Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-11-05
Educational Convention.

We lean from the Salisbury Watchman
that the Educational Convex ton held in tn at
Town, commencing on the 2lst ult., was
largely attended, the delegates representing
nearly all portions Of She State and many If the
most important Institution of learning with
in its bounds. Teachers Of Common Schools
were there, and the friends of education.
We have rarely seen a body which presented
an assemblage Of men 0 fgreater intelligence"
says the watchman.
Among the most important subjects which
occupied the time and attention Of the Con-
%vention, we would name the following:
The permanent organization Of a State Ed
ucational Association was determined on
and Committees appointed to mature the
plan, draft a Constitution, &c. This Asso-
citation will have subdivisions, with District
and County Associations.
Mr.. II. III. Brown, of Asheboro', presented
to the Convention q Manuscript Spelling
Book, of which he is the author, which was
described as possessing new and important
features and improvements, and asked the
Convention to appoint a Committee to exam
inc it and report upon its merits. The Con-
v%ention received the application, and appoin-
ted a Committee accordingly.
A number Of learned and labored ESSAYS,
were read to the Conesntion, all bearing np@
on the general subject of education n, in some
one or the other of its various interests, Some
Of these were designed in especial reference
to the free schools of our State, and their au-
thors devoted themselves to the dt velopment
Of plans and suggestions looking to the great
er efficiency and success of that system.
/ Uhaca aoSa u q ~ fbN Voo1c .,,ouo
and as they were open to discussion, gave
rise to frequent and able debates. They will
probably be published, and may hereafter
become valuable as instituting changes and
improvements in our educational system.
Mr.. Is. SUMNER moved a Resolution, de-
claring that we ought to have a Military
School in this State or a school designed on
the plan of the West Point Academy. lie
sustained his motion by reading to the Con.
vention an able paper, prepared by himself,
in favor OF such an establishment, which met
a very fiattering reception. The resolution
was adopted; and the Convention requested
the author to furnish the Executive Commit
tee with a copy of his views as read II
their hearing.
= Mr.. D. A. DAVIS, of Salisbury, offered {
resolution to memorialise the legislature, fo1
, the establishment of Il Normal School in eacl
Judicial or Congressional District of the State
for the purpose of qualifying young men t.
; become teachers in the Common Schools o
the State.
: This, we think, if carried out as we hear,
it explained, will prove a most important &C
QUESTION to the free school system. Accor
ding to the plan as detailed, pupils of thes
c schools are to be educated at the charge Q
n the school districts, each district contributin
4 for this purpose, its pro rata, (which will nc
exceed two or three d~ollars,) to a sun suff
cient to pay the teachers salary, being a
0 that will be required. The pupils, thus edit
Gated free Of charge, will be required to teac
school in this State, for a term not less tina
. that they were in the Normal School. Th
plan is calculated to supply a force of comp'
tent teachers to the common schools of apprt
we'd qualification, and as such, is deserving
: serious attention.
' There were many other things said an
done, as will appear more fully in the pu1
y lished proceedings of the Convention, while
we suppose will be given to the public in tt
! course Of a few days.
~ We congratulate the State on this the fir
ar educational convention assembled in Mort
IL Carolina and feel confident if the work
,e propitiously begun is prosecuted with a re
cquaIled by the Importance or merits of Il
cause it was designed to promote, educatio
en- in the old North, will ere long flourish he
e as it does in the most favored portions ofo,
IN Country.