The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-04-28
MR.. OGDEN'S

| opening Mr.. Ogden spoke 1T some
length OH the objects and history 81
the conference. Although this confer
ence. he said. has Ito organic relation
To- any official educational body Of au-
thority, il yet has Il very deep COM
munity of interest with the Southern
Education Board. the Genera Educa-
ton Board, ami in Il lesser degree with
the board Of trustees of the Peabody
Fund. and the board of trustees of the
Slater Fund. These several boards are
so thoroughly co-ordinated and sympa-
tEetic that every facility created 10y
any is at the command of each, and
tn ec0momnage of aim is - perfect,
that waste 10y duplication or competi-
ton is impossible. The work of these
boards and funds havin. been briefly
dealt with, the speaker spoke Of wha;
had been accomplished. Ii is the lead
ership of the child that we follow
here. he said. Inspiring this great COM
amy more than curiosity, possible en-
tertainment or social fel~lowship,-is
the interest Of the child. And il was
just the preparation of this pervasive
influence that awaited the advent Of
AK < IA tillNAt " sAA'Aa
which was unfolded in the triple ALL
ance of the conference and the two
DCardS.
This movement came at the psyche
logical moment. Throughout this
Southland, isolated and lonely, many
able. thoughtful, weliinfornled and sol
itary souls We're breeding over the
Eeedy conditions of certain localities
with which experience has made them
painfully familiar. And with the per-
ception Of ..veu WA associated Il e.
sc:0uS helplessneSs and vague, indef
nlte h~0pefCiaeSs. Nor WAS tbs condi-
ton of mind solely confined to the iso-
lated Tx obscure. Mel of large public
affairs. socially prominent,
We're both equally anxious and sadly
doubtful Here ii voice had been ra:s.
Ell, there a little local effort had start
ca. and beyond this ;Le prophets Wert
beginning both persuasion and previs-
lon. Then followed an awakening OF
the earnest and anxious thinkers. :.
strength Of association was promptly
created Symptoms of many sorts in
o!cafeG the educational epiphany that
has commanded the admiration and re
spect of educators throughout tn,
land, the encouragement of progressiv,
citizens, the interest of statesmen. Ger
tain facts may be briefly outlined. 10
Cd taxation for education has made
great progress, notably in Alabama
South Carolina, North Carolina ant
Tennessee The constitution of tn,
state of Georgia has been so amended
as to facilitate local taxation fol
schools The increase of public appro
priations both through states and tn,
local tax, for education, has aggregat
ed many millions of dollars.
New school houses by hundreds, per
haps thousands, have replaced other,
that were lacking in comfort, space an,
equipment. Hundreds of i%nadequat,
schools have been consolidated an,
) transportation has been supplied t
scholars that have been incommode,
by the changed conditions. Schoo
terms have been greatly heightened
; the qualifications of teachers improved
n compensation increased to NEE
! the longer term and better service.
Laws against nepOtism in education
al patronage have been passed an'
;: thus a beginning has been made in tn,
| removal of a corrupt inc debacing in
f1uence upon education. This is an in
cident in the divorce of public educa
ton from politician end nos de