The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-06-29
to about

out lawyers, uOCtoiS, ttS. lhSiS 10 W.
skilled labor in Mississippi especially,
everybody wants to be a professional
man. In the New England states,
where they make living off of us leg
Ultimately, there are schools to teach
children how to make shoes right near
each shoe factory and near the cloth
factories, schools to train children TO
make cloth. Mr.. Powers asked New
Englander If he wasn't afraid of class
distinction, but the man answered.:
I'VE aim at social nobility rather than
social stratification."
In Massachusetts there were only
rock-ribbed hills and mountains with
seemingly not enough soil to produce
even 5000 bales of cotton. The people
looked round for remedy-now as a
result there are 20 agricultural high
schools.
In some large cities, Mr.. Powers
said, the skilled man with a trade,
say lace maker, made SITS per
month, while lawyer makes $50 per
month and then goes to the morgue
to hunt cases. There are in the north
schools Of commerce, free to all
all children. Wisconsin gives $4,000
every year to agricultural high
schools and people come from Eu-
rope to visit them. In Missouri, where
corn is raised, that is taught in the
schools. In parts where gardening is
most profitable, that is taught in
schools. Taxation, the people are
afraid of it-why-because Americans
inherited the fear of it since the
days of 1912. But that should not
be for taxation is the involuntary trib-
ute which civilized man gives for the
common good. Taxation for wrong
purpose will cause bloodshed but
when for a good purpose like schools
is good. 1t is better to make strong
men and women and spend money than
weak men and women and save
Supt. Powers stated his intention
OF going before the Legislature and
asking for an appropriation of $4,000
an agricultural high school, then the
from rural schools may at
tend them. The farmers being 76 per
cent of the population of Mississippi,
an appropriation for the agricultural
high schools would thus be the bene-
tit to the greatest number. Last
year the colleges got the money and
they needed it, but this year it must
go for the agricultural high schools.
5upt. Powers believes the preparatory
department of the l. l. & G. and the
A. & M. should be done away with
and the money used for agricultural
nigh schools and Industrial and man.
Ial training taught in each school,
rom lower grades up. This sentiment
vas heartily applauded. The speaker
said he expected opposition, but will
)ersevere nevertheless, taking the
;tand-the greatest benefit to the
greatest number.
Capitalists are to be encouraged
into the state, yes, but education is
The real thing to be encouraged as
The capitalist gets his money and may
be leaves. Education helps develop
the country.
Mr.. Powers then spoke of the need
Of a training school for teachers, say
ing Mississippi could not even be COM
pared with Arkansas, now, as that
state has fine training school. A
poor teacher in a poor school is an
expense, while a good teacher in a
good school is an investment.
There are 100000 places open to high
school graduates and no others. Fur
niture factories want high school grad
yates in manual training. Ideas not
In touch with life as to be avoided.
The statesman of the future is not
the boy who dreams of when he'll be
a grand statesman, but the one who
lreams of leading his people out.
In this state today there are 1000
teachers studying hard this hot June
weather, but there is no training
schools TO rteachers. Japan, little
Japan, has more training schools for
teachers than any country in the
world. Supt. Powers closed with an
explanation of the work Miss Susie
Powell. field agent of the State I'm