The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-08-12

Letter of the Hon. 1yo lEh3heln - -
swer to an invitati0n to ot1o11. tn
annual meeting Of the New York 0tn1C
Teachers' Association. ~
LANSING, Mich, July %, 1863.
GENTLEMEN:
In acceptance of your kind invita-
ton, it would afford me great pleasure
to attend the annual meeting of the
New York State Teachers Association,
to be held at Lockport the Sd, 4th and
5th days of August. There are many
reasons why this should be 40.
New York is my native State; and
in my native town, in Jefferson county,
| commenced my labors as Common
School Teacher, now no more than a
quarter of century ago. I had the
honor of serving that county as Super
intendent Of Common Schools, now fif.
teen years ago, the first term after that
Office was created. And the establish
ment of this Office regard as the first
great aggressive movement in the wide
spread reuival of Popular Education
throughout our country. The interest
which was then awakened in New York
and New England, has since been be-
gotten in nearly all of the States COM
prising the North Western Territory.
Having been officially connected with
the Department of Public instruction
more than half of the time since my re-
moval to this State, now nearly fifteen
years ago. / have had the satisfaction
of participating in this great Common
School reviUal, which has given such
an impetus to the cause of popular edu-
cation in our midst, and which has be-
come so deeply seated in the affections
of our people.
We have inaugurated a great work,
which is now in the full tide of success
full experiment. In cities and villages
where fifteen years ago there could
scarcely have been found schoolhouse
worth fifty dollars, there have since
been erected imposing Union School
Houses, which are indeed Temples of
Science, and which constitute the free
will offerings of our people, built at
costs ranging from ten to forty thou
sand dollars each. The wages paid
the principal teachers in these localities
have advanced from fifteen dollars a
month, to one thousand dollars a year.
And the improvement in the character
of the schoolhouses, and the advance
of the salaries of the teachers employed
is fully equaled in the improved condi-
ton of the schools themselves. And
the work of Improvement in this de.
partlnent of the educational enterprise
is still going on.
Within this period of time State
Normal School has been established,
which has been eminently successful in
The sii5 education Of teachers tor our PR
mary schools. Our State University,
previously established, has also within
this time been so developed as to en-
brace full and extended Scientific and
Literary College courses, and a Depart
ment of Medicine.
The Michigan State Agricultural Col
lege-the first State Institution of the
kind in the country-has now been
more than ayear in successful operation,
with a hundred enthusiastic students in
attendance, which are all that can at
present be accommodated. But in a
few years, under wise administration,
its enlarged capacities will afford in
struction to thousand young men who
will crowd its halls, anxious to dignity
labor by associating with it that intelli-
gence which will render Agriculture at
once a source of both pleasure and
profit.
The Michigan Asylums for the Desf
and Dumb, and for the Blind, are
already in successful operation; and
the Asylum for the Insane is in an ad-
vanced state of progress.
The House of Refuge for the Refor-
nation of Juvenile Offenders, although
but recently established, is achieving
wonders as refornaatory institution.
But its mission will be fully accom-
plished when the preventive influences
of improved Primary Schools become
universal among us.
AS already intimated, it would afford
me pleasure to attend your meeting,
and to participate in it's deliberations.
But as pleasure should ever be subor-
dinated to duty, and as severe Office
labors upon which have been engaged
for years, are still pressing upon me, /
must find my pleasure in the perform
ance of duties in my own field of labor,
which will preclude the possibility of
my participating in the festivities Of
your anniversary.
Wishing you, and the Association,
joys abundant in your annual gather
ing, which hope and trust may prove
a source of rejoicing to the rising gen.
GRAFTON; and bidding you God-speed
in your labors, with many thanks for
your kind invitation,
/ am, Gentlemen,
Your fellow laborer, and
Obedient Servant,