Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-07-21
From ths Houston Telegraph slh inst,
The Teachers Convention.


respectable audience of our citizens,
ladies and gentlemen, assembled in
the Academy 10 hear speeches from
Professor Cline, the Rev. Mr.. Carnes,
Judge w. p. Hill and Col. Ashbel
Smith. The Rcv, Mr.. Carnes, much
TO the disappointment of the audi
ence, was not present Prof Cline
mentioned his engrossing occupa-
tions and the fact that he was not
regularly appointed orator of the
Convention, rs reason for having
made less preparation than he would
have otherwise done; he said he
would olny give them talk; and n
very interesting talk it was. He ad-
vocated the establishment of a sys-
tenn of graduated, free, public schools
and especially for the city of Hous-
ton, His excellent suggestions were
equally applicable to every other
town ofany considerable population.
Ho estimated the number of pupils
of the scholastic age in Houston at
$500; Of whom, said he, at least
1900 ought at all times to be at
tending school. For these, with q
system Of graded schools, 33 teach
ers would be adequate. His remarks
on the advantages to arise from the
successful establishment Of such
schools was very felicitous.
Judge Hill was called for and
took the stand, as he observed, to
make an apology for not making a
speech. Warming with his subject
his apology expanded into a very
handsome and eloquent address
We shall not attempt TO give n syn
opsis of it, as it would be impossible
in this way, to do justice to its beau
tiful images and numerous felicities
of expression, illustrating and en-
forcing his argument on the dignity,
importance and benifcence OF the
profession of Teachers.
Col. Smith, on being called for,
paid compliment to the eloquence
of Judge Hill, and expressed his ap.
probation of the plan elaborately
and ably advocated by Prof. Cline,
as applicable to Houston and to
other places, whore the population
was sufficiently dense. In regard
to the systems ofpublic schools hith-
erto tried in Texas, he said they had
proved utter failures. In his opin-
ion, the school money, for all the
good it had done, might as well have
been thrown into the Gulf Of Mexi-
co. He said that the sparseness of
our population in the country dis.
tricts presented very great obstacles
to the working ofany systems among
us, similar to the systems adopted
in Prussia, and in the more denscly
peopled Northern States of the IN
ion. Under these circumstances, he
had no plan, no system of public
schools to propose; he preferred to
be learner, to hear from others
Col. Smith then insisted on the i'm
portance of placing the profession
of teaching on footing of high re-
spectability, and on full level with
the other learned professions. For
this purpose, one means would be a
higher rate ofpay or emolument for
teachers; he asserted that the price
of tuition was always disproportion-
ately low, and that it had not gone
up with the general rise in the mon
ey prices of everything else. Col.
Smith said that higher pay would
enable teachers to devote their time
to less number of scholars, and
consequently to instruct them bet
ter than when as provided for in the
able plan submitted by Prof. Cline
one Instructor was allotted to fifty
pupils. He heartily endorsed Prof.
Cline's remark that we should do
away with the odious distinction be-
tween poor and pauper scholars and
paying or rich ones. Col. Smith
said he was prevented from ap-
plauding the remarks of Prof Cline
loudly, as he wished not to lose q
word of his address.
Col. Smith concluded by advocat-
ing the establishment of an Univor
sity by the State, where instruction
should be free and gratuitous to all;
where the son of the man with a
large family and moderate means
should get on footing of equality
with the son of the rich man. If,
said he, your son must 90 to the old
States, to the University of Virginia
TO get an University education, or to
Philadelphia to study medicine, you
effectually debar the poor mans son
from an education. The State ought
to furnish the means at home.
The resolution introduced by Ma
jor Cave in very spirited address,
recommending the establishment of
a free school system for the city OF
Houston, was adopted unanimously.