The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-24

- DE1iPH1S, TENN, April 23.-The
III presence OF British Ambassa-
in" dor Bryce drew the largest
II crowd tonight OF the Confer
ence for Education in the
iSouth. When presented by President
ogden. Ambassador Bryce was given
hearty reception.
Hardly less cordial was the greeting
tpt Bishop T. o. Bratton. OF the Missls-
Isippi Diocese. who spoke on The Chris
Itian South and Negro Education" Pro-
,fessor T. H. Claxton. OF the University
,pf Tennessee. opened the evening meet
irg with discussion OF ways and
7ueans. Bishop Bratton took the posi-
ton that the negro must be looked
after in his advancement with Christian
care and tender sympathy. The bishop
declared that the negro is capable OF
mental development; that majority
are children intellectually and little
short OF savages morally, and that the
j relations between the, races is, after
sall, kindly and affectonatc.
Address OF Mr. Bryce.
Ambassador Bryce followed Bishop
Eratton He said:
1t is pleasure to the returning vis-
itor to note how strong has become
the interest in the progress OF educa-
tion in this part of your country. You
arc so convinced OF the worth OF those
services, however, that l need not stop
TO descant upon them What desire
to do tonight is TO go straight toI
practical topics and supply such facts
or give such counsel as my study OF
English education problems. continued
posal.
After we had established elementary
schools all over the country we tried
fer some years 10 get on without com
pulsory school attendance laws. But
n n ,s.h I,.a, ,ys
found great advantages in having the
elementary schools supported partly by
local taxation and party by State
grant. Supervision by the central au-
,iiortty is Of great value. In cities
where school committee controls al
considerable number of elementary
the committee to appoint for each
school small number OF persons. men
and ia women. whom we call managers.
The l,,,zena manasers "a are usually the best
form friendly semi official link be-
tween the school and the parents and
the local community.
Connection Between Schools.
We have found 1t a matter of su-
preme Importance to establish proper
connection between the elementary
schools in which children remain tfili
about thirteen years of age Con an
@ Nerage1 and the secondary schools
children remain till fifteen or sixteen,
so that the best pupils Of the former
may be passed on TO the latter and
cialiy needed In rural districts. where
| high schools are compare lively few.
The boy who shows ability Is sent for
ward TO the most available high school
and II his parents can't afford to sup
port him, he is helped to remain for
two or three years at school. The
( most vital part of a good school sys-
J tenn is to secure good teachers. on
him or her depends the advance of the
scholars, their intellectual life. their
}noral tone. Good teaching consists in
90 spell and write, and the dates in
,Rour history. The real aim is to quick.
Sn the intelligence Of the pupil, mako
nun love knowledge and wish to go
must himself love knowledge. and pos
ress much more of 1T than the mere
routine OF school work demands.
What the South Needs.
These educational conclusions drawn
from our English experience seem to
what you desire to have In the South
Is broadly as follows:
I. You desire that the laborinE man
OF the country, by whom its manual
work skilled and unskilled. will be
done: should be not only Industrious,
but intelligent.
tho leaders in the development OF
your resources, the employers in city
and country, merchants, engineers and
professional men as well as the manu-
1acturerS, to have a mastery of COM
the scientific foundations Of Industry. try
~ You aal,t need therefore. set OF schools
me to say a few words as to the col
ored people. Much of the agricultural
work and much of the other work OF
For your welfare as well as theirs. for
the peace of the country as we'll as
Its prosperity It is essential that the
colored people, should receive proper
INSTRUCTION.. The view that this IN
struction should have an Industrial
rather than q literary direction seems
] TO be sound view But it does not
structions for those Who have SUPERIOR.
talent; and 1t must include an ADEQUATE
provision for those who arc to be tho
helpers and guides OF the colored
masses, :
When see what has been done for
negro education, and what negroes
have done for themselves in acquiring
these forty years, there is no ground
for discoura cement.
High Schools Are Needed.
X Whether the Importance OF a sys-
tenn Of high schools also is fully realized
I do not know. But the truth is that
largely on the number and excellence
of the secondary than it does on the
abundance of the primary schools. 1t
Is by capable minds and rigorous wills
that nations advance. An education
higher than the elementary Is needed
to enrich the country with men whose
vision extends beyond the detail OF
National efficiency depends on en-
lishtened leadership no less than upon
laborer and the practiced aptitude Of
he skilled tlaborer. The intellect and
skin OF your people are the most
abundant and inexhaustible of all your
natural resources,
National efficiency means that ma
tional resources shonld be deNeloped;
that wealth should he diffused among
cry be removed; that comfort be en-
larged, and life made easier for all;