The national Republican., 1869-06-29
LOCAL MATTERS.

; LUCAL MATTERS.
MEETING OF TIE TEAqHERs or PUBLIC
scHooLs-SPEEcH OF MAfoR Bowry-Ap-
DRESS or SUPERINTENDENT RIcHARps.-On
Saturday morning the teachers of the public
schools OF Washington assembled at the
Miller School Buildlng;on II street, between
Sixth and Seventh, TO hear the views Of Hon.
Lalmon Richards, recently appointed Sup,r-
intendent Of the Public Schools, on matters
pertaining to tho educational interests of
this city. A large number Of teachers were
present. also Mayor Bowen, Reys. +. II.
tray and septimus Tustin, Alderman A. p.
Clark and W. ii. Chase, Councilmen George
Hatton, Brown and Pardon, Major A. q.
tees.
The meeting was called to order m, o.ao n
{ M, and on motion Hon. 8. J. Bowen, Mayor
was invited TO preside, and Mr.. J. Z. Thomp-
son appointed secretary.
Mayor Bowen, on taking the chair, ad-
dressed the meeting as follows
TkAcHKRs; You have been called together,
,s,,n,a 1adet,,snd a for the puIpo.s Of heslins a
Schools y win hardly be expected, there.
eT only .ay @ hsppy s &c %.es so msnH s,
success that has attended the public schools
1out lOF hChOOl year lust
closed. The Improvement 10 our system OF
education lisa cause of eongrstulatIon TO every
one, but there has been wanting = superin.
tendcnt, general head or director, In order to
secure uniformity OF discipline and teaching,
and 10 reform orrors as well as to aid the
teachers In their difficult task OF impsrting
Il. To supply this defect, 1 have ia5orcd IN.
der many diniculties tho past year, and II
anofds me pleasure to state that at last the
Oty Councils authorized tho appoi tment OF
such an officer. And l am satisfied that, II
you do not now, you will before tho sxptra-
tion Of smother year, admit that we have been
man for that position who, BY his expefie nee,
etsinments, amiAbillty, excellent Judgment,
knd other rare qualifications, Is csftsihiy The
Dlstriet OF Coiumbis whom We could eould nave awe
knamed. refer to Mr. Zaimon !. .ichsfds. who
As present, and who will now address you.
follows:
ADpRRss OF surkRisrRsDRNr RicHARps.
Ladies and gentlemsn, teachers aud trus-
FteeG As the Superintendent of the Public
Schools OF this city, have invited you 10
meet me. with the desire to make . few state.
nent" with references to the relations here.
after TO exist between US. I think you are
AL aware, as l am sure ! am, that the office
which have the honor to MI is no sinecurs.
Na,iIat nm ne nrss person who ha, been called
lot to Initiate what appears to me great and
nomentous work. Having neither the exam
y n ,SG nos s.y
a..
with the fact that Ihsvs diikeuit ts.E be-
l need not say that In entering upon nv
WORK am anxious to be successful, not 50
mueh on ny own account as on account Of
our school system, and 10 Increase the means M
and facilities necessary to provide for tho
thorough education OF all our children. Al
years In this city will bear me witness that /
have never failed to show my sympathy and
Interest IN the cause Of free, universal educs.
tion, And especially In the public schools OF
Eight years ago, while a member OF the
board OF Common Council, succeeded in get.
special committed OF tho two Boards, In co m
neofion with a similar committee from the
Board Of Trustees, to purchase lots Of ground
school Sudns 10 esoS disr.s Or 70 %.fG st''i 70,
the accommodation of at least fye hundred
pupils: This was In ls0l,2, when certain prop.
able appearance OF the late rebellion, and were
willing TO sell the most eligible building lots
at almost any price. Never myself doubling
sustain itself, and preserve this city to be the
great and glorious metropolis Of our country,
II twa.s matter Of great regret that there were
! Board OF Aldermen at that time to prevent the
passage OF so desirable . bill, which would
have secured lots then for few thousand dol.
Thousand, of dollars. The only result from
that effort was the purchase Of the souare OF
ground upon which the Wallaeh Building now
stands for Ave or six thousand dollars, which
10 now worth nearly enough to pay for the
original cost Of the lot and tho valuable build.
log upon u. have always rejoieed with the
every successful effort to elevate them and
make them the most effective instrume pta v
for edRcatinx all the people.
Of Knowing, that the office OF Superinte te ndent
70 especially calculated, u properly filled, to
ways advocated Its creation here. Now that
Ills created, cannot doubt but that you all,
In common with myself desire to so iusugu.
highest advantages, and l ask your aid and
eo-operatioa, /" well as your patienee and for
A large portion OF my life, as most OF you
know, has been spent In the sehooi-room, and
may say: In charge OF every grade OF schoi.
Esh .na la' .u. e dhs ASnHs, g;ds Of
cess, in nearly thirty years Of experience, /
will also say, that ss a general thing, my Pu.
the army, In the navy, st the bar, In medieins,
In the pulpit, as editors, professors OF colleges
superintondents OF schools, as well as In every
grade OF public schools, and last, though not
least, successful mechanics, artisans, and farm
among the Idle aud di;soIuts
been entirely devoted to the work Of The
sohool-room, 1 have been earnestly engaged
In Improving all the time not demanded Tor
special duties, 10 making myself more thor.
oughly acquainted with the methods or teach
Ing, classifying, and conducting schools. with
what success l have made my inyestigations
portunity Of iJudsins, while l endesvor TO per-
form what ! consider TO be the duties OF the
once to which Sh, have been been sPPSintsd:
imperfection and liability to make mistakes,
sdesire to siye my beat energies totho work
and Of increasing the efficiency OF our teach
ers, While 4 am free, yea, proud to admit,
TIA, the condition . o. our school. and the quail.
/ teachers will compare favorsbly with those OF
any OF our most highly favored cities, l can
no, y say nat believe lie, S We have arrived at per.
did not think there was room for improve
meat. and 4 were to tell the most success.
reached the highest point OF quaIineation or
the most approved modes Of instruotion, /
think they would consider me very superb
As a general thing | have found the beat
| qualified and most successful teAohers not
only conscious Of their deficiencies, but anx.
selves more thoroughly for thelr work.
could specify instances Of teachers In this
olty, II 1t were proper to do so, who have q
have never failed to avail themselves or lee.
lures, educational conventions, pTofessional
books, and the advice OF other experienced
II teachers, and are far from considering them.
| selves as having nothing more TO learn. AIN
Il always suspicious Of a Ielf-csn nhdBnt, boasting
Il teacheri and yet Am Just as suspicious OF 4
/ teacher who has no confidence In his abilities
Every teacher should know what he can do,
not from having passed an examination sue.
Il oessfully, aLd that his personal friends think
1 him smart, but from u living oonsiousneSs
within him that he has mastered the subjects
which he is to teAehI that the prinoip OF his
text books are 80 much part Of himself IN at
he can stand before his class aud draw from
bis own resources, Independent OF books, the
thoughts and truths he would Impress upon
the minds OF his pupils,
II isnot enough for q teacher that he 10 sue.
cCsslul In making his pupils memoriEe the
language OF their books, or even In getting the