Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-16

sponsibiIities. 1t should begin with the
cradle and continue to old age. No sys-
tom of education is sufficient which seeks
alone to impart knowledge from books
1t must build character and force, and
must prepare the child to be an actor N
lifc's struggles. 1t should as far as pos
siLle develop the child along lines which
the child will probably follow in after
years.
SOuth's Vast Resources
The south offers great opportunities for
those prepared to use them. Our lands are
capable of bringing profitable return from
the most varied lines of agriculture Our
mineral resources are vast. Their de-
velopment has only begun. The water
powers of the southern Appalachian range
could operate all the factories of Europe.
With scarce a limit in our capacity to
produce food supplies, we have a monop-
oily in the production oF cotton, the raw
material which will clothe the world.
1.-The south must be prepared to take
q full part in the nations growth. Thus
alone will our own prosperity be in
sured and thus alone can our RESPONSE
bihties be met. I welcome every con-
tribution which your views may make to-
ward the preparation of our people for
the tasks before them. I deem it most
desirable that business men and teachers
should confer. From their conferences
we may expect policies wisely joining the
ideal and the practical.
Education of the Negroes
1.-THE presence of a great number of
negroes in the south creates a problem,
which must be understood. / do not be-
lieve that those who dwell upon the work
of negro institutions into which few
hundred of the race enter, comprehend the
~ No ed mr. h
lem is found In the six million of negroes
who do not enter these institutions and
who are utterly unsuited for the opportu
mites which they offer.
81 refer to the great body of the ne
groes engaged in the simplest lines OF
manual labor
''These people are descended from an
cestors who a little more than a century
ago were savages in Africa. For a while
they were compelled to labor. Industry
was forced upon them. Since this condi-
ton ceased, freed from restraint, they are
prone to idleness and to carelessness, ever
when at work.
Teach Blacks to Work
1.-THE first step in the education of this
great body of the negro race is to inspire
desire to do better the labor they are
called upon to perform, and to rid them of
a willingness to live poorly If perchance
meager support can be made with half
time labor. The negro engaged in the
simplest manual labor will find his first
inspiration from being taught the pleas
ure of doing that labor with artistic skill.
1.-THE negro who uses the hoe or uses
the pillow will be lifted to a higher stand
ard when he can be given the inspiration
which will come from efficient labor and
increased industry.
Mere instruction from books will ac-
complish almost nothing for him. He
must lean upon the direction of the white
man and grow by imitation.
Let Negroes Go North
''The best educator he can have will be
found in the white man who will control
and direct him and furnish him an ex-
ample of the benefits brought from int!
ligent industry.
Experience shows that negros improve
most rapidly where there are fewest ne
groes i'm proportion to the number OF
whites The best friend of the negro
should seek his distribution to all Sec
tions. THIS can be accomplished BY moro
white settlers coming south and more
negroes going north. east and west.
Great Progress i'm the South
'I am gratified to tell you that progress
is being made in the educational work of
this state The amounts being paid an
nually for education from taxation are
rapidly increa sing. Nearly every munich
pality with as many as five hundred pop
ulation has an organized public school
system continuing from eight 10 nine
months annually. The appropriation from
the state treasury supports the rural
schools for nearly six months in the year.
and local taxation supplements this APP
preparation in many school districts eX-
tending the school terms to from eight to
nine months.
There are two conditions connected
with our educational progress to which
would especially cal attention With the
increase of manufacturing enterprises. n
is important that we should guard against
placing children within factory walls,
and we must see to it that the children
of the factory sections are not only given