The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-27

sacrificed and fought for the build
ing OF a proper common school system
ment gives a solemn dignity to the
exhibits of this building and the negro
building. is thoroughly imbued with
ferson. Personally. I thank God for
the privilege of doing the days work
where he lived and worked. and over
which his influence rests like a bene-
diction.
What the school Teaches.
! DR.. Alderman discussed the expendi-
lures and statistics OF attendance,
the extent and scope of or
ganized educational agencies, the ma
ever-changing curriculum and the
status of the teacher and said:
"The common school has taught love
fitness and gratitude. 1t has glorified
childhood as no previous age has done.
and softened discipline. Indeed. the
g greesy and T ssatSsx, with ih0n 81 fs sa,,ss
anon It's fellows for it's colossal ex-
hibition Of sympathy and tenderness
towards every weak and disadvan-
tagged class.
The common school has made the
newspaper for good or for Ill, perhaps
by making OF the American people a
r plad q ggr pFisnp.e. in = the mas h nalesa Of 70 m asT.
and to Set up ideals cf civic cleanli-
ness and beauty. II has somehow
managed to put into 100000 OF
eign traditions a conception OF the
meaning of Americanism.
What the American scene, as Henry
James has called 1t, will be at the
tell. Tho massing Of millions OF men
in n few square miles: the immigra-
tiop OF whole peoples of foreign birth
troubles; the social changes still to
be wrought by natural forces-all
these we may be sure will remake
this republic in the century before
Technically speaking, I predict that
the chlefest task of those who work
education Will centre around, first.
the development OF the Idea that edu-
cation is one whole process and not a
series Of processes; second, the eleva-
ton OF the status OF the teacher; third.
the realization Of thorough-going
fourth, the adaptation and enrichment
OF the curriculum to the changing
needs OF the changing world: fifth, the
development of a working scheme of
compulsory education.
Grcnt Truth Changes Not.
looking about them. at many dis
gusting examples OF greed and treason
wanting prophets who declare that the
republic is In danger. So 1t is. Democ-
racy Is always in danger, like a mans
character. But the great truth at the
heart of It will never change. You
can trust men IL you will train them.
In our need to protect ourselves from
tyrannies Of all sorts our democracy
rights of man. andsunder-emphasiz-
ed his dutiess& Iriaour pro udspnrpose TO
master a continent, we over-developed
substituted 1t for the Ideal of integrity,
In baser minds, these w ideals of
rights and achievement. degenerated
into greed and mere assertiveness. We
public of these wrong ideals. After
the manner of democracy. we are do
ing it in public with loud outcriss.
m - 0's s4isss Is but q p%a ens s I iif @lli nSa
the manner In which we shall meet it.
Is but one Of a million disctplines
asmocraeH must ! endure n in order, to
o. soverninent.assIf this country shall
be swept clean of these wrong ideals,
1t will be because other and better
1 Seen sa%ps aatS a. T it VIII III r bs bse aays
somewhat neglected this past genera
s seham wlt Of tf train i1s pFq Hna R F. Sot Il thu 9
American common school the central
factor in his battle for truer national
ideals?
The great ~postulate OF democracy,
"You can trust men IL you viii train
them" held the faith Of the fathers.
The trials of a century have not So
riously disturbed Its validity. though
they have deepened and enlarged the
concept OF training. Those who still
think OF this nation In the old way.
AZ a people With n mission. the homt
of a great democratic experiment. will
not go wrong in placing as great faith
In the power of popular education to
guide a free people az did the men OF
tered and enhancement "a dream,
and about the plain people who had
been left unframed for ages lowered
an ugly tradition OF alAwlessnesi, In
competency and violence.
' Other sclulnrlx Addraasea Mere thoss,