Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1905-05-03

y
a special tax has already been won:
1t is incorporated in the organic law
of the State, and we are now extend
ing the battle lines to the various dis
tricts, 400 Of which have already eXer-
cised this prerogative. New victories
are constantly being gained along this
line. and within the next few years we
confidently hope to greatly enlarge our
army of educational progress.
During the past year we built 175
school houses, and we improved and
equipped many more. These buildings
ranged in cost from $500 to $4,000
apiece, and in this equipment are in.
cluded 500 libraries. Two Thousand
and five hundred of our teachers last
year attended summer schools in order
to better equip themselves for their
great work. 1t will require no prophet,
my friends, to predict that, should we
be again so fortunate within the next
few years as to welcome you within
the confines of this State, your eyes
will behold vast improvement in our
educational and industrial affairs.
Pardon me for 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 tbs
name of every school and college in
the State; in the name of those high
interests which it 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
At 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 Nir. Ogden spoke at
some length of the objects and history
of the conference Although this CON
ference. he said. has no education body
of authority, It yet has 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
or 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 1t 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, well 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-
ceptlon OF need was associated a con
sclous helplessness and vague, indef-
lnlte hopefulneSS or was this cOndi-
tlon OF mind solely confined to the iso-
lated and obscure? Men OF large pub
llc affairs. women socially prominent
were both equally anxious and sadly
doubtful. Here voice had been
raised. there n 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
q t,sr
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
10 meet the longer term and better
service.
Laws against nepotism in education
lave 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
single element OF progress is found in
the formation Of local and State or.
ganizations of citizens and educators
tor the promotion Of public interest In
| education. In the cities Of VIRGINIA