The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-07-16
me Educational association.

The Educational Association Of Virginia
has adjourned to meet Ia Norfolk next July.
The reports OF Its proceedings which we
have furnished speak for themselves. They
were prepared by a member who is well
qualified TO take part in any discussion which
has had place In the body, yet were abso-
lutely free from any such tinge us ones per-
sonal opinions are 80 apt to imrart to his
reports. When Mr.. FILLMORE presided over
the United states Senate he used to recoS-
nizc Of the two senators from that State, the
one as "thc Senator from Arkan sas,, and
the other as "the Senator from Arkansaw,"
varying the name Of the State to make it suit
the pronunciation of the person thus recog-
nzed. So our reporter, though taking part
in the discussions and having very decided
opinions of his own, always allowed each
speaker except himself) to appear in print
as he wished to appear.
Those persons who have not read these
reports have missed treat. Mr.. GLIDER
SLEEVES valedictory address must have been
decidedly rich. He claims to be one of the
t,ro" men in the United States who can't
make speech; yet he is, we suspect, good
speaker. His claim that whilst the Associa-
tion had during the session settled nothing
it bad nevertheless unsettled many things,
must have provoked much good feeling
amongst the brotherhood Of educators. So
as to Professor JoYNEs's remark, in which
he SO happily introduced all the phrases which
Mr.. Dawes wishes to have the Association
discuss next year. In fact, the members
must have had an exceedingly pleasant time
Of it. The Alexandria Gazette says Of the
Association:
An unprnfessiohal gentleman who attended all
the sessions has since remarked to US that he never
the members evidently dIffrrel 80 widely in their
opinions on almost svery subject, 80 much general
harmony and gen,lemaniy bearing of members to
wards each other. II could scarcely be otherwise The
more learned Il man becomes the more ne sees MS
deficiencies, and the tolerant he Is OF opinions
differing from his own; 1t is only the fool who
thinks that all the wisdom In the world Is his Pas
sion and prejudice never carry conviction to the
aa of n a1d d Is 91Is By the e Mne
men expect to influence those Of their neghbors
The Gazette also explains why it is wise in
the Association to settle nothing:
Acting upon the principle that nothing which
does not commend Itself to the good sense of each
Individual command his hearty support, IL dis
russeS ali things. yet decides nothing" plan which
at ir,t sight appears but little calculated TO advance
thu of education: Yet which viii be seen, on
careful consideration TO be most WISE since IL
enables each to give his own views aud methods,
aud affords them just that degree OF weight In the
minds OF his associates which their intrinsic value
his ability in calculating them deserves. de-
risiOD of mUoted questions, while IL would offer Il
premium 10 boOk-IakcTs to bid for the Influence OF
Tie Association and assemble an army OF book agents
at each annual assembling to take mp the time with
laudations of their wares would soon destroy the
Interest OF those whose views might not meet with
general Appreciation and lose for the Association
The JcleGts OF their advice and experience.
The discussions which take place at these
meetings have liberaizing influence upon
the minds of the members. The goodly COM
rany Of educators presents to their minds an
audience so different from those TO which
they are accustomed to speaking as oracleS,
that the effect upon themselves cannot be
otherwise than good. If OLIVER WENDELL
BolMEs could imagine clergyman who had
heard nobody but himself preach until he
hId laI,scd into the savage state. any of lis
can imagine professor or school teacher
Whose dicta should be received as law by bis
pupils until he shopld have come to regard
himself as a second SOLOMON. Long life and
high prosperity to the Virginia Educational
Association, say We.