The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-02-28
THE SUNNY SOUTH.
Supt. kenaston Speaks of His Trip
and the Convention Work.

SUD-. honaSUOn, VINO returned MOu-
day from his trip to Florida to at
tend the national meeting of city
school superintendent, gives the
FREE Press the following impression
of his trip in the south, and the work
of the association he attended.
There were present uperintendents
from nearly every state in the Union
at their great congress at Jackson
vile, Fla. The meeting was held
there to give northern men chance
to visit the south and if possible to
interest the south more in education.
Many men from the north and few
from the south were present and all
felt that the work of rOusing general
interest in education is great work
among the masses who never had a
chance. The problem is difficult
one. The intense feeling Of all the
whites is that the two races must not
be educated together and that whites
should not teach the negroes. At
their conventions, on railroads, in
any social way they must not come
together. In their poverty this makes
system of public schools for both
races a vast expense and as result
schools are few, far between and poor,
with very short terms. 1t is pleasant
to notice that all the states are at
tempting to meet this great need by
forming state systems and voting
money. Much of this great work is
being done by teachers, missions and
capital from the north, Every church
is represented in these schools and
much money given outside of church
lines as the Peabody and Slater funds.
In spite of all the talk about the
blacks being 1000 years behind the
whites it is evident from their display
at the Atlanta Exposition and at the
common negro schools, and teachers up
to the Howard and Fisk universities,
that the negro is quick scholar and
capable of taking on our rich Ameri-
can civilization, and that rapidly.
They need to be taught the various
industries, how to cultivate the land,
keep and elevate their homes, make
garments and build houses. They
need much before and besides book
knowledge. The negro is very religi-
Gus person, he needs to be taught to
be a judging, working man with some
higher ambitions of life and work.
There is need and call for cultured
young blacks and whites in the south
as is nowhere else for young men. The
field is ready for laborers and rewards
for work will follow. Social cast is so
sUrong that colored men did not at
tend our great convention. Yes, the
leading lights of the country dis
cussed in the best meeting ever held,
the common questions that vex every
teacher in the country, such as "Ma-
terial to make up course of Study"
"Means for the bettering of teachers
"Child study, Correlation Of studies,'
Function of supervision, 1.-THE
value of the Kindergarten" etc. In
the minds of leading educators there
is new education which is sure to re-
volutiOnize the schools of the country.
In the past they have not done all
they should. They will do much more
for the youth in the future.
1t is pleasant to know that the
teachers of Mankato in normal and
public schools are abreast with times
in education and studying these new
educational problems and inaugural
ing them in our work as fast as they
warrant. 'Prove all things, hold fast
to that which is good" is their maxim.
U. S. Commissioner Harris was east
ly "Jocile Princeps" among these
hundreds of Supts. and speaks with
no uncertain sound for the new educa-
tion. The new era, new conditions
into which our civilization has come
demands more rational teaching in all
grades and no one can apply these
methods and do the best work with
out careful study of these new topics.
Every child must have good educa-
tion before he enters the work of bust
ness, was the urgent cry of all dele
gates with manifold reasons given.
The condition of the south as to her
agricultural, Industrial, economic,
educational and social forces is most
deplorable. When the south is rein
vigorated by the best things and
teachings Of this glorious era and
civilization, there will be ten times
the trade between the two great Sec
tions of our country. The movement
of large numbers of people from north
to south is already taking place to the
evident advantage of both sections,
and l believe that instead of being
the poverty stricken, thriftless, ignor-
ant people they now are, the great
states of Mississippi, Alabama, Flori-
da and others, will increase in wealth
90 foc+ &c tho p.Nrth hoe Groat oI