The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-04

AIr. Perkins then made cllusi0n TO the
great Jefferson. and elpeci lly tc him as
lhe Father of the public schools Of Viz
gip.a as he called him. and then referred
10 the picture OF William Pitt, Earl
Chatham. also IN The hall
Then SIR. Perkins alluded 20 the statues
OF the great men which adorn the cap
itol square and the capitol building as
n1ins the objects from which to draw les
SONS of patriotism and made eloquent re-
ference also 10 the statues OF General Lee
in the west-end and the Soldiers and
sailors monument in the cast-cni Of
RichWond.
He wanted to see the public school sys-
tom perfected and extended until the
great Thomas Jencrson's idea could be
carried out and then not CnIy would
there bee free schools but free colleges
ard finally free university.
Mr. Perkins was heartily applaudod
during his speech and at IT'S close. Mr.
Massey then said his idea WAS TO have
them an together TO as 10 confer regard
.ng the best methods of furthcring the
great cause o. Education and he wanted
TO have the whole Board together with
the superintendonts.
lie read telegram from the Cover
nor NJ ola Point Comfort explaining biz
absence from the meeting By reason OF
the advice Of hls physician.
MAJ. X. TAYLOR SCOTT.
Hon. r. Taylor Scott. Attorney-Gen-
eIal OF Virginia, ana member Of the
State Board of Education, was then IN
tr0ouced by Mr.. Massey and received
with long and loud applause.
Mr. Scott said ne ret IL was IKE
carrying Goals TO Newcastle TO sDeaN
OF education TO those before him. but
as De had been invited 70 do so, they
must bear with him.
lie paid beautiful and eloquent tribute
20 the value and power OF education,
which, he said was quality OF the mind
which never dies.
lie saw before him. he said. superin-
tcndents OF schools from where the waves
kissed the sands OF AccOnac 90 the blue
and rugged mountains Of the Southwcsi.
you must have teachers he SAID;
rot mere hearers of lessons, ana you
must siye them ideas. Teach history
truthfuly when you teach it,"
lie remembered reading IN DR.. J. VIII
lam Jones Life of General Ice that
story of the boy treading Ia his father s
footsteps in the snow, and how IL maze
the father careful as 70 his example tor
the youth and drew the moral Tor tue
teachers before him.
Abiding 10 the study CT q history OF
the United States. he ,-tlteG 10 near
from them what history they thought the
best. and especially regarding one that
told the truth about old Virginia.
The question OF the study Of the ver-
nacular or Kings English. as he called
j. and the study OF geography. and other
studies were all-impOrtant ones. and he
wanted 10 know what the members OF
the conference thought OF All these
Il i1=s.
He wanted them all 10 touch elbows
and march forward In the cause OF cdu-
cation. and there could be no such word
as fail
Major Scott declared that the civiliza-
tion Of the Southern people was the
greatest on the face OF the earth. lie
c''ed the long list of the great men or
Virginia who were Shareholders in con-
trasting the civilization OF jamestown
with that OF Plymouth Rock. ana hoped
his hearers would teach TIE children
that the civilization which began at
jamestown was just as good and pure
and holy as that Of Plymouth Rock.
p Comin2 10 statie.ics Major Scot' read
out figures furnished by the Office or
the Superintendent of pubrc T-strtc-
alton. There are now I'm operation IN
VIRGINIA Gi29 schools for white children.
and 800 schools for eolored children-a
total OF S3Si schools: ard the scholars
numbered IN white schools. 40 s56 and
colored. i2l.s77-A total Of 1852 l3s.