The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-07-03
Lectures by Distinguished
Public School Men.
Evolutionary Exercises by
Professor Kidd.
An Interesting Occasion and
a Happy Time.
A Fresh Impulse given TO the
Public school Cause.
Special Correspondence OF the Resister.l

RAvENswooD, June ~.
The session OF the State Teacher 8
Association which has been held here
during the past three days has been
exceedingly pleasant, instructive and
successful. Nothaving attended former
meetings OF this Association, am un-
aLle to say how the present session has
compared with that Of last year or the
year before, but judged by itself, it has
proved successful in many important
respects and cannot fail to be produc-
tive Of much good.
THE ATTENDANCE.
of the public school teachers OF West
Virginia has not been as large as it
should have been, but has been fully
up to the most sanguine expectations |
had dared to form. About seventy-five
out of the three thousand teachers in
the State were present, comprising
representatives Of the free schools in
the counties OF Hampshire, Monongalia,
Taylor, Marion, Ohio, Harrison, Richie,
Doddridge, Writ, Wood, Mason, Upshur,
Cabell, Lewis, Marshall, Grant, Wayne,
Barbour, Peasants, Jackson, Brooke
and Roane. Many Of these are County
Superintendents, and the remainder
may fairly be considered as among the
most prominent, wide awake and ener-
getc teachers OF the common schools.
1t is probable that the attendance OF
teachers would have been better had
the meeting been held at some point
OF easier access in the State, and the
rapidly increasing interest and impor-
tance of our public schools, and the
impetus which this meeting Of the AS
sociation has given to the cause will
doubtless stimulate the teachers to
more general attendance in the future.
DISTINGUISHED TEACHERS PRESENT.
There have been present, as lecturers
before the Association, several Of the
most talented and energetic public
school men in this State and in the
country at large. Chief OF these from
abroad may pe mentioned Hon. E. E.
White, of Columbus, former Superin-
tendent of free schools in the State Of
Ohio, editor OF the National Teacher,
and one of the most earnest, devoted,
and thorough teachers in the United
States; Professor F. A. Allen, Of Penn
sylvanla, who has given many years OF
active and enthusiastic labor to the
cause Of popular instruction and whose
skill in institute work has given him a
we'll earned fame among public school
men throughout the length and breadth
of the land; and Professor Robert
Kidd, of Indiana, the noted elocution-
ist and teacher OF all that pertains to
that rarest and most important OF all
accom- plishments the art Of good read
ing. Beside these eminent gentlemen
from other States, the most prominent
educators OF West Virginia have also
participated in the regular exercises OF
the Association and given to its men,
bers the benefit of their large expe-
rience. President Martin, OF the State
University, Rev. Morton, Of the Wheel
ing Female College, Rev. A. D. Will
liams, late Superintendent Of free
schools, Professors Crago and Gilchrist,
Principals Of the State Normal Schools
at West Liberty and Fairmont. Profes-
sor F. S. Williams, Superintendent OF
the Wheeling city schools, Professor
n H. johnson and Miss Harris, Of the
State Institution for the Deaf, Dumb
and Blind, and many others Of scarcely
less note as connected with the educa-
tional interests Of the State have been
in attendance and contributed much to
the advancement OF the good cause IN
which all are alike engaged.
1t was a matter Of general regret,
and deplored, l am sure, by no one
more Leenly than he, that Hon. c. S.
Lewis, State Superintendent OF Free
Schools, was detained elsewhere by
other official business and was only
able to be present at the meeting Of the
Association on Friday forenoon. His
anpearance, even ct that time, was
warmly welcomed and he was chosen
President OF the Association for the
ensuing wear. Ex-Governor Stevenson,
of the Parkersburg State Journal, was
nresent and made several very appro-
pirate little speeches; Judge Brown, Of
Jackson; Major n. Fitzhugb, OF Ka-
nawa, and several others also gave the
Association words OF cheer and bade
the teachers God speed.
REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS.
It is foreign to purpose in the pres
ent letter and would consume too much
snace to present a complete and minute
record of even the most important ol
the proceedings Of the State Teachers
Association. A committee was ap
oointed to prepare the minutes for pub.
iica;ion and their report will be given
to the public in due time Suffice il
for the present to say that the meeting
was orpanized in the Presbyterian
Church in Ravenswood on Tuesday
afternoon, June 9th, Rev. A. D. Viii
liams presiding. The necessary com
mittees were appointed and another
session was held in the evening, q
which Mr.. Williams delivered his inau
oural address as President Of the Asso
Cation. 1 copy from the West Viz
einis Nars, published at Ravenswood
the following synopsis of his remarks
, "He spoke Of the prejudice whicl
. exists against our school system becaus