To tnc People
At an Educational Conference Held in Atlanta, at Which
Governor Joseph M. Terrell Presided, the Under-
Signed Committee Was Appointed to Prepare
and Publish the Following Address
To tub Peopl* or Georgia :
It is self-evident that in a democracy the inteUigence of the people is
a necessary oondition of good government. For this reason the State un
dertakes as a meanB of self-protection the work of public education. Our
forefathers accepted and acted on these principles. Immediately following
the Declaration of Independence and the institution of a Democratic
government, they provided in the first Constitution of the State, that of
1777, for the establishment of a public school system. In 1786, speaking
through their legislature, they deolared that the “ prosperity and even the
existence of the State ” can be secured only by “ religion and education.”
During the 127 years that have elapsed since our first Constitution, the
record of Georgia in behalf of publio education, considered in the light of
conditions that have existed, has been honorable; but the time has now
come when a forward movement is imperatively demanded by our interest
and by our duty.
It is not more certain that in past ages Force was dominant than that in
these later times Intelligence rules. In the competition among hations, the
most intelligent will have the mastery; in the competition between sections,
the best educated will have pre-eminence; in the competition among indi
viduals, the man most highly trained will be the moBt sure of success and
the best equipped for usefulness. For these reasons the intelligence and
conscience of the State will be satisfied with nothing less than a perfected
system of publio schools whore all the children of the commonwealth, re
gardless of condition in life or circumstance of fortune, may have an
opportunity for the development and the training of the capacities with
which their Creator has endowed them.
In comparing the status of public education in Georgia with that of
other States in the South, it is pleasant to esoape the humiliation of being
at the bottom of the list in the matter of illiteracy, and in the inadequacy
of resources we have provided for what Thomas Jefferson called the “ cru
sade against ignorance ”; but we are too near the bottom of the list to
satisfy a just and worthy State pride, and it is regrettable (to say nothing
of negro illiteracy) to know that the white illiterates in Georgia exceed
the total aggregate white population of Atlanta, Savannah, and Augusta
combined. In contrasting the status in Georgia with the expenditures for
publio education in the North and West, the partial self-congratulation of
the first comparison disappears in the tremendous advantage which those
StateB maintain. Elaborate statistics are wearisome, but it is well for
Georgians to ponder the faots suggested in a single condensed statement: >
In schools in Georgia taught by teachers whose average salary is only
827.00 per month, we are teaching only 61 per cent. of the enrolled school
population; giving the ohildren in actual attendance less than six cents
worth of education per day for an average of only one hundred and
twelve days in the year. [In rural schools the average length of the school
term for each child enrolled is about 62 days; and for each child of school
age the average is about 42 days.] In the State whioh gives most largely
to public education the productive wealth for each inhabitant is 8260 per
annum. In Georgia it is less than half of this sum.
How are these conditions to be improved? We believe that the people
of Georgia are both patriotic and intelligent enough to improve them, if
they are free to do so ; but they are not free. The resource for the better
ment of our inadequate educational system is in local taxation supplement
ing the general State fund; but the Constitution of 1877 abridges and
virtually denies to the people the right of looal taxation. So many re
strictions are thrown around the procedure, so oppressive are the require
ments, bo uneqiial are the terras of submission of the question to the people
that their hands are tied. Under the existing law the recommendations of
two Grand Juries must be obtained, and in the elections it is necessary to
the success of the looal measure to secure two thirds of the qualified voters
of the county. The effeot of this is to count against the measure all the
absent voters, all the voters providentially hindered from voting, and even
those who may have removed from the county but whose names appear on
the qualified list. The proposed amendment relieves the procedure of
these oppressive requirements, but it is important to note that the amend
ment is itsplf highly conservative in that it requires a two thirds majority
of the persons voting in the election. This amendment will be submitted
to the people at the next general election in October, 1904. We believe
that the people can be trusted; most of all, they can be trusted not to tax
themselves too heavily. The amendment in effect merely restores to the
people the right of local option in taxation.
In view of these plain propositions and the momentous importance of
the public interests involved, the educational conference held in Atlanta
as above stated makes, through the committee, the following declarations ;
1. We appeal to the people to adopt the constitutional amendment,
reclaiming for themselves the right of supplementary local taxation to be
exercised in those communities that desire it in accordance with the demo
cratic principle of home rule.
2. We declare ourselves in favor of advancement in our educational
system; better training and payment of teachers; expert school supervi
sion ; longer terms; the consolidation (where practicable) of Weak and scat,
tered schoqls into strong and more efficient organizations; the improvement
of schcolhouses and grounds.
3. Realizing the strong devotion of the women of the State to the
welfare of the children, we appeal to them to organize School Improvement
Societies in every county and locality, and to aid by their influence in the
accomplishment of the objects outlined in this address.
4. We invoke the aid of the great agencies, the pulpit and the pres* ;
we recommend that the friends of the school hold educational rallies in all
the counties of the State, and we invite the cooperation of all good citizens
in this effort for the intellectual, industrial, and moral elevation of the
citizenship of the future.
Waiter B. Hill,
W. J. Norther, Warren A. Candler,
M. I* Duggan, Hoke Smith,
^ QmmMke, W. 6. Merritt,
Excuslon Rates to Winter Resorts,
Via Central of Georgia Railway.
Excursion tickets are now on
sale at all ticket stations on the
Central of Georgia Railway to the
Winter resorts in Florida,” Cuba,
Nassau, etc. Tickets will be sold
daily up to and inoluding April
80t.h, 1904, limited to May 81st,
1904 for return passage.
The Central offers superior train
service and schedules to Florida.
For tickets and additional in
formation apply to nearest agent.
OF ATLANTA, GA.
'i
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Address
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