The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-28
Nearly Two Thousand De|e- oates Gather to Discuss
 School Problems
DR. ABERCROMB|E MAKES
 AN ELOQUENT ADDRESS
President Johnson of the Association Speaks to the Convention on "MoraI Education in the
 Public Schools"

a0O0 of the south's most noted educators present the twenty-first annual conven- ton of the Southern Educational associa- tion began here this morning. The open ing session was held in the auditorium of the First Methodist Episcopal church. The welcome address was delivered by Mayor Thompson on behalf of the city and county, and Superintendent D. A. Graves, representing the public schools President John H. Race of Chattanooga university also extended welcome. An eloquent response was made by Dr. John W. Abercrombie, president of the Uni ' versty of Alabama.
 Dr. Abercrombie declar ,d that the country lacked one thing more notice ably than all others-an adequately trained citizenship to take advantage Of national opportunities. Competent ad- ministration, adequate resources and compulsory attendance at schools were declared most necessary. He condemned politics in the appointment of school of ficers.
 He declared that state, county and city levy of taxes was needful to provide edu- eatonal resources. He favored compul-  enoe of the negro in the south had given rise to some of it's greatest problems. He said tax to meet all educational de- mands would be burdensome, even con fscatory.
 Attendance Gratifying
 The first days session of the association exceeded all expectations both in point of attendance and interest.
 Secretary Bierly and President Johnson have both estimated that this convention will go down in the history of the asso- citation as the largest and most note worthy in many ways that the educa- tional body has ever known. Aside from the departmental work. which was con- fined in each instance to a special phase | of educational work two general ses- sions were held today. the first at the Methodist Episcopal church this morning and the second at the city auditorium at 8 o'clock tonight. A reception at the Hotel Patten at o'clock in the evening under the auspices of the Chattanooga chamber of commerce. At the meeting at the city auditorium this evening the president of the association. D. B. John- son. of Rock Hill, s. C., delivered his annual address.
 The morning session was fairly well attended, but even the attendance at that time was greater than was anticipated.
 Miss Hyde's Address
 At this session Miss Carrie Hyde, mat ron of the Practice Home, conducted In connection with the Winthrop Normal and Industrial college at Rock Hill, s. C., of which the president of the asso- citation is the head. read an interesting paper showing just how the home is run and how it's every detail is taught to the seniors under her care.
 At the reception at the Hotel Patten there was no programme. It was held for the purpose of giving the visitors an opportunity to get better acquainted with each other and the people of Chat Ytanooga.
 ' MT. Patten, president of the Chamber Of Commerce, officiated.
 At the evening session at the audi torium the presidents annual address was the feature.
 Mayor Gaynor of New York city has not yet arrived, and many seemed to have received the impression that he would not come. President Johnson has been assured, however. that he will be on hand. He is on the programme to speak Thursday.
 Dr. Johnson's Address
 Dr. D. B. Johnson, in his annual ad- dress tonight, discussed Moral Education 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, responsi- b,e, dependable citizens, they would fail niserably, and could not justify their ex- istence.
 There are those who insist that defi- mite moral and religious training should be left to the home and the church, but the home and the church do not seem to be able to do this work alone. The. home is often not dominated by the right ideals and the Sunday schools do not reach more than half of the child and the youth pop ulation. Unless the schools do something definite for moral training great many children will not have any moral train ing.
 Influence of Schools
 Every good school, well taught and with proper incentives and ideals in force, exerts a wholesome influence upon the pupil, but this moral. influence of good order does not go far enough in the opinion of many. Moral edu- cation may be given through direction of plays and games. Self-government.
 
 junior republic. study of biography and good reading are all agencies for char acter building-for ethical training.
 We have a separation of church and state in this country. but that does not mean the exclusion of unsectarian re- ijgion and the Bible from the public schools The great fundamental ele- ments in religion are not secretarian and the Bible doesn't belong to any particular church. The golden rule belongs both to religion and ethics. Faith, hope and charity in morality and rel gion alike should be taught"
 President Johnson said he was thank full that the Bible Is freely and gen orally used in the public schools and ftate institutions of the south.
 After all is said and done,' he add ed. the most important agency in curing moral training in the public ltchoos Is the personality of the high lrinded, devoted teacher" After President Johnson's address a letter from Dr. Henry s. Pritchett. who was on the programme for a talk, was read In which the writer stated that flI-