Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-07-07
FROM CHATTANOOGA.
interstate Educational Convention.
special to chronicle.

met here to-day, according to appointment.
The Convention opened at O'Clock A. NJ.
The attendance is large. The States of
Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Missouri,
Virginia, Kentucky and Illinois, are rep
resented.
Prof d. Mullin, Superintendent of the
Public Schools in Atlanta, Ga. was chosen
President and w. r. Garrett of Corners
vile, Marshall county Tenn, Secretary.
Vice.Presidents were chosen from each
of the several States represented.
An address of welcome was delivered by
George Washington, Esq of Knoxville,
and was one of his happiest efforts.
Among the many distinguished gentle.
men present is VIM. T. Harris, the eminent
Superintendent of the City Schools in St.
Louis, Missouri, who to-day read q paper,
which for ability has hardly ever been sur.
passed in this country. His subject was
the Relation of the Mississippiyalley to Civ
ilization and Education.
Prof. W. j. Davis, editor of the Home
and School, Louisville, Ky, addressed the
Convention tonight on Primary Institu-
tons.
Ex-President Johnson is expected
to arrive and address the convention
tomorrow night.
Dispatches were received to-day, and
read, from Gov. Garland, of Arkansas,
and Gen. John Eaton, Jr, Commits
sioner of Education, expressing regret
at their inability to be present.
Special to The Chronicle.
CHATTANOOGA, July lst 10:40 P N.
The Convention met at 8 O'Clock and was
addressed by Superintendent A. Pickett, of
the Memphis schools on 1.-THE Pupil as an
Objective Element DIR. W, g. Briggs, of
Illinois, followed on Common School Ed
ucaton.n He argued for its universality
thoroughness, compulsory law and against
the teaching of foreign languages DR..
Hsrris, of ST. Louis, differed with him and
favored teaching German in some cases
Johnson, Gordon and Lamar, having
failed to arrive, the night meeting was de-
ferred and after deciding upon perma-
nent Inter State Association for the South
west, the Convention adjourned to meet at
Memphis next year, at a date to be hereaf-
ter fixed.
From gu: own Correspondent.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, June 80
TO the Editors Of the Chronicle:
My telegram tonight will give you
concise statement of the doings of
the educational convention to-day.
The attendance is much larger than
was expected. The three divisions of
our own State are well represented.
Among those most prominent from
beyond the mountains we notice State
Superintendent Trousdale, DR.. Linds-
ly of Nashville, Supt. Pickett of Mem
phis, Prof. Graves of Mary Sharp
College, Supt. Weakly of Davidson
county, Prof. Rains editor Tennessee
School Journal, and others. Among
the East Tennessee representatives are
Supt. Presnell of Jonesboro', Prof.
Sharp of Maryville, Prof. Wilson of
Morristown, Prof. Nelson of Lime
stone and Profs. Butler and Kirkpat.
rick of Knoxville, not to mention
many other less distinguished lights.
Knoxville was highly honored by
the very eloquent speech of welcome
addressed to the Convention in behalf
fellow citizen George Washington,
Esq. Mr.. Washington knows, as few
other men know, how to do such
things.
The able paper of Supt. Harris on
" The Relation of the Mississippi val
ley to Civilization and Education was
the event of the day. 1t was diversi-
fled and exhaustive, embracing in its
worldwide compass the working out
of the social problem for the inhabi-
tants of our great interior basin. The
great effect OF tile rivers commerce,
flowing through such diversified
shadesof climate, was clearly demon
strated, as we'll AS the vast social chan
ges brought about by the wide
spread introduction Of railroads
and telegraph lines. The assimilation
of our Heterogeneous population
springing from all the uationalities of
earth will, he thought, as in ancient
Britain, finally work out far nobler,
grander aEd more free people. The
great changes now going on require
variations of our educational system
But it is impossible in my limited
space to give even a synopsis of the
address. For its philosophical insight,
clear reasoning and superior merits, in
every respect, it would stand credit
ably in the New York IIi6une'S list of
lectures by Tyndall, Proctor, etc.
In a running discussion of DIR. Har-
ris' paper Prof r. Il. kirkpatrick, of
East Tennessee University, made some
strong points in favor of the general
establishment of fewer colleges and
more high schools for the advanced
training OF the mass and the prepara-
ton of those, who might wish it, to
enter college proper. He showed
clearly that the preparatory schools
should be scattered through the coun-
try instead of being attached to our
collegiate institutions. His ideas are
being carried cut in some counties by
the establishment of central graded
and high schools for the several dis
tricts.
Prof. Butler spoke fervidly for Nor
NAL schools and showed clearly their
absolute necessity.
The subject of competitive examina-
ton OF applicants % our State and Ma
tional Institutions was discussed by
superintendent j. r. Dean, of Bedford
county, and Prof. kirkpatrick. The
Convention expressed itself decidedly
in favor of competitive examination,
and the making of all appointments
on merit alone.
The night lecture of Prof. w. j.
Davis, editor OF Home aud School,
Louisville, was clear exposition of
the exceedingly great necessity of
thorough urinary Instruction MANY