Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-06


We also saw that great need was of the
preparation of teachers for these rural
schools, and we therefore resolved that
a considerable part of our work should be
that of cooperating with normal schools
and with other schools prepared to train
teachers. Now then, our problem was de-
fined and we were in a measure prepared
to grapple with 1t. We decided that the
only proper avenue of approach to the
ing northern ideas at the south; quite
the contrary, we believe that the teachers
of the south must be the people of the
south. and that your schools must be or
ganized and maintained by you in har-
mony~ with your institutions and traol-
tons; I'm fact, We have conceived OF our
selves simply as silent partners in the
great and important movement. l may IL
lustrate what we mean: The New York
Central railway runs along the bank OF
the Hudson river at tide water level for
$50 miles 1t is possible along this easy
grade for a modern locomotive to draw 10
Pullman cars at a speed of 90 miles an
hour but when they reach the city or Al
bany there is a shoTp grade for them TO
overcome, and am informed by the mas
ter mechanic of the road that no locomo-
tive yet made is able to draw such train
up that grade. When, therefore, one OF
these great trains reach Albany dingy
locomotive with large cylinders and small
drivers unadorned by cowcatcher; not
permitted to toot it's whistle save in re-
Spouse to the great locomotive at the fore,
couples in behind and pushes the train up
the hill. When they reach the summit
the pusher engine uncouples and quietly
backs down and awaits the next train
that needs its help, while the magnificent
locomotive and it's train speeds across the
The General Educational Board only asks
to couple in behind with your trains and
help you up the grade, and when you have
overcome the grade we promise to back
down and out Of the way.
Let me now refer to of the most i'm
portant features of work, namely, that OF
conferences with state and county superintend-
ents We do not presume % can sucn en- com com
fer with state superintendent and the con-
ferences are called by these officials ana we
say that the first of these conferences was held
in the state of Georgia. Let me tell you
briefly about this conference, which was heid
in the city of Athens in September OF THIS
year. over 100 of the county school commits
sioners Of Georgia gathered at that historic
and classic center Of learning. We We're well
cor,a5 nv that prince of gentlemen, Chancellor
HILL and the conference was PRESIDED over py
my friend. State Superintendent Glenn. IRE
vious TO the conference series of questions
had been prepared by representative educators
of Georgia including In their NUMBER Chan-
celor Hill, Superintendent Glenn, sqpeIlnse'ip
Evans and President r. Q, Branson or the
uormal school. These questions were prlnteo
and space was left for written answers. Al
the conference the county commissioners as
sembled in classrooms OF the university ana
answered these questions, over lOO IN nul.etS,
facts regarding educational conditions in Geor-
gia After these questions had been answered
in this way the papers thus hlSu GUY oootsd GER
tain topics for discussion. It Is unnecessary
for me to. go into details. time viii not per
milf hut in a word would say that for two
davs we discussed together such questions as
1.-The consolidation Of schools and the uahs-
portation u bp1 uPpIS, mature study and
manual training" what education would you
give the negro and other topics of vital in
terest Dean Russell Of the Teachers College,
New York City, who was presen. Win a IA
through the sessions OF this conference, sal9
politically what he has repeated a sSle con
ference of educators he had ever ATTENDED IN
At this point and quite in passing, l ought
10 say that we are specially interested IN pro-
noting what is known in vague way as
the new education we . nave aS' fecta for
nurDoses of culture, thousand Facts IRON
vour own door yard worth more than a
thousand facts from classical antiquity. (Dr.
Buttrick then illustrated by two or three prac-
teal examples what is meant oy tne ne"
educaion.) -,.-..o. .,,oh a.
was held at Athens have been arranged LOT IN
the following states Virginia, North CaIonna,
South Carolina. Alabama ana Louislaha a.. du We
naming state superintendents or the south:
think you can at once see the ereat Valus
~ these conferences. The meeting together ana
the discussion of practical questions BY the
county commissioners or the state Is OF Aseh
sufficient reward for the pains ana labor m
volved but in addition TO this the Doaru WhlCh
/ REPRESENT is made acquainted with the facts
in a state, with the men VINO are charged
with the responsibility OF educaung the youhs,
and we are able to select certain favorable
places in a state where real and practical work
for rural schools can be done For example,
largely as a result Of the conference held at
Athens we have been able to select certain
counties in the state where we are already IN
cooperation with the commlssioners. ha "a S
county of which Hon. NJ L. Duggan Is the
commissioner, for example. Mr., Duggan has
raised a sum approximately Sl,9OO with Wnlch
he has added one month, and that the nrst
month Of the year, TO all the schools OF the
county white and cOlored- He wrote 10 our
board and asked us If we would contribute an
equal amount 70 proIong the term an additional
n,onth AT the end of the year. He further sug-
gested that he would be glad TO nave us give
three-fourths Of said amount next year ana
one half OF said amount for the following year.
after which the county would be able TO main
tain schools for eight months without outside
help. II is perhaps unnecessary TO say that
our hoard promptly responded to this reasona-
BILE appeal and appropriated sum or money
which in the aggregate Will pc something more
missioner Duggan. Commissioner Dennis, of
Putnam county, came to US TO say that he had
raised 81 400 in order that the schools OF his
county might be prolonged one month. and We
promptly entered into an alliance with him
appropriating for Putnam county on terms pre-
cisely similar to those Of Hancock county
sum of money which will exceed $4,000. Our
friend. Commissioner Britain. OF Fulton county,
came to US saying that there We're two schools
in a remote section Of this county which
prepared to consolidate. and II we would appro-
pirate 500 he would undertake to raise
equal amount in order that a two-room school
house might be built and that the county board
OF Fulton county would support two teachers
for that school. This we promptly did. There
are In correspondence where I strongly hope a
similar work may be done. You will notice that
In a proposition like this there three
sential factors. First, the man. given such
commissioners as Duggan Dennis and Brit
tain, other conditions are hardly worth men,
tioning. They themselves are guarantee that
money contributed will be wisely and perma-
nently invested The second factor is the
operation Of the local community. A third fact
Is that within a reasonable length Of time a
large work will be supported by the county
itself.
1 may mention some other things that we
have done in Georgia: For example. we have
contributed $40. 900 t. the School of Technology
tribute a like sum- we have contributed s.. 600
year for three years for 100 scholarships at
the normal school in Athens said scholarships
having been duplicated by the patriotic women
of Georgia so that 200 Daughters OF the Con-
federacy are now able to study at this normal
school through the cooperation Of the women
OF Georgia and the General Education Board ;
we have contributed modest sum TO the
of which was laid at Athens last Saturday; We
have also contributed in smaller amounts IN
der the advice and counsel of state and county
commissioners certain sums for negro schools,
specially those which are engaged in the train
ing of teachers. In all we have contributed to
the state of Georgia sOmethingin excess or
$50. 600 Just an earnest of our good intentions
Il has been suggested to me that ! might say
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