The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-07-20
Governor Northen on Public Schools.

| Governor Morthen on Public Schools.
In another column we print some ex-
tracts from the address made by eX-
Governor Northen, before the sum
mer school for teachers at Athens.
Few men in the state are so well
fitted to discuss educational topics
ably and wisely as is Ex-Governor
Northen. He has given practically
the larger part of his life to successful
teaching and during his terms as gov
ernOr impelled the state to better and
broader methods of public instruction.
His whole head and heart are enlisted
in the great work of promoting public
schools that shall be competent to
abolish the curse OF illiteracy from our
people.
Notable in the first instance is Gov
ernor Northen's appeal for the substi-
tuition of a board OF public school com
missiOners, composed OF trained edu-
Gators, for the present periunctOry
board. Not for moment disparaging
the intelligence and zeal of the state
officials who compose that board but
who We're selected for other purposes
than the intimate administration of
schools, he truly argues that a board
of experts is as essential for the right
education Of our youth as for the reg
ulatiOn of railway rates and the con
duct of prisons. We do not think the
argument of the ex-governor on that
point can be gainsaid for a moment
In the next place he finds that GeCr>
gia has not now the system of primary
schools commanded by the consttu-
ton Of the state Measured by that
instrument he declares the present
system a substantial failure, disap-
pointing in results and dissipating the
funds by large measure.
1t is in a sense incontestable that
the phrase the elementary branches
of an English education only" contain
ed in the constitution of 1877, has been
turned into rubber by the legislation
since enacted and, as under the gen
eral welfare clause of the national
constitution, much has been foisted
upon our present system that it
should not carry.
The plea for longer school terms
and more efficient teaching are itera-
tons of demands that have been
NOINtQ COlitlHtul4S ny Ht SOiiolitt4ttOll
and are becoming more strenuous
every day The way to secure these
things by the process of local taxation
is as plain as turnpike and only the
reactionary spirit Of false economy,
or the meanness of pure and puerile
greed prevents the application of the
remedy.
1t is fair and ominous note Of
warning sounded to the people when
Governor NOrthen tells our teachers
that if ever any workmen would be
justified in laying down their tools
and fOrsalling their work our poorly
paid teachers of Georgia would be
those workmen. There is not a negro
ditching along our railway lines who
is not better paid for his work than
the average Georgia teacher in our
rural districts And the great pity of
the poor schools that result is the de-
population of the farms by people who
are moving to towns where their chill
dren can get full terms Of schooling.
while other people refGse to re-occupy
the farms because to do so means ig-
norance for their children
The ex-governor's address IS one
that we can heartily commend to the
consideration of every patriot in or
e