The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1898-11-13


al principles, Through their ig-
norance and lack of training we may |
that the state annually |
a vast waste Of intellec-
tual and moral forces. Seeing this /
and perpetual loss to
the state the founders of the /. I. d
g. attempted to arrest it as far as
possible by fitting teachers for good
and Acceptable service. My own
experience as State Superintendent
Of Education leads me TO the un-
happy conclusion that thousands OF
bright minds in our common schools
are blunted, if not wholly ruined by
the vicious system of instruction
practiced by so many so-called
teachers. Three hundred thousand
children in the graded and rural
schools of the state are in urgent
need Of profession ally trained teach
ers. Eighty per cent Of the teach
ers in the common schools Of Miss
issippi are women. Be it far from
me to cast appersions upon the no.
BILE army of men and women wfo
are striving to make citizens ior the
state through the common schools.
My association with them has eX-
cited my highest admiration for
them, but they, themselves feel the
need of professional leadership. By
training our students for such mis-
sionary work we shall do the state
invaluable service. AS / understand
the law these are the principal ends
for which this school was establish
ed. It is true that no student is re-
quired to practice the art or pro-
fession here acquired, If she enters
here she is expected to pursue
course which will fit her for such
service as occasion demands. In
adjusting our curriculum to legis-
ldtive will these ends must be kept
in view, and we must consider the
interest of the great majority, rath-
er than the wishes of the select
few, whose interests, however, will
be conserved as far as possible
What nobler purpose could we, the
guardians of these young women,
have than this? What loftier am
billions could animate US? But let
me charge you, ladies of the fac
ulty, that in the prosecution of
these duties we today assume, a
union of our energies is essential
That a house divided against itself
will fall, is as true in the scholastic
as in the spiritual world. AS pass
through the devious intucacies of
the task assigned me | shall need, l
shall expect your Jealous cooper
alton, your loyal support. Disloy-
atty is treason and in my experience
as an executive | have always treat
ed it as a disqualification regardless
Of scholarly attainments. The high
qualities which you manifested dur
ing the trying ordeal from which
the college is emerging and the he
role conduct which you displayed
when all was shrouded in gloom,
entities you to high commentator
and consideration. Women pos
sessing such traits of character are
capable ofreadering most acceptable
service.
And now a few words wich you,
young ladies of the student body:
You too have duties to perform.
fhe exalted privileges which you
enjoy in this splendid institution,
carry with them responsibilities of
no mean order. A mother is al
ways judged by the chara3ter and
conduct of her daughters, so also is
a school judged by the character
and conduct of its students. In this
age more than in all others oppor-
tunities for higher culture are guar
anteed to women. Educational re-
are being removed and
woman is having a fair chance in all
proper fields of human endeav0r
But there are some tendencies in
feminine fields which are danger
Gus. Opportunity is often mistaken
Tor unbridled license. Many women
thrown upon their own resource
seek to pass beyond the pale OF
woman's divinely limited sphere.
Ia the unequal contest Of life every
good woman who runs the race
alone receives the homage Of all
good men. in flung yourselves
for lives of usefulness and inde-
pendence you shall receive from us
that helpful sympathy which goes
out from teacher to pupil. In this
busy world of ours there are limit
less positions of usefulness and
honor for the we'll trained woman.
Your presence here means that you
have a purpose in life, and you will
find in this institution that the stu
dent who works most will be most
respected and honored. Labor dig
mites and elevated womanhood, bat
it matters not what training a wom-
sn may receive, it matters not what
intellectual culture a woman may
acquire, she must always conform
her life to the divine will.
l would advise you to eschew that
education which SCOTS at the BUSH
ness of home makiug, which UNDER
rates domestic virtues and which
inevitably leads its devotees into
the realms of intellectual bigotry.
The best training is that which
fits you for natures sphere, for af-
ter all it is through the home that
L.