The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-01
DR.. Alderman's Address

DR.. Alderman's Address.
When DIT Alderman had been pre-
scented By NJ. Montague. he said in &C
acknowledgement and by way OF int-oduc-
tion:
Il thank our distinguished presiding
officer Tor his gracious words o. irtroduc-
ton Two years ago. when. 81 Governor
Of the Commonwealth. ne was pouring his
energy and soul into this movement. he
Kindly presented me 90 my first Virginia
audience. Aiy 0rst impulse tonight is
20 congratulate and 70 praise the Gov
ernor Of Virginia. who now guides its
dcstinles. and state Sunerintoudent fCE-
Eleston. and an those who have assisted
them. for the thought ~ tnis great meet
inc and FOR its successful accomplish
ment u is the greatest educational
meeting 7 have ever seen in any South
ON state. and IT'S influence Will Ions en-
dure
MY third Impulse IS to praise and
conCrat 20 fhe teachers and school Off
cers ~ Virrinla on their presence hero.
have mysrif posted "a trousand miles
20 hc here. 70 get the ~nir2tior ~ this
association. which - tee greetest ca'eo-
lcssou iu unity ever gifen in The Geld
% education in this region
With this introduction. Dr. Alderman
addressed himself to IFS theme. the
genesis and development o. free public
education and the successive advances
w4.cn have been msde ia THIS direction.
He contrasted old conditions with new,
elaborated the underlying causes Of every
great educational advance and sum-
married. with splendid effect tie educa-
tiOnal achievements attained by legislation
and public sentiment The address was
optimistic. set stlriulatlve of continued
and unremitrinE erorf until the dreams OF
the prophetic educator OF the enliEhteu-
uent and refinement aud elevation OF man
Il 4 uf.r
ing the paramount Importance o. educa-
tion. and especially OF rural education. thu
speaker said In part:
The education Of the country child and
the general enrichment OF rural ufe-and
by enrichment mean making the conuGy
a sweetcr and happier place TO live In.
10 remove its isolation and loneliness by
libraries. BY good roads b. telephones By
touch with the great throbbing worid-are
now accepted without dispute az funda-
mental tenets Of public education.
There never was a time when children
bulked 40 large in the thought OF the
statesman the legislator and the pub
licist. and 1 might add IN the family. and
never in the history OF the world has the
child been the focus % 80 much tender
ness, and so much forethought. believe
fuen and women love their children bet
ter. believe they have learned how 10
love and serve them more wisely There
are those that fear that all this fine
solicitude may affect childhood and de-
sfroy It's ingenuousness and it's charm. 1
do not fear that though I confes that
81 is getting increasingly dinfcult for
Parents 70 give Satisfaction @ their chill
dren- But I suppose We shall have to
accept that. II imposes an Obligation OF
perfection upon paternity AID maternity
that probably the Lord Intended should b.
put upon them in the fulncss OF time
Must Face New Conditions.
After reviewing the wonderful industrial
and commercial development or the south.
and recognizing the value ana The power
Tor usefulness az money. Dy. Alderman
said,
And yet in spite OF the fact that the
South has entered thus powerfully into
Us Industrial maturity. I hope 81 Is not
prov1nciaism In me 20 believe that the
Southern boy. a. I see him. has not
been submerged by II. As he reaches u
Into life facing tardiiy the grandeurs ana
the temptations OF a fierce industrfaIisr,
and q wonderful democracy. / believe that
& Is settled that he Will not loae MS old
Inherited scorn ~ dtsl7o7o~ and tss -f4
hatred OF sordiness, assurance and self
Seeklug This may De provfucialisr.
let us believe = anyhow and let US tell
The boys We believe e. and maybe II win
help thom TO stand firm when might,
le4hplauoAs come, and they are COR ny
rSGy fast The ambitions OF our bows ara
drifting away from what uses 70 Dc
thrir chief desires-rrom tn, thought OF
civic glory 20 the thought q attainment
~ power In the great world % Industrial
achievement This impulse IL st-u-fu~-i.,
Illustrated by the decay Of the literary
society In the colleges. Their is no ls.. IN
"himper soout IL; there IS no use 20 hs
p sSiInistc about it: We must face II AMI
~. ~far A.
aracter. and let the world e-o On
AFTER summarizing the demands Of +ha
people Or Virginia along the line % odp-
cauonal advancement as represented nv,
the Cooperative Education Association.
ut Alderman made a splendid plea for
community effort IN atrainiro 49,