education, gets a good deal
more tuition during the year,
The charge made by DIR. Clark
that children OF incident white par,
ents are too often forced TO work
on the farm or in the factory at an
immature age to the injury of both
health and character and at the
irreparable loss Of the opportunity
to educate the young. mind unfor-
tunately has too much foundation
in fact, He lays great stress on
the fact that it is the ambition of
almost every negro to have bis
children educated, that the negro
preachers teach their. flock that it
Is religious and social duty to econ.
omize and stint in order to give
their childrensan opportunity to 20
to school, and that as a result Of
this feeling and teaching there are
many localities 10 Georgia in which
the pro rata school attendance of
negro children is greater than that
OF white children. These are grave
facts and demand the serious
attention which Dr;Clark has given
them. lie draws the proper
distinction between the races as to
native force and does not doubt
that the white race will always
dominate Thea country, but he ape
peals to white parents to give their
children a chance to make the best
use OF that superiority which is a
race heritage. 1t it very probable,
Dr.Clark thinks, that among persons
born since the war the ratio of
lliteracy in Georgia among the
whites Is as great or ever greater
than it is among the negroes. His
address, contains some facts that
are not pleasant to contemplate, but
Tor this very reason they should
be faced boldly and charged speedi-
ly. We have not attempted to give
an analysis of his elaborote argus
ment or even to touch upon its
many suggestions. 1t should be
read by all who have the iutelIigen-
&c and patriotism to appreciate the
present condition OF our common
school system and the crying need
for its improvement. Whether
they agree with DIR, Clark or not
his argument will set them to think |
ing, and AS soon as the people OF
Georgia give to this subject adetgu. |
ate thought we will have better |
schools and a livclier desire amono
the m 'sses Of the white people of
the state 10 give their children ey- |
cry possible educational advan-
tage.