The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-13
FARMERS WANT SCHOOLS
THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY DIS
CusSE5 EDUCATION.

The Need for Better Schools in Geor-
ods-Commissioner Bradwell, Col.
lanes Jarrett and Congressman
Moses on the Education Question
Movement to Secure Georgia
Exhibit at the Worlds Fair Tho
immigration Question Before the
Convention Again-A COMMITTEES Ap-
pointed to Memorable the / eZisla-
t1re-Fhe Summer Meeting of the
society to be Held in Athens.
The agriculturisss had a jolly day Of it
yesterday. The society was in session aur-
ing the forenoon, but the proceedings lacked
interest TO q good many members, who
wanted to see the sights of the city, and
who were afraid they would miss the Tybee
excursion and oyster roast if they did not
not keep a sharp lookout for it.
The farmer is from habit an early riser.
Many members of the convention were on
the street before o'clock taking in the
CITY. 1t was long time before breakfast
to some of them, who were up before the
rest of the city was awake.
There we're not more than a dozen mem
bars in Masonic hall when President Wad-
dell called the convention to order at $50
o'clock, On account of the small attend
ance a recess was taken for half an hour.
The delegates dropped in by twos and threes
from then until 9 o'clock, when there were
perhaps fifty in the hall.
On the reconvening Col. James Barrett
of Augusta was introduced and delivered
an eloquent address on Education of
Farmers Boys in Georgia. He spoke as
follows:
Mr.. BARRETT's ADDRESS.
1t has been conceded in all ages that the pro-
motion Of agriculture by government would
have the greatest influence upon the material
progress of the state, which necessarily would
improve the mental advancement of the peo-
We viii examine the above proposition as
applied to Georgia and inquire into the reason
why so few advantages have been furnished the
farmers to acquire knowledge that would tend
to mental and agricultural Information.
The cause that has depressed education and
led to the employment of incompetent officials
has been the systematic rule of pauperiZing
education, thereby causing the parent to take
no interest in that which he receives as charity.
! know this will be disputed; but contend that
whenever government relieves parent from
parental care, which God has imposed. the child
becomes an object of charity and the parent 8
care becomes SO light that it increases his
neglect, and therefore degrades and destroys
the benefit received. We should adopt the sys-
TEN of requiring all parents who are able to pay
tuition, II for no other reason than that they
would look closely after the school where they
invest money to educate their children, thereby
creating local inspection. The system Of paid
schools before the war proves this proposition,
as we had fewer white illlterates under paid
system than under pauper system. To Illus
trate: Gov. Northern, who was distinguished
educator, stated at LaGrange that in 1860 there
were 5000 grown up white illterates in the
state and now 128, 600, found mainly outside
the cities and towns. He also stated in his
message that with tae increase of expenditure
upon education we had an increase of iIliteracy.
THE PARENTS TO BLAME.
The parents of the farmer boys are greatly to
blame in the increase Of illiteracy by never
surrounding them with any of the means of
mental culture or anusements; while the hoe,
pillow and ak are the necessary Instruments for
the support OF the body, they are not the means
OF OF mental enjoyment. You may go into the
any sort texcept the Bible) is as rarely seen
there as an ourang -outang would be. Educa-
tlon esglns at the home Preside, and Is propa-
gated at the school-house. therefore it should
be the duty Of the parents of the farmer bows to
lay the first rock in the cornerstone of their
sons education at home
Inc negro Of the state is another cause that
nas prevented the governing class from aD-
proprlatlng the necessary funds to educate the
Whlts farmer boys of Georgia, as the blacks
snare Ghe appropriation without returning any
e4uPalent Tor the money dishursed The
whites Ieel that the little knowledge the Afri
can acquires is dangerous to the state and thai
the more he is educated the greater enemy be
becomes TO his section and the white De ople OF
the south. With these stubborn facts lookine
us in the face daily, is it to be wondered at tia
the mass OF the white people are unwilling &c
tpnow the eavice OF enthusiastic dreamers upoI
the benefit to be derived from universal educa
uon IN mixed population It i
my q deliberate Ropinion that the African
as people can never be intelligently
educated, ana their q vancement in the last
twenty-five years in mental culture is so sinai
as to be almost absolutely nothing, and prove
mat we have expended money foolishly, and il
IS time for the people to cry halt in this alb
ouraty OF the age. L am convinced that thu
mulatto can be cultivated to much higher de
gree than the negro and in a lesser degree thar
the Aryan races.
THE IGNORANCE OF SCHOOL BOARDS
Another reason that has prevented the ad
Va1cement of education and causes the increase
OF nliteracy is the ignorance of the schoo
boards IN the various counties in the state apC
Tue political and family influence which control,
sne eIectlon OF teachers totally unfit for the DO
SIlon they occupy. With an ignorant schoo
. BOARD we cannot have competent teachers and
progressive education, as it is utterly impossible
Ior an unedueated commissioner to lead chill
uEea TO the fountain of knowledge. The rem
edy Tor these evils Is for some member of thf
legislature to Introduce a bill that all members
VI tbe county school boards shall pass an ex
a;uilnatlon nxed by the state school commits
sloIer: ana Jhat there shall be board of exam.
tnsIs IN Atlanta, whose duty it shall be to ex
anime and pass upon the mental and educa.
lonal quallhcattons yearly of the school com
nLissstohefS IN the various counties of the state
gnu 70 reduce the county school board to three
HIeihners, who are to receive the same cornpen-
ohlcial duties. 90 $1,000
AGAIN, that southern white teachers shall be
ee4iployeo 10 teach the negro children if we are
w. lave negro educationl so as to prevent the
CuIe'Vation OF enemies with our money in orl
own midst. With these remedies 1 believe Won
oaI restore confidence in our public schools
~5 - 4Luuce our farmer boys to appreciate the
Vatlon of the soil W VAN ~
o men we consider the revolution that h las
~ UTSGtIeu IN our labor system, and that mind
tftsO Supersede the physical force and Ignorance
~ SIe negro lao Dor previous to the war it be-
sS OngS OF the greatest Importance that there
tb. .u oe established in the various sections of
tbt oeeCe experimental farms where everything
he NC pertains TO practical agriculture shoull
sS " GEng, such as the use of farm machinery
sfoc,. 'u4 .pienlents, the care and breeding o.
onit,e he use and application of fertilizers hay
toat ne, gram growing, and cotton raising, SC
e vqs one farmer boys can learn such without
~ use 10 their parents, as their labor ,Ipor
institAlp,a eIlhiental farm would compensate the
'-'u'ioh Tor the expense incurred
PRACTICAL FARM SCHOOL.
o me experimental station at Griffin should hi
as tel INTO practical farm school for bows
Il tn" se graduates of such school, disseminated
q vea. the state, would do more good in one
nr ral yuan ell the bulletins ever issued by The
erar Upon agriculture; for the reason that thei
tbs'- Ply 4e would be practical. from which al
toId heighnors could learn. One of the trustees
fsr aue mat 1t WAS of little practical use to the
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