The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-04
AN EDUCATIONAL DISCUSSION.

An educational conference met at
speaking of course. The terrible de-
fciencies' of the southern school sys-
tenn were ratified heavily. We often see
such things said of city schools in the
north and by their W people. What
good, if my is to come from all he
flow of wisdom may be determined
hereafter. Among those participating
in the discussions were Rev. DR.. j. l..
M Curry, of Peabody Fund, and DIR.
Walter II. Page, of New York, and
Prof. Chas D. McIver, of Greensboro
Normal school. In one place the report
had him REV. Dr." Rev. G.. S. DECKER
man, field agent of CapOn Springs con-
ference OF last year made a sensible
talk. He called attention to the fact
that the problems in the south are diff
ferent from those in the north. h
country districts in the former are
more sparcely settled; schools are
widely scattered in many places, and
too much rowded together in others.
There is lack of knowledge of condi-
lions, and a great need of meetings OF
educators to confer together as to the
best methods of changing such con-
dftions as are unfavorable."
DR.. McIyer plead for educating the
-womer. He urged education upon all.
He thought hat the people do not yet
know that there is more money in an
idea than there is an acre of land. If
some of the great amount of money in
the north could be put into the hands
of an official committee the same lever
age might be given to the country
schools as has been given to those in
the towns. Lei the south help also by
giving a more generous tax for educa-
ton. We would have a little less land.
perhaps, but we would have more
brains"
DIR. Page introduced a resolution, af-
ter speaking, to this effect:
Resolved, That a committee be ap-
pointed at this meeting to select a
group of forty public-spirited and rep
reSentative men, who shall direct a
scientific, first-hand, original investiga-
ton of popular education in the south
ern states, with the aim of publishing
for the information of educators and
the public a report covering the length
of School-terms, the condition and ade-
quacy of school houses and apparatus,
the amount of money and the
methods of expenditure, the methods
of appointing teachers and superinten-
dents, and their payment; n to make
a comparative statement of school
laws"
While such gatherings may awaken
attention, yet after all it remains with
the people of a state to attend its own
educational system, and to the raising
annually the "sinews of war" Outside
opinion will not go far as he south
would have been made long ago a par
adise in morality and one great univer-
sity of knowledge if northern opinion
could have so made it. Speakers from
many sections of the north spoke. At
ter all such men as DR.. Dreher, DR.. Nc
liver and Booker Washington probably
know more of real conditions than a
brigade of northern professors and
preachers know now or will ever know.
There was a plain speaking Professor
Lindsay, but whence he came is not
stated. The report in New York Even
ing Post says:
Professor Lindsay's address was
distinguished by it's frank and en-
2hatic condemnation of the fifteenth
amendment to the federal constitu-
ton, hic he pronounced one of the
most absurd pieces of law ever en-
acted"
If the north would return to the south
h $500, 600, 900 stolen in cotton and the
81 200. 900, 900. or more, aiken to pension
northern soldiers, the south could pro-
vide we'll without outside charity for
all of its scholars, giving longer terms,
building better houses, paying higher
wages and ~elevating the standard of
teachers as we'll as the curriculum of
schools
a MERE GLIMPSE.