The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-20
EDUCATION In THE SOUTH
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Complaint, Is Made That Southern
Rich Men Are Indifer- -.
ent to It.
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New York Sun Special. Service,

New York Sun Special Service s.>z :. + &
Chicago, sApril 20.-W illian E.. Curtis
in a special from ,Gaatta nooga, Tenn.s to
the Record -Herald ysaNs: Each spring
for five years, aasnun1 berfso pIlilanthro-
pists have met at some convenient point
to discuss the educational conditions of
the, south and devise means for. their
Improvement. The. assembly has! usually
consisted ..ofs men, from the north who
have command of money and poor but
practical educators in the south who
appreciate the deplorables illiteracy rof
their fellow countrymen, and are will
ing to sacrifice their strength and their
lives to- elevate them. ~ s.s
. I do not wish to raise a''sectional is :
sue," but have yet to hear of rich
man in the south putting his hand in
his pocket to find money to pay the ex-
pense of educating the masses. There
are. plenty of rich men in the south, and
they are generous in other directions. In
the city of New York alone there are
many nillionaires from this section who,
notwithstanding their pride in other re-
spects permit the benevolent spirit Of
the north to monopolize the privilege of
promoting southern education. They
never lack words Of patriotism and af-
fection for the Southland, as they call
it,; they are inspired with uncomfortable
enthusiasm when the band plays Dixie y
but when there is a disaster in the
south that calls for financial relief, when
the hat is passed around for contributions
to establish and maintain schools for
their former neighbors, they seldom con-
tribute a dollar, and when conferences
are called to consider means to advance
the welfare of 'the poor white trash of
the south, they never have time to- at
tend: This is not only true as rule
Of rich southern men who live in the
north, but it is even more true of the rich
men who still live in the south They
are absolutely Indifferent to the illiteracy
and morality Of the! masses. They are
full OF sentiment for their beloved South
land, but have no times or money to
devote to the practical, mental and moral
improvement of its Inhabitants.
1 do not mean to be understood that
the spirit of patriotism does not exist
in the south, but I do assert that it is
confined to poor men who have nothing
to contribute but their lives and their
| talents, and are giving those with "a zeal
and a devotion that could not be sur
passed. No public servants in any part
OF the world are entitled to greater ad
miration or gratitude than the country
school teachers In the southern states
because the difficulties they encounter
the sacrifices that are required. Of them
are never experienced by teachers in the
north, and the lack of ways and means
which, they must supply by their ow1
! ingenuity costs them more of strength
and spirit than is expended by member.
Of their profession in. any other part o
| this country. Nor are their zeal and tai
ents and devotion appreciated by thos,
who should give them substantial en-
i courag cement and support.
The greatest obstacle to the educa
tional progress of the south is politics
Public sentiment Is indifferent, and when
ever an appropriation is to be cut down
whenever taxes must be reduced in thi
section, the schools are the first to- b.
!, sacrificed. In the north they are the last