The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-24
EDUCATION ron lEApEns,ur.

/ Cnqucstionably tic foremost cduca-
I, tor a the recent southern Commercial
I. congress in Atlanta was Dr. Samuel
| Chiles Mitchell. president or the Uni.
versity OF South Carolina, formerly
professor Of Richmond College whose
magical personality has achieved a
miracle in establishing connection an,
communication between the people OF
a state and their State university. M
better man could have been found IL
speak OF Education for Constructive
Leadership, state aild National tho
subject or DIR. Aitchell's address in Al
lanta.
1T is easy to make out tho period in
our history when one State acted as a
vanguard, yoicing the Sentiments OF
the South dominant at the time, ana
moulding public policies" asserted pr.
Mitchell In the history of the South
there has been an hegcmony among
States. somewhat similar to the politi-
cal ascendancy among the states OF
| Greece, held in turn by Sparta, Athens
and Thcbcs Virginia enjoyed this
vantage of supremacy from 1776 to
1920, THE formative period" when "thc
country took shape. 1t fell to the lot
Of Virginia to take the iniative in
the task Of federalism, and right mob
~ did she meet the emergency by
furnishing to the nation an unrivalIcd
group Of statesmen, such as Washing
ION TcffarSnn NJorchnl1 oo1 Madison,
Occupying an intermediates POSI-
ton, geographically. amid the states
on the Atlantic coast Virginias part
III American history was mediotorial
and vicarious Rcasonabltness has
been the mark of her publicists, and
her bosom bears the wounds OF the
Revolution no less than OF the Civil
War. Yorktown and AppomattoX arc
both on her soil" That single state
ment, "reasonableness has been the
mark OF her publicists" cpitomizes the
history of Virginia statesmanship and
congresses into a single phrase the
political temper OF Virginia IN all
times.
South Carolina. DR. Mitchell pointed
out. was leader OF Southern though,
from 1920 to 1851 that SOLITARY ana
tragic figure" Calhoun. personifying
the state OF mind OF the South in this
momcntous period.
From 1865 to 1890 Georgia led the
South standing for ''industriul develop
incnt and national conciliation." The
Georgia statesmen Of this period braced
the South for better things by their
inspiring and hopeful utteranccs.
North Carolina took mp the torch in
1891 North Carolina was made up
almost wholly OF hardy ycomcn; it had,
perhaps lntcntly, more democracy and
sense of equality than almost any
state in the South. The old order had
tended TO repreas the energies Of the
plain people" IN the nineties certain
young men in North Carolina began
10 see visions OF tho possibilities Of
the average man through the common
schools" These men set agoing a
movement in bchalf OF the common
schools and ali forms Of public cduca-
ton tina. has spread from, the Potomac
4 10 the Rio Grandc, with benenccnt re
suits TO all classes and races of our
this movement was chance for every
child. Local taxation ana community
support afforded the means Of support
ling efficient schools
Taking UP The present situation
Throughout the south, Dr.. Mitchell CON
t!mued
Tho most signal thing occurring in
tie growth OF community life. III the
Old South three factors were promi-
ncnt--thc home, the Church ana the
stare. But to-day we are rendering
al three Of these factors more effective
by adding fourth, namely, community
iiic This community life is growing
iur around iha ,cioolhouse, when,
II! democratic way, offers n
social centre FOL the radiation OF
IDEAS and inliucnces in the intercs, Of
progress and humanity The public
school, with It's !brary, auditorium ana
1a.ted social activitIcs. Is tic main
spriig 81 TIC community. which IS tie
0ro2net Of the present south What
iehetson yea!ned for, you and arc
pft93legad 10 kee-,hc growth OF com
tHgf!fE iife. issuing IN such popular
af9sd3 HlOiic Garitation, the dtmonstra-
.pf fa.m CIVIC lcaEucs the free
'shf4E4 .aAastriai plants. nterurban
I tfe3s5# ihraj delivery, q braring pub
fs pJinibt EfpWiH8 out Of tic frank
p.aHInk!pH 81 riEie Affairs through tile
pfsf #rd On NC platform, 4 more bJac-
t-FRi selifiou ia thr churches. ana
iip~fa 'aade sw4etcg w SUCH convent
ehee. aA ~'lpr gHs ana e!ectric lghts.
Y. ptpHfe6H 81 Gdpcatton in tic
Toptn iAfi icEaiiy during the past two
d6eadeS. taf @ttrar,"l nat!onli attcu-
WOE and ~ tH motives ana achieve
iHtilH lha enfi"hed tfc history OF our
t'fGinon HDpnify The word "cduca-
/, l'"f m t3is inFtDncc iB made TO cover
&itai' bgaalc u activities. whicfi
fea 9nauiVts one 81 The fincsr man
iiaSiatipna - atatoHnanShip The
It"e+"fa ~ this Movement liavc sough,
fH filHiofprrt .iie Facts 81 ilio life ol
llIF. .5Eti4I tgYtLg CSUrsiti,;p t.stt Ma