The Denver star., 1913-07-05
JEALOUS WORK
FOR EDUCATION
Echoes Of Recent Conferences
Held In South.
DIGNITY OF LABOR TAUGHT.
Review Of Efforts to improve Methods
tional and State Officials Make OPP
timistie Notwithstanding Of Miss
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 well attended. The white school
officials included superintendent Of
public instruction. state supervisors of
industrial and elementary schools.
school principals. members of educa-
tional boards, workers In the United
States bureau of educa ton 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
z. Randolph of Henrico county. Va.
who began in 1908 her special task as
supervising industrial teacher. work
ing under the direction of Jackson e.
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 a 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
make the school social center seven
| days in the week.
Miss Virginia Randolph has more
and more completely organized this
work until now she is reaching prac-
tically all the coiored 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 aud -clcan-inside and out
side. Miss Randolph and her nsso
ciates have shown the people Of vir
| ginia that, labor can be dlgnifed, tina
I 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 C. +. Meserve OF Shaw universi
| ty. Raleigh. N. c.: DIR. George r. Phe
nix. vice principal OF Hampton insi
| tute: Jackson Davis of Richmond and
DIR. r. r. Ciaxton 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 n home for the
teacher and the laying out OF garden
plot which will become a demonstration
center for the school community.
At the second conference DIR. Dill
lard outlined the conditions under
which the universities for colored peo-
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 +. 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. billiard
pointed out the handicaps under which
these schools have been working s,en-
der means, lack-of teachers and poor
equipment. He referred also to the
duplication of work which Is due to the
tiers where there nre already number
Of struggling institutions.
DR.. billiard declared. however. that
with all their shortcomings and m,srep-
resentations they have done n great
deal for the colored youth and have
supplied n number Of the hest teachers.
Both meetings We're characterized by
frank discussion OF the best methods
Of helping the boys and girls to better
living. better farming and better home
making through the medium OF the
common school.
prooreas ~ Son. os North c.ro,;na.