The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-04
TRAINING THE NEED OF
VIRGINIA'S YOUNG

Mr.. Roosevelt Page. of Hanover, in pre-
sentins to the convention recently held in
Lynchburg report on compulsory educa-
ton, made very strong plea for the
adoption of this principle in Virginia.
II am here tonight" he said. ito rep
resent the fifteen hundred thousand coun-
trymen and women of Virginia. For the
three hundred thousand dwellers in cities
and towns, owing TO the excellence of
their schools. have not so great need
for compulsory education. The report
which have just read gives the stalls
tics, which are far from encouraging. SO
far as our own people are concerned.
The English-speaking world has COM
pulsory education, except the South, Ok
lahoma and Indian Territory. We say
that compulsory education is undemo-
cratic, and we cite Mr.. JefTerson's doubts
upon the subject of compulsory educa-
ton. and Lord Bronham's objection TO 1t.
But Mr.. Jefferson proposed in his edl-
cation bill that no person unborn or under
the age of twelve years at the time that
such law should go into effect. and who
was compos mentis, should, after the age
/. Of fifteen years. be citizen of this Com
monwealth until he could read easily, In
some tongue, native or acquired; and Lord
Brongham's eloquent oppoftion has been
pverrIdden by the necessities Of the case
and the progress of events. How Mr..
Jefferson would have hailed with de-
light the great work of Mathew Arnold
In securing for his land the inestimable
boon Of compulsory education.
The true reason why the South has
not adopted compulsory education Is
because of the negro question. II is not
worth while TO put 1t upon any other
ground. do not underrate the diff
he.. no. m
determine the question sooner or later.
There is no temporazing about IT. Will
you leave the white man to darkness be-
cause you do not want the negro to have
the light? You deny that education ben
.dts the negro. You are afraid TO say
That education INJURIES the white. Why
because II is not true. and because edu-
cation is known to help the whites
"If education. the best definition of
which can give is right training does
not make the citizen better mentally,
morally and physically. then is eduea-
ton truly g delrsioD and your teachins
is vain.
"If right training. or education, does
not make for righteousness, order, law,
then Il, is a failure. The lower, the more
degraded. the more base, the greater the
need OF education. right training. Let
US not confound terms. Let US carry the
argument to its legitimate conclusion.
Let rs not deceive ourselves, and think
that ignorance is a cure for any evil.
Ignorance Is a cure for no evil.
Il have the same pride Of race the same
amount of prejudice that any southern
man has IN regard TO this question; but
after much reflection and dellperatoh'
do assert with all emphasis that have,
that Il is necessary 10 educate the whisc
people OF the South, even II you have TO
educate the black people They who say
that the capacity 10 read and write IS an
injury to any man, know not where"t
they speak He VINO has learned to read
and write has had to pass through some
mental training. He who mas been taught
10 read and write has had 10 associate
with some mind superior to his own and
each association must needs be beneficial,
or prejudical. according as each superior
mind is clear and honest, or muddy or
vicious.
"a statesman once said that Marx Hop
kins on one end of bench. and himself
on the other was university enough for
him. We all know how important The
personal element Is in all education.
Are you teachers high-minded, hon.
orable, honest and learned? If they are
and you send them scholars who are eacf
compos ments the odds are III favor oil
such scholars learning to ne clean bodied
learned In the elementary branches OF
education.
Are your teachers, slovenly. slatternly
unfaithful, ignorant and vicious? TIL
pupil will soon find 1t out, and the bene
fts of such association be minimlzed
This argument applies to the present sys
TEN as we'll as 10 the proposed one o
compulsory education. You have the pub
lie free school system, and no statesma
or politician would dare TO propose I
abolish 1t.
my argument Is, Make it effective o
else abolish It, Money is spent. the peopl
taxed, and The country schools are In
efficient and inpotent. Forty out OF ever
one hundred children OF school age
the State not on the rolls of the schoo
and forty out OF every hundred SO on ii
rolls not in attendance through tho year.
do not think these children are negr
children The per cent, is lower in cas-
of the negro. but the number. of IL
white children out OF school is dreat
fully large one, Nor will II ever be lei
30 lorg as attendance upon tho school
dependent upon the ignorance, selnshnes
caprice or vice Of the parent. The parei
does not like the school superntende,
or tho school trustees, or the scho
teacher, or the school-houae and Il
child is kept at homo, The parent wan