The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-17
SENSATION DEVELOPS
 IN HAVIS-WISE CASE

dlScuSSion or educational matters ana for consultation with experienced educa- | tors over plans and methods for making l better schools Perhaps not since the convention of 1861 have Alabamians come together with such jealous interest in a cause--an interest so oeep and heartfelt that it manifested itself in no form of harangue but in quiet, determined VOW on the part of each Superintendent to go back home and do his utmost to spread the gospel of education he had heard preached in Montgomery and to commit nicate the enthusiasm he had gained there to his neighbors at home. These super intendents are keeping that VOW. The patient, earnest teachers, who few years ago were almost In despair have all at once awakened to ind morning bright with promise.
 "The rift in the cloud Is growing wider and wider. The Legislature has already passed measures looking toward the i'm provement of the schools and the protec- l tion of the teachers. It may be trusted | to do still more before it's final adjourn | ment. The public conscience toward pub | lie education is beginning to be quick ened. Direct antagonism to free educa- ton is retreating farther and farther | from the centers of population. Commit | mites are beginning to discriminate be- i tween trained and untrained teachers. The profession of teaching Is becoming
 
 The outlook Is hopeful and 1t Is fitting
 that this body of teachers, representing l every kind of educational interest in Ala 1 bama, should in their meeting in Brm-
 ingham, where many of the most import ] ant movements toward better education
 have had their beginning and their early | fostering care, pause moment to cele-
 brate appropriately what we have right
 to hope is the dawnihg of an era of ad-
 varcement in education.
 The one great need in Alabama is a
 widely diffused belief in general educa-
 tion--a belief in the education of every
 child, and not that of the favored few
 a belief that It's general diffusion through
 every stratum of society from the highest , to the lowest, is absolutely necessary for | the upbuilding of the commonwealth. This | belief is not even now widespread. The
 advance that has been made consists in
 the absence of active antagonism. No
 one will now dare publicly oppose general l education. But public sentiment is in i state of indifference. at least 1t fears that | we are not able, and 1t is not ready to l dare try. When public sentiment really l favors the diffusion of educa ton, then
 there will be no further trouble in ob-
 tainipg 1t. People get what they really | want. Until they make the need become
 a want they will be indifferent toward its attainment There Is very general | evidence that people are beginning to re-
 alize the need for education, but not yet
 a majority of the people. not even all the
 people who read the newspapers. Never
 theless there has been a distinct advance
 along this line. Every patriotic teacher l will earnestly endeavor to help on this | advance. There are thousands of citi-
 zens whose indifference toward education
 may be dissipated by the efforts of the
 teachers One teacher may organize ef-
 fective forces and win over a whole coun-
 ty. I am convinced that a campaign of
 education organized under the leadership
 of the distinguished representative of the
 Southern Educational Board in this State
 would be able to sweep away all indif-
 ference toward education and make our
 people enthusiastic believers in it's power,
 There is one thing I wish to speak of
 specifically and particularly: it is the need
 of sympathy and cooperation among
 teachers. No cause can succeed without the union of its forces Our cause is one in which every teacher worthy the name must feel an interest next in intensity to , that which he feels for his family and
 his religion. Our cause will win if we can unite forces. If we can put aside our timidity. if we can put aside our diff
 ferences, and work together in every part
 of the State, there can be but one result In this day of expansion let us expand
 our conception of what is the duty of teac hers.
 There should be organization in every
 county. Jefferson and some few other
 counties are setting the example. When , teachers meet, organize and discuss edu- cational matters, the public pays atten- tion. the press reports the work An opportunity Is thus given to awaken and enlighten the public. We can improve this opportunity if in our discussions in , these meetings. and in the papers. We are
 careful to say something worth saying | and to say 1t forcibly.
 Tt is not true that teachers them f selves are largely responsible for pool F schools. How many teachers have earn. I estly striven to improve these conditionsi , How many sacrifices have we made for , the good of the schools? From the very beginning up to this time no cause has I ever been won no reform has ever been : carried out no advance has ever beer Q made, except through the sacrifice of
 somebody's time or energy or reputation or even life. Selfshness and self-satls ! faction will never help us forward f Our poverty Is not so much in purse i as in appreciation of our needs. It is
 a fact capable of demonstration that or benefaction. however munificent, could a bring to a comm unity such rich blessing. in results. as can he brought by the growth and development of a desire tc have good schools and determinatio.
 to have them, so strong. that any kind
 or sacrifice would be made 60 secure them
 That teacher who can aWaks n such d desire In a community IS theref ,re g
 greater henefactor than A Ro ckefeler, O. a Carnegie. Eacn teacher wherever hC may serve has this inestmahle privilege , the whole State needs awakening; thor, | is work of this kind in every county, will
 lage, town and city. The land is rea1y
 for possession; let us move forward and a possess 1t.
 f We have talked for years about the
 improvement of the schools, and the i'm provements nave come slowly Is it mol
 now time to work? to work with g definite purpose kept steadily before Gul oyes-tU work toCeth ,r-al wi.n the s1nlt l purpose, that of making our comm Dn. 3 wealth which is dear as a mother t(
 us. awaken to a realization of her neeC of generally diffused, adequate. enligh tened system of Rducation?"
 !, The program was taken up in regular T order. A number of interesting paper: , are being presented and each one eicits | much discussion. A splendid session has . started.
 Mine Workers Convention. h The second days session of the scalt