New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-04-27
SCHOOLS IN THE SOUTH
Remarkable Enthusiasm for EdHca-
ton Being Manifested.

south and Of the Southern Education Board
shown more fruitful results than in Ire asst
wear az indicated by the reports % those n
attendance at this the eleventh % the long
series OF inspiring conference The presence
Of Robert G. Ogden the president. again this
vear-he was absent from tho Pinshurst con
ference year ago account Of I'D health
has reen an additional inspiring force. The
rtrooet enthusiasm in the cause Of education
has been shown by all attending the conferences.
The desire 70 multiply educational facilities
has become conta gIous in the southern states
and each seems TO be striving 70 outdo re
other in the extent 70 which II IS improving "a
school system chief Justice J. NJ Hit. % Ar
kansas linked It in an address on Wednesday
night 20 the prohibition movement. which has
taken such strong hold in the south He
showed that as the caloons we're increasing and
disappearing the schools were multiplying
There are to-day IN Arkansss' re Said
'tuenrv-one schools for every saloon. and
doubt not thar there are those within The sound
OF ny voice who remember when -hsrA wee
tv-enty-one saloons 70 one school here IRIS
change has not come through any genera lax
nor sudden or irnpuIsive movement ~. i n.
result OF educated public sentiment gradually
driving Tire saloon a last refuge The Sums ..
the cities The Increase in the schools marks
the decrease Of the saloons with n1athe--atfcaI
progression
The opposition TO the work ~ the -o-ra-s7ea
and its propa sanda. which vas MARKED in 47--
rner years. has been changing 20 interest and =
many instances 10 cordial approval and SUPPORT
At first there was distrust % uhat were caouzs-
TO be outside influences" and determined ar
tagonism on the part Of property interests "a n.
increased taxation necessary % hul1 u the
school systems.
Mr.. Ogden. in his address this year -11k ua-
tic1lar pains 70 impress the fact that This = ~
an outside" movement The conferences -
Education in the South is composed n S9u-ns-,
men and women" he said i an tha only ~
one who is a Nortnerner. This Organization "a
your organization. There has baeu nisau--s-
hension that this has been fnterfA--uce M
greater mistake could be made We -ec7rutzs
that We all have difficulties and troubles. and
We find in a common responsibility that " nav.
q common sympathy We came and found co-d-
iaIitv everywhere OfncialIy an The o7fv ~---
slider. and I am at the demand OF ny SOUTH
ern friends"
Mr.. ogden expressed tn idea that sur =
stimulating influence in educational work vas
needed in every part Of the country and s,,e
gested that perhaps ire conference 17.r5- +,
time be expanded 20 national Organization
Many times have I been Impressed +. ss-4
that tn entire country needs something y n.
same kind"
ence because ona had never been held - Ter
ressee and because II was desired % so-es4 "a
good influence N the Western par ~ -1A so---
in Mississippi and Arkansas. as well IS ns-s
Most Handsomely have these states responded
with large delegations and expressions q e.
thusissr1 for and conservation 70 trA -aus. =.
educational 5.tterr1sn-. Now Mississippi cones
forward and invites the conference 70 meet in
Oxford. that state. next year. Governor Noel
meeting
Chief Justice FfI1. Of Arkansas = RS 4--s--
esting address already referred - showed -nz-
his state had been forging ahead n The las-
year He reported victory n a fght-such
fight as in one form o. another e being maze II
other Southern srates-fo- AUTHORITY 10 levy
higher taxes for school purposes. 8v ire
rnendous majority, he said. the constitution rad
been amended so a. 70 permit n mills instead
Of 20 be levied for the support OF COMMON
schools
One Of the striking features q th4 educational
progress in the South IN the last year mas been
a realization of the great need % high schools
and the beginning OF a movement 20 supply t1at
need. As for Arkansas. CHIEF Justice FItII said.
Probably our greatest weakness Is ou- high
schools Yet there are to-day $50 y them ar
average ~ two 70 county II many - them
the plaster is still damp On The walls a-1 IRE
ink not dry on the mortgage - build -he1- sid
the curriculum little abbreviated bu- th=y are
there. and there - stay and grow
Professor J. : Stewart. Of the department = SEE
ondary instruction n the University - Georgia
declared that the South can never have goo
common schools until II has a related secondary
school system NO country o. CITY has ever
succeeded in its common schools without such
a system" he said. For thirty-fve years r.
have been trying 70 build UP o.Ir common school
system But md that s. PEI cent q our
teachers have only a common school education
The least should ask % them = a high school
training, but they can't get IL in the South The
General Education Board is doing a great work
in encouraging the development Of high scAoo.-
Professor Stewart then told Of the god ~ors
OF Georgia in the last year in establishing eleven
industrial and agricultural high schooIs-one n
each Congress District The state gives 5000
10 AID these and the districts have given SsSoooo
70 get this amount Ninety per cent OF ms
teachers in Georgia have college degrees.
But this bright showing cannot De duplicated
in any other Southern state Alabama has 10
state high schools. although recent law Pro
yides for one IN each Of sixty-seven COUNTIES.
and forty-seven have ALREADY applied tor the1-
And. 10 show the spirit now anima-tng ne
South. II is stated that. although u IS requires
that al least $4,000 be raised locally 20 secn77
$4,000 from the state. one community n l'e n
habitants offered Il $4,000 building. the women
offered 10 raise $500 for identifying the schooi
grounds. and local bank offered 70 Day fo- Tie
tuition Of twenty pupils year fo- I've years
And this Is not an isolated example q ~ sen
sacrificing spirit that is animating ths Southern
people in their desire for the advancement Z"
/ public education
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