Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-07-14
ALEXANDRIA,, VA.
Association Of Virginia.
MONDAY, JULY IA, 1878.

" MONDAY, JULY Ia, 1873.
Educational Association Of Virginia.
Such has been the pressure upon our col
umus during the past week, that it has been
i'm possible for US to notice, as We desired, the
meeting of the Educational Association Of Eir
ginia in our city, otherwise than by reporting
its proceedings. Organized seven years ago,
!. BY small body of University professors at
Charlottesville, it has grown at each successive
meeting until it embraces in its membership
almost all the college professors and teachers OF
high schools in the Commonwealth, and, Is
rapidly gathering in the teachers OF the pubic
schools. Acting upon the principle that moth
Ing which does not commend itself to the good
sense of each individual can command his
hearty supports discusses all things yet de-
cides nothing a plan which at hrst sight APP
pears but little calculated to advance the cause
of education, yet which will be seen, on more
careful consideration to be most wise; since 1t
enables each man to give his own views and
methods, aud affords them just that degree OF
weight in the minds Of his associates which
their intrinsic value. or his ability in elucldat-
ing Them deserves A decision OF mooted queS-
lions, while it would offer a premium to
book makers to bid for the influence of
the association and assemble an army OF
book agents at each annual assembling
to take up the time with audatlons
of their ware. S would soon destroy the interest
Of those whose views might not meet with
general appreciation, and lose for the associa-
ton the benefits of their advice and experience
An unprotc>sional gen tleman who attended
all the sessions, has since remarked to us, that
he never saw in SO large an assembly, and
one too in which the members evidently diff
tcrcd SO widely iu their opinions on almost
every subject, so much general harmony and
gentlemanly bearing of members towards each
other. 1t could scarcely be otherwise. The
more learned man becomes. the more he sees
his Deficiencies, and the more tolerant he is OF
opinions differing from his own; it is only the
fool who thinks that all the wisdom IN the
world is his Passion and prejudice new er car
ry conviction to tho minds of their hearers, and
it is only by the calm and digni6ed presenta-
ton Of their views that wise men expect to In
Hueuce those of their neighbors.
i Excluding ten gentlemen from our city and
its Immediate vicinity, there were seventy mem
bers in attendance, representing almost every
quarter of our State. Loudoun and Norfolk,
Southampton and Shenandoah Lexington and
Petersburg, all we're here, and the assembling
of so many grave men, many OF them far adj
vanccd in years, for the sole purpose OF hearing
and learning from each other how they might
best advance at home the great cause to which
their lives have been devoted, is a sign Of inter
est in the cause of education which cannot be
mistaken 1t was subject of general regret
that imperative public duties prevented the at
tendance Of the excellent Superintendent of
Public Instruction, but the City Superinten-
dents Of Richmond and Portsmouth were here,
with several of their teachers, and gave much
information to those to whom the practical
working of graded public schools was unfa-
miliar, as to the methods Of instruction there
pursued. The. accomplished Superintendent
of the District Of Columbia also attended, as
did the President of several colleges and high
schools from neighboripg States and the U.
S. Commissioner Of Education showed his in
terest in the assembly by an encouraging ad-
dress, and By subsequent telegram to our
City Superintendent inviting the members to
call on him at his office iG Washington before
returning to3stheir homes.
We are Sorry that so few of our
citizens, comparatively, found time to
listen to the discussions in the Associa-
alton; they would have served to awaken their
interest in the education of their children, by
making them better acquainted with the prin-
cipes upon which education should be based.
As it was, we are sure that the meeting has
given an impetus to the cause among US, and
that we have not only derived great pleasure
from the visit of so many distinguished educa-
tors. but solid advantages Also Alexandria has
never been behind hand In the literary training
Of her children, but We want her to become
once more, what she was before the war, a
great centre of education, and We think she is
slowly but surely attaining that position. That
the late meeting of the Educatisnal Association
here will hasten SO desirable contamination,
We cannot permit ourselves to doubt
~ !. -
The residents of the western section of Balti.
more are complaining just now, and not without
cause, Of the intolerabe noise kept up by the
g A. D,1.