Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-08-15
EDUCATIONAL.
o,,,c. supr. Con. SCHOOLS n. O.,
dug,fst 4th, 1857.

o,,,c. Surf Con. ScaooGs n. O.,
August 4th, 1857. !
10 tie Mairmen Of tho Boa,ds Of County Ssgs s.
tenden1 Of C0n'0''" oe'0o0 J0T We '''e'"'
tie, Of tie State: --
GxrnEuEs You are oil, no doubt, s~are that
the educational progress of our State has recently
assumed Q new and more hopeful phase I'D tne sue
cessul formation Of State Educational Association;
This is . consummation which the enlightened
friends Of the cause in our State looked for and
hoped for in vain for many years: . result which
vould have gladdened the hearts of such men -
DR.. Joseph Caldwell, but which they were not
spared to Witness
The preliminary steps were taken last yesr-and
success attended every stage Of the proceedings un-
large meeting at Warrenton few weeks ago. .,:
The object of such Associations must be obvious
TO you. No great public enterprise can succeed
without union of counsel and effort on the part Of
it's friends; and our first and leading purpose in
forming these societies is to throw together into q
compact and disciplined army the educational forces
of the State. We wish all the aborers in this field
to understand each other, to sympathze with each
other, and to aid each other; and we wish them to
present an imposing and united front to the ad-
versary.' .-.
The cause is rapidly digni6ed by such . course
the teachers calling is more respected, and rendered
more pleasant-good ideas are transpanted from
one place to another and there is more life, more
interest more excitement and more rapid and more
general improvement in all the departments Of ed.
ucation.
That the State Association may be the more use
full, it ought to have connected with it subordinate
local Associations in all parts of the State, that all
our schools and especially all The officers and teach
ers of the Common Schools may come under their
influence
know, by personal observation, that County
Association, if participated in only by few teach.
will in inns ole he ard
qualifications, and impart new and higher tone to
the whole cause. Besides, progress in every art OF
civilization is characterized by associated effort
and counsels-while an isolated individualism is the
uniform condition of ignorance, until it begins to
give way before advancing light
I, therefore, most earnestly recommend that Coun-
ty Associations, for the improvement Of teachers.
and for the advancement Of the cause Of education
be formed in every county in the Stase or where it
is convenient and more practicable, that District
Associations, embracing several counties, be formed.
all connected with, and acting under, the General
State Association.
Permit me to urge each of you to immediate and
energetic action in this matter; and if you cannot
well give your personal attention to it, hand this
letter and the accompanying paper to some qualified
and active teacher, some public spirited citizen
who will lead off in the good work.
You cannot adopt better plan to obtain the edu-
catonal census of the counties with whose progress
you are officially connected: you desire, no doubt,
to know their mental and. moral condition, and by
having all their teachers, English and Classical be-
fore you in debate, several times during the year,
you will readily acquire information that will vastly
enhance the usefulness of your Office.
hope that teachers of every kind will take part
in these proceedings-and that school officers, and
citizens not officially connected with the schools,
will give the aid of their countenance and attend
ance Do not be discouraged by small attendance.
All good principles have immortal vitality-and if
practced only by few they will live and will inev
itably extend their influence continually and inde6.
Iitsly this Letter are full ins'rue
form of Constitution which is intended only to be
suggestive, and may be altered by each Association
Still it is to be hoped that the main features in all
will be the same.
Hoping soon to hear good report from your
county, / am, with much respect,
Very truly yours,
C. H. WILEY,
Sup Conn., Schools for the State