New-York tribune., 1907-04-15
WORK AT PINEHURST.
Popular Interest an Education the
Keynote of the Meeting.

system has characterized the entire Conference
for Education in the South, which has been
meeting here. Along with this enthusiasm has
gone frank recognition Of educational cOndi-
lions In the South to-day and an earnest en-
deavor to find the best possible means Of inn
proving them.
Many people seem to have the idea that this
conference devotes itself especially to questions
relatlng to the education of the negro. AS a
matter OF fact' the educational betterment OF
the Afro-Amercan was scarcely touched upon
during the conference. The problem of the edu-
cation of the poor and neglected white child was
the main topic of discussion at every meeting
Fopular education, by the people and for the
people, seemed to be the end in view of all
those who took part in the conference. The
interest that the people themselves are taking
IN THIS movement, shown by the reports of
the superintendents of education of eleven
southern states furnishes abundant proof that
these conferences have effected vast amount
Of good.
Ihls popular interest in education is precisely
What the men who started the conferences
aimed 10 stimulate They recognized that an
educational system cannot be manufactured and
Installed in cut and dried manner; that the
opportunity to obtain the best education that
can be had may be offered and yet neglected If
THE people themselves do not feel a deem and
absolute need of 1t. and that the education most
suitable to the needs of a people is that which
they themselves, guided by their own leaders
work and strive for
ouch were the opinions Of the philanthropic
Northerners who originated the annual con-
ferences and of those who founded the Southern
Education Board. Although not organicaIy as
sociated, the two bodies work for the same OBJ
Ject, the board giving it's attention throughout
the whole year to the work which the con-
ference considers at its single session. This
work consists mainly in Iarousing public senti-
ment in favor of public education and in mould
ing this sentiment along the most fundamental
and reasonable lines Institutions of classical
and higher learning have consequently received
less attention at the hands of the conferences
than the agricultural and mechanical colleges
The speech which has probably created the
most interest at the conference just ended was
that on Better Conditions for Southern Farm
ers' by Dr. Seaman A. Knapp. a special agent
of the United States Department of Agriculture
First sketching the impoverished condition of
the South, especially In the rural districts until
within few years. DR.. Knapp then considered
the causes of this poverty. attrbuting it TO the
financial ruin consequent upon the war between
the states TO the rapid loss in the fertility Of
the SOIL and the growth OF manufacturing in
'erests' which have drawn many thousands from
the farms TO the crowded towns and cities
The most important factor in ameliorating
these conditions" DIR. Knapp said. are the com
mon schools But" he added, "ln our portion
OF the United States there are no common
schools They are most uncommon schools
The children are given science lessons. Ian
guage lessons. social economy French. Latin.
drawing. vocal and piano music. and possibly
later. they may learn read and to spell
asked the patron Of one school how the pupils
progressed In Latin He replied: Very we'll in
deed. The only difficulty Is that they are re-
quired TO write their transations in English
and they do not know how to write English
Dr. Knapp pleaded for tie common school
which should furnish thorough training in the
fundamental English branches. with bookkeeu-
ing and business methods afterward for the
boys, and. for the girls 1.-THE lost science of cook
ing. housekeeping and physiology For people
Of means" he declared. "a life Of study we'll
rounded by extensive travel. IS proper The
common toiler needs an education that leads to
easier bread"
That the Southern farmers are already work.
ing along the lines that DR. Knapp thus out
lined IS evident Last year North Carolina built
more than four hundred new rural sChoohouses.
In Georgia several country communities Volun-
tartly increased. in some instances doubled their
appropriations for establishing and maintaining
primary and industrial schools The Superin-
teHdent OF Education In Mississippi reported that
his state had at last succeeded in oustiug poll
ticians from the school and college boards and
having their business conducted for the advance
ment OF educat ton rather than for the benefit Of
one or the other political party. I'm Kentucky"
another delegate said, THE bane Of educational
reformers is the large number OF illiterate men
who hold the majority local school boards
for the purpose Of obtaining positions for their
relatives and friends,
Encouraging was the superintendent who de-
clared that there We're many things about the
aHr
was sorry to have printed and to circulated;
but he had persisted in having them printed, he
announced, because he convinced that
knowledge Of the truth was the best way TO
encourage progress. Along the same lines was
the report of the South Carolinian who char
acterized some OF the schools in his state as
"antiQuated antediuvlan and disgracefuL'
Just as important as the rural schools 10
the children who go no further are the
high schools and universities to the ever in
creasing class of those who possess moderate
wealth From kindergarten to university there
should distinct unity of system. and In
the South to-day this unity is gradually being
realized. Through the work of the Association
of Schools and Colleges of the Southern States.
formed In Atlanta thirteen years ago, the
trance requirements and the degrees given in
some of the Southern colleges are now on a
par with those of most of the Eastern univer-
stiles. The opportunity Of profiting by the ex-
perienCe of the older Northern institutions that
the schools and colleges Of the South enjoy, en-
abling them to appropriate those things which
have been found beneficial and reject those that
have proved detrimental the keynote of a
scholarly address by Professor Edwin Minis, OF
Trinity College. Durham. n. c.
THE South" he said. lis increasing in mate
rial wealth faster each day than England Is each
week. To keep up with this increase I'm wealth
by a corresponding increase In educational adj
vantages for the masses of the population and
at the time to avoid the evils of CONNER
ciasm and materialism and all other evils
which have attacked other nations as they were
passing through the same stages of develop
ment through which the South is now passing
makes 1t to-day an Incompatible field of oppor-
tunity for creative and constructive leaders"