The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-18
Gov. Hi and Common Schools.

In his speech in Atlanta, ON Wednesday,
Gov. Hill spoke strongly of the necessity
for educating the masses. "The worst foe
to our democratic form Of government"
he said, twas ignorance" He expressed
himself as being gratiied that the common
school system was making such progress in
the south, and that the people were show
ing SO much zeal in pertecting it. He
declared that he fully appreciated
the burden the white people had to bear in
providing for both white and black chill
dren the means for obtaining a common
school education, but he believed that they
would bear it without murmuring, and
that the day would not be distant when
they would be well repaid for their sacri-
fees in this respect.
There is no doubt that there is great
awakening in the south in the matter of
common schools. In this state there is far
more willingness to be taxed for the sup
port of the schools than ever before The
legislature is responding to the wishes of
the people, and the amount appropriated for
school purposes is being steadily increased.
The whole amount of the common school
fund is now S677, 951 16, and if Judge Halls
amendment TO the general tax is permitted
to stand, something over $4,000 will
be obtained from that source so
that it may reasonably be expected that in
the next fiscal year the school fund will
amount to about 1925, 000-a sum sufficient
to keep the schools open four months each
year. OF course in many counties there is
a special tax for school purposes and the
schools are kept open for a much longer
time-in a few counties as long as nine
months.
The agitation for education for the masses
should be continued. and doubtless will be,
until the schools in every county in the
state are kept open nine months in the year.
The state commissioner of education is
much gratiied with the progress which is
being made in improving the common
school system, and speaks very hopefully of
its future. A great need now, he says, is
two normal schools, one for the whites
and one for the blacks. Such
schools would do work of incalculable bene-
fit in preparing men and women for
teachers. No common school system can
be satisfactory that has not good teachers,
and it is almost impossible to get such
teachers, because they are not to be had. If
there were two normal schools, however,
such as the commissioner Of education sug-
gests, it would not be very long before the
supply of teachers, well qualified to dis
charge the duties required of them, would
be equal to the demand.
Education such as the common schools
provide would not lessen the supply of
laborers. nor would it tend to make laborers
dissatisfied with their condition. The man
who can read and write is more desirable
laborer than one who cannot, because he
works more intelligently and understands
that thrift and economy are necessary to
success.
1t is probable that in this state and others
of the south there will be steady improve
ment in the common schools, and as they
improve, the institutions for higher educa-
ton will be patronized to much greater
extent. The prosperity Of the colleges will
increase in proportion to the increase in
their patronage