New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-07
ROBERT c. OGDEN'S PLEA
Thirteenth Conference for Edu-
cation in the South.

Little ROCK Ark, April 6.-Ihe feature
Of the opening session OF the Thirteenth
Conference Tor Education in the South
which began here with a buEincss meet
ing this afternoon, Was the address To-
night OF The president, Robert {. Ogden. Of
New York. In pointing out The objects
and accomplishments OF The movement
Air. ogden said IN part.
The outlook for social and political az
fairs IN this country At present is omi-
nous. II would be easy TO make state
meuts of conditions morbid enough TO suit
The vision OF the deepest dyed DesSiniSt
They appear on every side. and while they
arc in The first instance social, they are
civic As well Prominent among these
issues are questions OF employer and en-
labor. the duties OF intelligence 20 igno-
rance, OF race 10 race. responsibilities 10
tho unfortunate the blind, the deaf, tio
insane. the criminal
surely the black catalogue sometimes
almost drives earnest souls 10 the brink
of despair-especiallv so when IL * re-
membered that the major part Of all the
trouble Il chargeable 10 low ethcsl
standards There is a remedy that - quite
within our grasp, and II is TO he found
in an euligltcned. wise consciousness and
honest citizenship--in standards of civic
duty and TeSponsibiity-that Will lead
each man and each woman TO seek the
limo OF duty. such seeking wiz find the
line Of duty and il VIII lead straight into
the public school. 1 have already lndi-
Gated. crudely and roughly, the general
attitude Of mind needed Tor heipfui
power Given the intelligent desire and
The way viii appear by which that duty
may be done.
fruit In other directions. II viii have re
ficN power upon legislators and executives,
- n already has had IN more than one
state, and il may reach the congress AZ
Washington. producing long needed result
national aid 10 education in proportion
20 illitcracy. and, under proper safeguards
TO he expended through existing state or
CARNATIONS. And there IS another national
work sorely needed. the creation Of a de-
partmeut Of education and health with a
Cabinet member At its head
Ten years ago I was directed by vote OF
the conference 10 form the Southern Ed
ucation Board The original membership
was eight. hut in has been gradually IN
creased until il now numbers twentN-one.
Three very important members-Curry. or
Alabama. Mclyer. OF North Carolina, ana
Baldwin. OF New NorS-have Joined tue
great majority. Il Is voluntary, self
perpetuatiug body. II has no capital fund
and was supported for two years by
George Foster Peabody Since then five
donors teXCCpt Two or three small gifts
some years since) have contributed all the
money ~ had 20 cXpend-about $4,000 4
year. Il gives no money 10 any lnsutu-
tiOu. and has none 10 give. Its eNpendi-
lures are for Is great variety OF purposes
and are spread very thin over the various
states Of the South. I may mention some
Of its activities. Except the portion OF
tho expenses provided 10y the hoSpitalltles
Of the places in which tho meetings are
held. 81 supports the conference. on,
therefore. see here present poor mendl-
cant that appeals 10 private generosity 10Y
protection from the need ~ the charity
that thus far has sustained II.
u maintains an Office In Washington for
the various needs Of its affairs. and from
this time forward hopes 10 note improve
mert I'm it's business methods.
This Organization Is UNIQUE IN the tact
that. excepting only fits own subsidiaries, u
has no counterpart I'm the country. It's
.
American child. whether the child be
native or foreign born, is entitled 70
good English education. Il also holds that
tho safety Of American Institutions requires
free opportunity for education, ana That
the inspiring maxim. Liberty under law
be kept constantly before every Atneri-
can child"
The technical and professional side ot
education is left, where u properly belongs.
10 the associations definitely created for
that purpose. it, spirit j. sentimental,
spiritual. altIuistic. patriotic, popular. ITS
appeal Il 10 the civic conscience, its loud,
clean call is To citizenship One great aim
ls the inspiration oi the public mind with
a sense Of intelligent rCSpons hllltE for
public education, the creation of public
opinion in favor of faxtio,l Tor education.
bat with IDEA far beyond and above
taxation. The ultimate thought is the in
~piratiCu that viii lead people that are
prosperous TO support wisely directed edu-
cation by free viii offerings iu proportion
~ prosperity Las made them trustees of
tie commonwealth
This rapid sketch would be entirely incom-
Tlete without some reference 10 the great
service performed IE tho General F.duCa-
tiou Board Several members Of the South
ern Education Board are also members or
the General Education Board. Il Is need
. less TO inquire how much was the influence
. OF Tho former In creating the latter, and
now that the general board has n power
so greatly enlarged. 10 is quite uneceS-
sary. In The beginning that board had 4
fund OF Sl@Io.04i. tie gift of John y. ROcke-
teller, 10 cNpeUd entirely upon educational
work ia an eSoutheru States. and 81 has
an been expended. These relations natU-
rally led TO cooperation and careful study
OF conditions
We may easily get = glimpse 81 the world
Of education by turning over tho ages Of
tho annual reports Of the National Educs-
ton Association. Should ] merely venture
repetition of the table or contents Of .
single one OF these reports, this audience
. would pc fully warranted IN aClourulUS
ithOUt either "a formal motion or z vote.
Aside from the fundamental three r.
every phase of vocational aud indus
trial training. ethics, morals ciNiCs, health.
. culture. supervision. tho relation Of the
. kinder sarten. elementary and secondary
schools 10 each other and 20 higher edgCs-
fiO0-but 7 spare sou. only -eutuTiUE 10
aCd that there are single subjects herein
that have large national orcari atoms. as
k'udergarteus. teacher training ana indus
trial educ ton. Tor tho study. promotion
and progress OF their special and pa-ticu-
lar idras. tdd 10 these Fairgrounds and
athletics and YOU wiz SEQ ~ glance
how wide iS tro field and how the educa-
tUua' system rs vital 10 tho health and
happiness - tho person, The home, the