Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-31
DR.. S. C.. Mitchell and Harris
Hart Address Meeting
In M. E. Church South
TODAY'S PROGRAM
General Conference and Executive
Session This Afternoon-600 Teach
ers Attending

The State Teachers Association
District II, held public meeting last
night in the NJ. E. Church South, and
crowd that filed the church was
present. During the evening interest
ing addresses were made by DR.. 5. c.
Mitchell, University of Richmond, and
Harris Hart, superintendent OF pub
lie instruction of the State. The
meeting was presided over by Profes-
sor Charles G. Maphis, Of the Uni
versity of Virginia.
Mr.. Maphis said that for many
years he had been Interested in Alex
andria, and he recalled the old schools
here, and he said that in former years
it was not necessary TO have nigh
school. He congratulated the city on
obtaining plenty of ground as its site
for the High School, and he also con-
graduated the city on its line school
for colored children. Owing TO the
inability OF Mayor Duncan, who was
on a journey, to attend, the welcoming
address was delivered by H. r. Burke,
president of Common Council. Mr..
Burke expressed pleasure at the
teachers being guests N Alexandria,
and said he hoped they would have a
most successful convention.
A response was made by F. ?. My
ers, who expressed the thanks OF the
association for the reception and hos
pitality rendered the teachers, and
especially to the Parent-Teachers AS
sociation and the Kiwanis Club, and
he said the teachers would like TO
come to Alexandria again. He gave a
review of the progress made in teach
ing. Concluding, he declared Alexan-
dria is fitting place for all, especial
ly -Virginians.
Fletcher Kemp, superintendent of
the schools of Arlington County, who
was scheduled to respond to the well
coming address, was unable to be
present.
DR.. S. C. Mitchell, of the University
of Richmond, spoke on Cooperation. "
DR.. Mitchell declared that the racial
question makes paramount the social
question. The State now is concern
ing itself with childhood, public
schools, good roads and many other
social courses, said the speaker, who
declared the whole sphere OF the
State is changed. 1t is not surprising,
therefore, that woman has come into
power, he asserted. DR.. Mitchell de-
clared it is imperative that teachers
take part in social craftsmanship as
never before. A review of the prog
ress in the past 20 years was given
by him. The advance OF the public
schools, he said, was one of the first
things to. develop. The one great big
advance, he asserted, is not due to po-
litical leadership, he saying that we
are absolutely dependent on social
craftsmanship.
Continuing, in part Dr.. Mitchell
said: 1--WE have developed a great
public school system. 1t has been a
rich and fruitful half century for
Virginia. l think the school ought
to contribute its part to public discus
sion. Suppose we had great number
of evils. In recent years we have
made phenomenal progress. We need
discussion, frank and fearless. The
old school did not encourage it. 1t
is sad reflection to me that not a
single college in the South challenged
slavery. The great game of school
ought to work for community life.
Under the old order we rested on the
home in the South and also upon the
church. The church, state and school
are the cornerstone of the old South
and we are seeking the fourth-com-
munity life.
"The farmers of the South are re.
constructing and solving the rura
home life and the schools are doing
much for community life.
"What we need in Virginia are
county councils. I think that al
agencies making for the common goot
should be co-ordinated. When we gel
100 counties organized we are going
to see great results.
Harris Hart, superintendent OF
public instruction, discussed schoo
legislation passed at the last session
of the Legislature. Great returns, HI
said, are promised from cooperation
In Denmark, DR.. Hart said, they have
learned how to make politics serve thu
people. The great lesson we mus
learn, Mr.. Hart said, is that polite:
of the right kind must make the righ
type of economics. Denmark. he said
has learned this iD>order that ever!
man may have ar equal opportunity
Continuing, MIR. Hart said: III
Virginia the church. home and state
are the fundamentals of society"
Commenting on some of the meas
ures in reference to schools passed b.
the last Legislature and some thai
did not pass, the speaker said it wa:
an assembly tina tdid not dare increase
taxes. AS result he said great
constructive measures could hardly b