The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-28
.SOUTH'S TEACHERS
AR { IN SESSION
Noted Educators Attend
TWenty-F irst Annual
Conference.
FOR BIBLE
IN THE SCHOOLS
President Johnson, of Winthrop
College, Insists That Religious
Training of Children Must
Not Be Left Entirely to
Home and Church.
Gaynor to Speak.

Chattanooga, Tenn, December 27---
With nearly 1000 of the south's most
noted educators in attendance, the
twenty first annual session OF the
Southern Educational Association con-
vened here to-day. The opening ses-
sion was held in the auditorium of the
First Methodist Episcopal Church. The
welcoming add esses were delivered by
Mayor Thompson, on behalf OF the city
and county; superintendent b. \.
Graves. representing the public schools,
and President John II. Race, of Chat
tanooga University.
An eloquent response was made by
DR.. John w. Abercrombie president of
the University of Alabama.
To-day was filed with three events,
under the head of General Sessions
the morning meeting at the Methodist
Hotel Patten, and the meeting at the
City auditorium tonight. at which
President D. b. Johnson, OF Rock I'M,
$. C., delivered the annual address.
Plea for the bible.
Dr. Johnson, who is president of Win
throp College and president of the
Southern Education Association. in his
annual address, discussed Moral Edu-
cation in the Public Schools" He said
in part:
If the schools should do successfully
everything else demanded of them and
still fail to produce upright. honest.
law-abiding public-spirited moral, re-
sponsible, dependable citizens. they
would fail miserably and could not
justify their existence.
There are those who insist that
definite moral and religious training
should be left to the home and the
church. but the home and the church
don't seem to be able 10 do this work
alone. The home is often not domi-
mated BY the right ideals and the sun
day schools don't reach more than half
of the children and the youth popuia-
ton. Unless the schools Dc something
definite for moral training great
many children Will not have any moral
training.
Every good school, we'll taught and
with proper incentives and ideals in
force, exerts wholesome influence
upon the pupil, but this moral influ-
cnce of good order does not go far
enough in the opinion of many Moral
education may be given through direc-
ton of plays and games. Self-govern-
ment, student control the school city
the Junior Republic, study of bio
graphy and good reading are all agen-
cies for character-bu building for ethica1
training.
Fundamentals Not Sectnrinn.
I'VE have q separation of church ant
state in this country. but that does
not mean the exclusion of unsectariar
religion and the Bible from the public
schools. The great fundamental ele,
ments in religion are not sectarian anc
the Bible does not belong to any par
ticuar church. The Golden Rule be.
longs both to religion and ethics
Faith. hope and charity in morality
and religion alike should be taught,
President Johnson said he was
thankful that the Bible is freely ant
generally used in the public school:
and state institutions of the South.
After all is said and done" he
added, 1.-The most important agency il
securing moral training in the public
schools is the personality of the high
minded, devoted teacher"
a paper read by Miss Carrie Hyde
matron of the Practice Home, that is
maintained in connection of the Rocl
Hill. S. c., Winthrop Normal and In
dustrial College, was an interestins
| feature. She explained how the homt
| Is run and how its every detail il
taught to the seniors under her care.
| Mayor Gaynor, of New York City, Il:
| scheduled to speak on Thursday.