The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1913-05-23
JEALOUS WORK
FOR EDUCATION
Echoes Of Recent Conferences
Held In South.
DIGNITY OF LABOR TAUGHT.
Review Of Efforts to Improve Methods
Of Instruction In Rural sehooIs--Na-
tionai and State Officials Make Op.
tiristio Reports-Leadership Of Miss
Virginia e. Randolph.

Virginia e. Randolph.
Richmond. Va.-The two conferences
which were recently held in connection
with the Richmond meeting Of the con-
ference for education in the south
were we'll attended. .ne white school
officials included superintendents Of
public instruction. state supervisors Of
industrial and elementary schools,
school principals. members Of educa-
tional boards. workers In the United
States bureau of education and also by
colOred school officers.
The conferences were presided over
by DIR. James Hardy billiard, presi-
dent Of the rural school fund board
The most striking address during the
first conference, aside from that Of DR..
billiard, was made by Miss Virginia
e. Randolph Of Henrico county, Va,
who began in 1908 her special task as
supervising Industrial teacher, work
ing under the direction Of Jackson Il.
Davis. state supervisor Of elementary
schools Of Virginia.
Miss Randolph outlined the story of
her work for colored children In rural
districts from 1894 to the present time.
1t has always been her policy to in
duce the children who come under her
influence to have clean dresses, clean
hands and tidy appearance. She has
always had the cooperation Of our
people. as well as the assistance Of the
best white people. In 1908, through
some assistance from the Jeanes fund,
Miss Randolph was able to visit the
Negro schools In Henrico county and
help the local teachers organize pa
irons Leagues, school improvement
clubs among the boys and girls and to
days In the week.
Miss Virginia Randolph has more
and more completely organized this
work until now she is reaching prac-
tically all the cOlOred schools In Hen
rico and Alexandria counties. in Vir-
ginia. She is helping the local teach
ers In the work Of making the schools
attractive and clean-inside and out
SIDE Miss Randolph and her asso-
ciates have shown the people Of Vir-
ginia that labor can be dignifed, that
gardens are possible all the year
round, that cooking and sewing can be
made interesting and that in proper
ton as the schools prepare boys and
girls for useful and righteous living
they win the respect and support Of
the best people Of both races.
Superintendent Smith Of Kent coun
ty, Md; Superintendent Arthur D.
Wright Of Henrico county, Va; Presi-
dent G. F. Meserve of Shaw universi-
ty, Raleigh, N. c.; DR.. George p. Phe-
nix, vice principal Of Hampton insH-
tute; Jackson Davis Of Richmond and
DR.. p. P. Claxton Of Washington were
among the speakers at the first con-
ference. Commissioner Claxton point
ed out that the improvement Of the
colored rural schools Is simply one
phase Of the pressing problem Of coun-
try life Improvement
He declared that the only solution
for the country school problem-white
or colored-is the teacher. He out
lined his plan for school consolidation
which includes the building at the
consolidated school Of q home for the
teacher and the laying out Of garden
plot which will become demonstration
center for the school community.
At the second conference DR.. Dill
lard outlined the conditions under
which the universities for colored pe0-
pie in the south carry on their work.
He quoted freely from the report on
colored universities In the SOUTH" pre-
pared by w. T. B. Williams, field
agent Of the John b. Slater fund. He
showed that the work done by these
universities covers every phase OF ed
ucation. from the lowest elementary
school grade up to good college work
and to efficient instruction in reputable
professional schools.
Referring to the courses Of study OF
fered by these universities, DIR. Dillard
pointed out the handicaps under which
these schools have been working-slen-
der means, lack Of teachers and poor
equipment. He referred also to the
duplication Of work which Is due to the
grouping Of these universities In CEN
ters where there are already number
Of struggling institutions.
DIR. billiard declared. however, that
with all their shortcomings and mlsrep-
resentations they have done q great