The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-21
THE SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
IMPORTANT BODY In SESSION AT
AUGUSTA.

state school Commissioner Glenn
States the Case-Much Interest
shown In Rural school Libraries.
The Question of Local Taxation
for Schools Discussed at Some
Length-ChanceIIOr Hill Lectured
on Agricultural Education.
Augusta, May 20.-The convention of
County School Commissioners assem-
bled in the Tubman High School Audi
forum at 10 a. m. and was called to
order by Hon. G. r. Glenn, state
school commissioner. Richmond Coun-
ty School Commissioner Lawton B.
Evans delivered the address of well
come. He was responded to by Com
missioner J. d. Gwaltney of Floyd
county. who paid handsome tribute to
Augusta, and declared that the whole
state cherished as a proud heritage the
memory of those distinguished sons of
this city to whom Mr.. Evans had re-
ferred.
State School Commissioner Glenn
then addressed the convention. Re-
duced to its least expression the object
of their meeting was to decide how
best they could serve every child in
the state of Georgia. Every system
can only be measured by what 1t can
do for the child. Educational methods
We're daily improving, and the business
of this meeting was to find them out
and apply. Thank God, the altruistic
spirit is growing among us, and the rich
are extending the helping hand to the
Door.
President James s. Stewart of the
North Georgia Agricultural College dis
cuSsed Rural School Libraries" and
this was followed by a general discus
sion, ending with the suggestion that
the secretary should call the roll and
see how many $40 libraries would be
subscribed for by the counties, each
to be offset by a like contribution from
the Peabody fund, referred to by Pres
ident Stewart as far as It
would go, the hope being that other
philanthropists might be induced to
add to the sum.
There were 40 counties represented
and they agreed to take 2S4 $40 IL
braries. which would require a fund of
$3.50. instead of $500.
The chair then announced the Conn
mittee on Resolutions: Commissioners
M. b. Dennis, ]. M. Wall, B. S. Fitz-
patrick, A. b. Hutchinson and H. E.
Smith.
At the afternoon session Commits
sioner NJ. l.. Britain, of Fulton. dis
cussed Local Taxation" saying the
towns, even the villages appear to be
unanimous almost in agreeing that
local taxation" was necessary, but in
the rural districts, II was different
People, therefore, were leaving the
country and crowding into the over
congested cities to take advantage of
the educational facilities. He thought
the best plan was to work on the leg
islature and try to get the laws
changed, and let the counties vote on
the question straight out-not requIr-
ing a two-thirds majority. We in the
South are fifty years behind the rest of
the country in the amount of education
furnished to each child.
After general discussion a commit
tee was appointed to recommend some
practical plan for furthering local tax
alton in the interest of rural schools
Messrs. M. L. Britain, j. ID. Gwaltney,
Warren, Otis Ashmore, and Sanders.
The next question was THE CONSOLE
datio nof rural schools and transporta-
ton of children. '-Commissioner NJ. e.
Dennis of Putnam county leading.
At the conclusion of the afternoon
session the delegates were compliment
ed with a trolley car ride over the
electric railway system. The evening
session was devoted TO an address by
Chancellor Hill of the University on
AGRICULTURAL Education" and consid-
cradle interest was aroused on the
subject of nature studies. plant life.
etc, and there was a general discus
sion following the chanceilors' speech.