Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-15

The juncture of opportunity and means
the occasion and the naen-a situation and
the soIution-these conjointly mark the
conference of school superintendents and
Ogden movement agents now brought to-
gcther in this city.
An Eldorado Of wealth is not on tap in
the North: dollar given for education
here VIII not be covered by an alien dol
lar. But the spirit Of self-help will meet
the far-echoipg sentiment of men who
are able and willing to succor lnose less
fortunately placed.
the Ogden movement, which is concerned
primarily with the educational needs of
the sparsely-settled rural sections-the
tnreadbare neighborhoods which, having
the minimum of. material means, never
theless furnish the maximum of brain
material for the colleges and universi-
ties of America
To help the country schools. to displace
them with semi city schools on the grad
ed principle, to establish one good school
where six poor schools exist-these are
things which the General Educational
| Board tOEden) is sstrenuously laboring to
bring about
Want No iiImportationsJ,
Nor need it be offensive to the most sem
sitive. Southern schools. Southern teach
ers, and support from funds derived from
local taxation said DR.. Wallace But
trick. He spoke 'sby the card" for he
is secretary of the General Education
Board, fresh from a conference Of the
men who compose it.
The General Educational Board derived
inspiration from the Southern Educational
Board. which was organized first.
AT the meeting held last night, Dr.
Buttrick- the prtcipal4 speaker, outlined
the history of both boards. Perhaps the
greatest good accomplished by the men
who organized the Southern Board was
the creation of a sentiment in the North
which resulted in the formation of the
General Educational Board. since the lat
ter proposes TO furnish the ''sinews of
war''-tlle hard-earned coin-to those com
munities which, in the opinion Of Its
agents. derive help.
But Southerners should make no mis-
take. Self help should ever be kept con-
stantlyf in view. And the needs of the
country districts are slated for first con-
sideration.
The Financial Status.
Men composing the General Educational
Board are not as a rule wealthy men.
Brains-that's what they are. Such was
the impression they made. Finally a.
many times millionaire, whose name has
been revealed. came to them. and said:
Put me down for 100000 a year for ten
years" a million dollars, but ten States
| would absorb that total. and the Board
operates In forty-ive states. So the gift
! was not so large. relatively speaking.
after all True. other rich men have said
| they will supplement the sum. but at best
there will not be enough to release any
community from the obligation Of self
help.
Briefly: DR.. Buttrick said last night:
The object of the General Educational
| Board is to receive funds for the promo
| ton Of education throughout the United
States-frst OF all in the Southern States.'
The receipt Of the 81 900. o0O offer extending
over ten years. and the ract that nlarger
sums will be placed at the disposal Of the
| board" were brought out.
The. Southern Board.
DR.. Buttrick, after tracing the history
| of the Southern Educational Board, said
| that it had lived mainly, through the lib
crafty of philanthropists who relied on
the board to .'designa te'-recommend-
| certain schools in the Southern territory
| deserving Of assistance. The sum of s4o,-
-, had been placed annually in this way.
Otherwise. the Southern Board would
have languished and died.
| The consolidation of small rural
( schools the work Of grading them. the
t problem OF free ransportation-these are
matters which enter into the greatest
problem of the board
| Three sessions Of the superintendents
! were held yesterday. In the morning or
gallization was effected. in the afternoon
| the subjects Of State and local taxation
!. we're considered and at night Governor
Montague and DR.. Buttrick spoke One
welcomed, the other responded. but both
! are agreed.sin the essential needs OF .4.e
| time and locality.
This morning the conference will assem-
! BILE at the Mechanics Institute, to dis
cuss the question Of consolidation Of
schools Sessions will also be held in the
| afternoon and night.
Last nights session was significant
| chiefly because DR.. Buttrick dispelled Illus
sions as to the objects and aims of the
General Educational Board. The session
was devoted wholly to his address. and
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