The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-21
STATE PROFOUNDLY
IMPRESSED BY SPEECHES
OF TWO LEADING MEN
Fairfax Harrison and Henry W.
Anderson Garry New Ideas and
ideals to Normal Schools.
GROWTH THROUGH SERVICE
PARTICULARLY EMPHASIZED
'Thc Education of Kings and The
Making of Persons'' Unique Themes
Splendidly Developed BY Railroad
Onicials.

Much has been said in both the daily
AND weekly papers Of the State about
the recent visit OF Mr.. Fairfax Har-
rison, president of the Southern Rail-
way. and Henry w. Anderson. ESQ,
vice-president of the Virginia Railway
and Power Company, to the four State
normais. where they addressed the stu
dents and the public on questions that
ware vital to the success of the school
work of our State. This publicity has
created the desire in the minds of the
people of the State who were not privi-
legged to hear these addresses to know
the substances of the thought present
ed by these gentlemen. 1t is to be
expected that just such an interest
would be aroused. for It is a very I'M
usual thing for men having the respon-
slbility Of such large business affairs
TO take practically week of their time
away from business to present the
practical ideas of education TO those
who are preparing themselves to teach
in the public schools Of the State. This
fact should not only impress the edu-
cational forces. but IL should also IA
vorably influence othcr men of large
business affairs and cause them to see
THAT they also can render a great ser
vice to the cause OF education. II we
are to have an education that Ats boys
and girls for their great responsibility
Of life there must be cordial under
standing and cooperation between the
educational professional and busine -
people OF our State. We feel sure the
profound Impression made by the visit
Of Messrs Harrison and Anderson will
cause the educational leaders 10 call
on other business men for just such
messages
Must Prepare the Individual. .
Mr.. Henry w. Anderson developed
the idea that We must prepare the In
diyidual for service TO his community,
his state and his nation. HIS subject
WAS THE Education OF Kings and
in developing this subject he said in
part:
My subject tonight, The Education
of Kings may seem Of historic rather
than present interest. We in America
have no king. a. the term 10 commonly
used, expressing the individual en-
hodiment of the Sovereignty OF a state.
But the elementspf sovereignty. which
1. essential to the idea OF n State. .nust
aiways exist. II Is only question Of
the place OF its deposit or the tnstttu-
lions through which II nnds expression.
I'm a monarchy. one individual 10
king, answerabie In theory. only to
God and to postarity. In a democracy
there are many individuals clothed with
the sovereign authority of citizenship,
and In that sense kings.
The right and duty of the mon
archicai state to provide for and TO
control the education of It's prince or
sovereign II obvious. II should supply
the means for his education and train
Ing and insist that from infancy the
prince shall he taught to guard his
health and vigor. to understand and
appreciate the work which he may be
called upon to do, and, above all. to
realise that he holds his life in trust
for his people, with the obligation TO
give that life freely in the promotion
Of their interests and the development
Of their destinies.
Ruler. transferable.
Tt Is not so generally recognized
that In q State where the sovereignty
10 diffused among all the people. ana
the desttnies of the nation are thus
controlled by innumerab1e rulers. the
proper education of Its kings is OF even
more Importance. II Is essential to the
very life Of the State that those who
are to exercise the functions of citt-
senship. and thus of sovereignty.
should not only understand the mean
ing and extent of their obligations, but
should be trained for the intelligent
discharge of those social. economic and
political functions upon which rest the
future prosperity and happiness Of the
people.
TT IL therefore an essential duty Of
4 state to provide adequate schools for
the education of children: to require
that every child within Its borders CAP
able Of education shall attend school
provide teachers who appreciate the
public nature Of the tasks to which
they are assigned, and able to under.
stand and apply sound principles In
public instruction. In this sense, The
Education of Kings is an Immediate
and practical question of vital impor-
lance.
Let us begin with ourselves why
have we Of Virginia evidenced 30 little
interest and efficiency In public AZ
fairs? why have we SO long failed to
make proper and adequate provisions
FOR the education of our youth--the
kings Of tomorrow
Many causes, some Of which are
not pertinent to this discussion. may
have contributed to this end. but one
OF the most obvious and potent of these
causes. one easily capable Of correc-
tion will be found in a curious defect
in our institutions, less manifest In the
social and political organization of
some of the States of the Union.
An Agricultural People.
THE people OF Virginia have been
fesaentiAiiy nm AGRICULTURAL people. They
brought with them from England GER
tain aristccratic ideals and \ tendency
toward individual development which
have been accentuated by the isola-
tion Of country life. and has prevented
the creation Of any medium or agency
through which community life might
Be developed or community spirit nnd
expression. The town meeting Of New
england. which was distinctly q COM
munfty orga nixation wherein questions
81 common interest we're discussed and
determined and . community spirit
thus created and expressed. has no
sxDuntsfpaft.1tn svtrgtnta: There to not
and has NEVER been any recognised or
Ssnfixti60 ~ agency o. ! local char
actar In this State In which the people
- fAesed1nnunitye evlA mAst and sAttls