The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-02

If It is necessary to have public schools at
all. then It is right and necessary to have
decent schoolhouses, and With public sen-5
timent properly aroused we will have
them. I helicve that the most practical
service that women can give to their
State to-day is to band themselves to-.
gether and declare that every child born
of woman shall have an opportunity to
spend at least a, few years in a good
public schcolhouse with inspiring sur
roundinss and with an effective teacher"
SPLENDID CLOSING.
DR.. McIvers peroration to his splendid
address was loudly cheered and was as
follows:
81 would suggest that this association,
acting as a central association for the
Commonwealth of Virginia. shall organize
the women OF this city and State for the
purpose OF Improving its public school
houses. It will no: require much money
to do this. but if five or ten women around
each public school-ho will organize
themselves into a voluntary association to
visit that school-house, to cooperate
with the teacher and see that the house
is we'll cleaned that the windows are
washed: that the yard is swept; that a
tree or flower is planted here or there,
and that occasionally an inspiring picture
Will be placed upon the walls, 1t Will
not be long before there Will be TeVo-
luton in the character Of the school,
houses men will erect for their children
and the abilityfof teachers they Will en-
pIoy 10 teach in these houses. In the
meantime, these local associations could
find out exactly what children in their
communities are not attending schooi, ana
in a tactful way it could be discovered
why they are not attending. The most
wholesome kind of compulsory education
could he brought about by these assocla-
tons of women. a few books would be
given from time to time. You ought 10
be able to raise here in Richmond. if nee
essary a hundred thousand dollars ior
the promotion of your cheme. You
ought to have reports from alt the locdi
associations to headquarters hH-e, just as
the State superintendent recei~eS Reports
from the county superintendent OF edt-
cation. cxcept that your reports 'Woulo
be fuller and more interesting than the
official reports lie receives and publishes.
"a new day has dawned for women IN
tcllectually.
MAKES HIM GO.
You cannot keep human peiiis
with q wei-trained intellect unem-
ployed. A properly educated person i.as
within him something which makes nm
go. With the new opportunities of edu-
cation coming TO women, there is gCea I
or demand for an outlet for their actlvl-
ties. 1t is to the interest of all or US
that their great tact. enthusiasm anu
power should not exhaust Itself upon
chi,nerfcal schemes or foolish crusades, as
has often been the case with men anu
women of the noblest impulses. Ing
womens clubs Of every kind IN the oou.n
ought to bend their energies for the next
FIVE or ten years towards the solving OIL
the problem of iiitaraCy among our peo-
n1e If Won will declare your purpose
and determination TO abolish lillteracE III
the South. its days are numbered, anu
without your active help and co-opela-
ton. [ do not think that legislators. gov
errors or superintendent will be able 10
accomplish the task.
DIR. FRAZER SPEAKS
There was a wild burst of applause at
the conclusion of lii. MclVer Ihasliln
cont address. and the thanks of the body
were convened to him through Chairman
Anderson. on behalf of the association
DIR. Mitchell stated that the bylaws
would be so amended at the next meet
ing as to include in its operations the
entire State instead Of only the city OF
Richmond Major Anderson in few well
chosen words, presented DR. Robert FRA
ger. one of the representatives OF the
Southern Educational Association, VINO
smoke briefly in explanation of the work
which ne ana tIpl. itSNSi 60 -
doing TO create Il greater public interest
in pui,lic education in Virginia. The hour
was late and DIR. Frazer did not speak
long. but took portion of his time to
praise the splendid address of DR.. Mc-
Iyer and to urge that the association act
upon his OR. nIcIver's} advice.
DIR FRAZER read the resolutions adopted
at the last meeting of the Capnn Springs
Conference held at Winston-Salem. n.
&c. and spoke very briefly in explanation
of the work for better educational adj
vaItages in the South.
Superintendent Fox stated that at the
Central School each evening during the
coming week there would be lectures on
geographical subjects. to which the men,
hers of the association We're cordially IN
yitod DR.. Frazer called attention to the
fact that there were on the stand speci-
mems of work done in the industrial de-
nart,nent of the Bynchburg schools which
could be inspected by those who cared to
see them.
on motion of Mr.. ]. S. Bryan. a stand
inr vote of thanks was rendered the
sneakers for their splendid addresses, af-
Ter which Chairman Anderson declared
the meeting adjourned 1t was IN every
way a complete success. and will nc
doubt result in much good for the cause
of education
oD-s, nT1;cl CrbD MIME