The leader., 1904-07-09
.userlntendent whItaeId,s Appeal.

The department of public educa-
ton, through H. L. Whitfield, State
superintendent, has issued the fol-
lowing appeal to the people Of the
State asking for cooperation in the
educational movement:
To the People of Mississippi:.
AS is doubtless generally known, for
the last three years have waged a
systematic campaign for better
schools. A large number Of counties
and new towns have levied taxes for
better schools, and the state has
largely increased its appropriation for
education. While a distinct advance
has been made along all educational
lines, our schools as now equipped are
wholly inadequate to do the work of
training our young people for success.
ful competition in this twentieth CEN
fury work.
In order that might do my work
intelligently, have carefully studied
educational conditions in other States.
AS a result of these investigations
am convinced that unless we take a de-
cided step forward our children will
not be prepared to compete success
fully with the children of other States
where so much better opportunities
are given for their training.
We live in an entirely different age
from that in which our fathers lived.
1t Is now the age of complex machin-
cry, steam and electricity. Training
is almost everything, brute force
counts for hardly anything. Unless
we give our boys much better prepare
ton than their fathers had they can.
not hope to do one-hah as we'll in the
fierce competition of this new age
The building of the new capital af-
fords striking Illustration of our lack
of that training necessary for the COM
petition of this complex age. The
architect, contractor, skilled artisans,
artists, and, in fine, all those who did
the highest forms of work and re-
ceived the largest salaries, were i'm
ported, while our people did the heavy
work for day wages.
The greatest problem of the State
that which overshadows all others-is
the proper training of our children for
the complex life into which they are
so soon to enter. Mississippi is a
State rich in natural resources and we
have the finest blood in the world.
What we most need is to train this
blood for intelligent mastery over these
rich resources.
Our people are now hopeful for bet
ter things, all desire better roads, i'm
proved methods of agriculture, diversi-
fled industries, higher Christian citi-
zenship and all other kindred bless
ings. But how are we to obtain them ?
The one great lesson we must learn
is, that they will not come of them
selves, that they cannot be conjured
into existence, that the enactment of
legislation will give them to US, but
that We can only get them by the
proper training of our boys and girls.
The necessary basis of this training
is good common schools, we not only
need more schools but better schools;
we must have, better schoolhouses,
longer terms and stronger teachers.
As the head of the Mississippi school
system, l appeal to the thinking peo'
pie of the State to give me their CO.
operation in this work. 1t is my in
tention to continue the agitation for
better schools. During the month of
August l wish to have the various
counties of the State canvassed along
these lines, and appeal to the min
listers, lawyers, teachers, and to all
people who can do work of this kind,
to offer their help. would be glad
to have citizens take a local interest
in this campaign; great help can be
rendered by making arrangements to
meet speakers with conveniences at
the trains.
Please write me at once stating
how much time you can give to this
work and where you can meet en-
Gagements.
/ wish as soon as possible to pre-
pare complete schedule of appoint
ments. Very respectfully,
H. l.. WHITFIELD,
State Superintendent of Education.