Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-01-13

trldl Institute, december Il-EZ. Mr
William ID. Gresham, Supervisor Of
Negro Education; Mr.. Henry G. Ell
lis. State Supervisor of Secondary
Education and d.. j. NJ. Candy,
President of V. N. & l. l. presided.
At the first session, 1000 A. NJ.
Thursday, DIR. Candy welcomed the
visitors to the Institution. Among
his remarks DR.. Gand.' stated that
the function Of the high school teach
er is Ito train the minds of race
for leadership" and that this fact
makes evident that the progress of
civilization rests upon the teachers.
and largely the high school teachers.
In referring to work that the State
Is doing for education Of all the
people. DR.. Candy remarked: THE
State must finally come to realize
that the burden of education must
rest upon the State"
MORE HIGH SCHOOL.
Mr.. Ellis in a short talk gave as
the purpose of the conference: "To
lay a basis for future high school
development" DR.. George p. Phe-
nix, Vice-principal, Hampton Normal
and Agricultural Institute, spoke on,
THE need for more accredited High
Schools for Negroes" In his dis
cusslon DR.. Phenix said that his in
terest in colored schools was because
colored people are citizens, not be-
cause they are colored; and that it
is beside the point to discuss whether
Negroes pay sufficient taxes to sup
port the schools that should be es-
tablkhed and maintained by public
funds. He further stated that since
the Negro was large factor in the
production of wealth of the State,
and comparatively small consumer
of it's wealth, that he Indirectly was
a heavy taxpayer. DR.. Phenix en-
dorsed the recommendation of the
Virginia School Survey in refer
ence to Negro education.
PETERSBURG'S NEW SCHOOLS.
Mr.. f. M. Martin, Superintendent
of Schools, Petersburg, spoke on
1.-The Attitude of Local School Au-
thortitses." Mr.. Martin spoke only
for the city of Petersburg and offered
to show the members OF the confer
ence concrete evidences of the atti-
tude of the Petersburg authorities in
the Peabody High School and the
Henry William Graded School, a
building which cost 500, 100000; an
other grade school in the process of
construction, which in to cost $780,
10000, and the plans for still anoth-
er grade school.
The Peabody High School, Supt.
Martin said, is the most effective
effort in the State for secondary ed
ucation for Negroes. The Virginia
Survey rated this. school at $40 on
a scale of 1000 points.
AMERICA MUST EDUCATE ALL
THE PEOPLE.
Supt. Martin struck the key note
in his statement of why Negroes
should receive as good education as
they are capable of. We live IN a
democracy, Mr.. Martin said, and the
safety politically and, the progress
economically depend on the intelli-
gence of all the people. No demo-
cracy can exist when the people are
ignorant. Since the Negro is a part
of this republic, and he is here to
stay, the life of the nation and the
ideals of the democracy depend to a
large extent or the intelligent func-
tioning of the Negro population. Mr..
Martin clinched the above statement
with these words: eff we don't edu-
cate all the people, rich, poor, black,
white, native and foreign born, we
are lost as q nation. AS matter
of self-preservation America must
educate all it's people,"
IDEALS OF EDUCATION.
Mr.. Martin set forth the following
ideals for conducting efficiently the
education Of all boys and girls:
1. The ability to read. write, and
figure sufficiently to carry on the
business of his life.
2. To understand the government
under which he lives so as TO be a
law abiding citizen.
8 The ability to work with his
hands so as to keep his own self
respect and to win the respect of
others.
4. To be able to appreciate the
hest in literature and in science.
5. To develop the aesthetic self
through knowledge of music. vocal
and instrumental, as far as the ma
tive talent can be trained.
Mr.. Martin closed his remarks by
stating that 1t is the idea of the
authorities of Petersburg to give ev-
cry boy and girl the best and most
practical education led by the best
teacher that can be secured.
ATTITUDE OF RURAL BOARDS.
The attitude of the Rural Boards
was discussed by Mr.. e. ]. Watkins,
superintendent of Schools, Halifax
County. Mr.. Watkins touched the
questions from a different angle from
either of the speakers who preceded
him. He approached it from the
spiritual side. Among his remarks,
he said that the spiritual appeal is
the most effective appeal. He be-
lieves in stirring the hearts of those
in authority so that they will be led
to feel their responsibility to race
who has always been faithful even
under the most trying circumstances
Mr.. watkins gave statistics to
show the attitude of the Halifax