The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1905-05-04

apiece, and In this equipment ere in
Guided 500 libraries. Two thousand
and five hundred ef Our teachers Ia 81
year attended Summer schools In order
10 better equip themselves for theIr
great work. 1t will require no prophe.
my friends. TO predict that, should We
oe again so fortunate within the next
lew years as To welcome you within
the confines Of this State. your eye.
will behold vast improvement In odi
educational and industrial affairs.
Pardon me Tor this apparent digres
sion, which | hope will prove TO you
the Interest We feel in you and In your
work. Let me give you some added
welcome to our State and to our cap
ital city. In the name of the great
cause which brings you here; In the
name OF every school and college IN
the State; in the name of those high
interests which 1t Is your mission to
serve; in behalf of the people Of our
State. and especially in behalf OF the
people of our capital city, welcome
you, ladies and gentlemen, to South
Carolina"
Al the conclusion of the Governors
address of welcome, the annual ad-
dress OF Mr.. Robert c. Ogden, presi-
dent of the conference, was delivered
PRESIDENT OGDEN'S ADDRESS
In the opening Mr.. Ogden spoke at
some length of the objects and history
or the conference. Although this con-
ference, he said. has no education body
OF authority, 1t yet has a very deep
community of interest with the South
ern Educational Board, the General
Education Board, and In lesser de-
gree with the board Of trustees Of the
Peabody fund, and the board of trus-
tees OF the Slater fund. These several
boards are SO thoroughly co-ordinated
and sympathetic that every facility
created by any Is at the command Of
each and the commonage Of aim Is so
perfect that waste by duplication or
competition is impossible. The work
OF these boards and funds having been
briefly dealt with, the speaker spoke
of what had been accomplished. 1t is
the leadership of the child that we fol-
low here, he said, inspiring this great
company more than curiosity, possible
entertainment or social fellowship-is
the Interest of the child And it was
just the preparation of this pervasive
influence that awaited the advent of
the new movement for education which
was unfolded in the triple alliance Of
the conference and the two boards.
This movement came at the psyche
logical moment. Throughout this
Southland, isolated and lonely, many
able, thoughtful, we'll informed and
solitary souls were brooding over the
needy conditions of certain localities
with which experience has made them
painfully familiar And with the per-
ceptiOn of need was associated a con-
scious helplessness and vague, indef-
mite hopefulness, or was this condi-
tion of mind solely confined to the iso-
lated and obscure? Men Of large pub
lie affairs, women socially prominent,
were both equally anxious and sadly
doubtful. Here a voice had been
raised, there a little local effort had
been started, and beyond this the pro-
phets were beginning both persuasion
and provision. Then followed the
awakening Of the earnest and anxious
thinkers. A strength of association
was promptly created. Symptoms OF
many sorts indicated the educational
epiphany that has commanded The ad-
miration and respect of educators
throughout the land, the encourage
ment Of progressive citizens, the in
terest Of statesmen. Certain facts
may be briefly outlined.
PROGRESS OF LOCAL TAXATION.
Local taxation for education has
made great progress, notably in Ala
bama. South Carolina, North Carolina
and Tennessee. The constitution of
the State of Georgia has been so
amended as to facilitate local taxation
for schools. The Increase of public
appropriations both through States
and the local tax. for education, has
aggregated many millions of dollars.
New school houses by hundreds, per-
haps thousands, have replaced others
that were lacking in comfort, space
and equipment. Hundreds of made
quate schools have been consolidated
and transportation has been supplied
to scholars that have been incommod-
ed by the changed conditions. School
terms have been greatly heightened.
the qualifications of teachers i'm
proved, and compensation increased
to meet the longer term and better
service.
Laws against nepotism in education
have been passed and thus a beginning
has been made in the removal of a
corrupt and debasing influence upon
education. This is an incident in the
divorce of public education from poll
tics-an end most devoutly to be de-
sired. Perhaps the most encouraging 9
single element of progress is found in
the formation Of local and State Or
ganizations of citizens and educators
for the promotion of public interest in
education. In the cities OF Virginia
large audiences of the best people
have been assembled by the commits
sion to wait upon the teachings Of
men whose souls are awake to the
needs of the children and whose
tongues have been touched with the
holy fire from the altar Of public ser.
vice. Such meetings have been held
elsewhere with success. and power.
Put Virginia's leadership is exception
al in persistence and thoroGghness.
No doubtful curiosity of suspicion
turks in the background; no academic
seclusion, no intellectual superiority,
10 clustered exclusiveness now di-
vides higher from popular education in
the South.
Other prominent educators made
splendid addresses. The meeting was
ali eminent success in every particu-
lar
Second Days Session.
The second days session of the
great educational conference was
marked by exceptionally strong ad-
dresses by notable speakers.
At the Superintendents' Conference
the State Superintendents of the fol-
lowing States were present: South
Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama TayaS TepnerSoo ond -