Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-26

X
these seminaues have so rapidly increased
in number, magnitude and public apprecia-
ton during the last thirty years. 1t is safe
to predict that at the end Of the next thirty
years normal colleges will, in every respect,
be second to none in America.
l have thus shown what is done for nor
NAL schools by two Of the great States
East in which commerce and manufactures
predominant, and also in two OF the great
States West, mainly agricultural. These
four prosperous and progressive States are
types Of the advancing class, in all OF
which public schools, with all kindred APP
planes, are literally fostered. How
great the contrast to our own beloved Ten
nessee, in which our legislators, and even
our laws, have always promised more than
the people have enjoyed.
Among the statesmen Of Tennessee one
is found in whose brief but brilliant
career, a whOle-sOuled effort 10 promote
popular education, constitutes a prominent
episode. Robert Hatton, gifted, eloquent,
brave and of classic culture, was a true
Democrat. He knew full well that It was
education which transferred ''the plOW-bOy
of Long Hollow" into the halls Of legisla-
ton and enabled him 10 appear, cool and
selfreliant, the peer Of any in the land.
He wished all 10 have equal opportunity
at least with himself. Therefore, in bis
first and only term in the General Assem-
bly,, session 1886, we find him bending
all his energies toward the establishment
of a State normal school, and so success
fully that it passed his own body, the lower
house, and failed Of becoming a law for
Of rr,1rr "a 10
was a sore disappointment to the generous
Hatton.
At the session of the Legislature for
1873, DR.. VIM. p. Jones, Senator from Da-
wilson, firm friend of the cause in cloud
and in sunshine, introduced a bill prOYid-
ing for normal schools in each division Of
the State. This bill passed the Senate, but
too late in the session for the House TO act
upon it.
Thus It appears that the advocates of
popular education in Tennessee have been
fully aware Of the value of normal schools,
and if heretofore their efforts have been
without fruit, the failure must be attrib-
uted to the general indifference to the
whole cause, and not to opposition to this
special feature. The very great progress
which the cause Of universal education has
made in Tennessee during the past decade,
as well as the astonishing expansion of
university education within our limits,
furnish powerful motives to the friends Of
normal schools to be up and doing. The
year 1870 should witness the establishment
Of system Of normal schools common
surate with the wants, position and dignity
Of this Commonwealth.
Nearly ten years ago, Gov. Brownlow
called a convention, which became the
State Teachers Association. Gov. Brown
lows object was so to organize the advO-
Gates Of popular education as TO
keep prominently before the voting
masses q fundamental topic of legis-
latiOn, which had hitherto been
sluTed over, by being freely endorsed in
word and ignored in action. So far the
idea has accomplished all, if not more, than
he could have hoped. Look at the cen
tury's history Of this scodly State, and tell
me in what other ten years has the subject
OF education for the tOiling masses been so
fully discussed in the newspapers, so much
referred TO upon the stump, so much acted
upon in the State House? As q fact dur
ing all this eventful and exciting ten years
it has been second to no other topic what
ever. This Of itself indicates progress, Won
deTful progress.
More noteworthy stu is the fact that al
though these very ten years have been such
a period Of political oscillation and chaos
as could only befall a State under the Pc
cUliaT workings Of American constitutions
in revolutionary periods, yet has this much
and heavily prejudiced
cause made steady Roadway, until
now it is so firmly lodged il
the popular heart as 10 receive from
all that respectful consideration which is
never accorded except to a strong and
rising power. During this ten years in
which systems of public education have
been established and abrOgated, more than
once, and in which political parties have
and disappeared from the stage
Of power, the organized friends of univer-
sal education, banded together upon one
simple idea, have triumpllantly succeeded
In the first great step towards the perma-
ueut establishment Of that idea; namely
removed it from the arena of partisan
strife. While among the friends Of public
schools, great diversity does and must ex-
list as 20 administrative details, vet the dog
m8 Of education for the masses by and
L-aE lL4SAA AAAAACulAlAlN Vi ALE OILY
of those masses, the State
government is firmly held from the noun
tain chain on the east, 10 the father Of
waters Oh the west, by band so uumer-
Gus and SO strong in their faith as TO
be perfectly willing at any time TO have the
question referred 70 a direct vote Of the
people for final and Ultim te settlement.
While among the people the common OF |
district school idea has thus been extend
ing and growing into favor, the other eN-
-remIty of the educational curriculum. the
higher, superior or university field has
made extraordinary development. AGA
iemic, collegiate aud university education
is truly Coeval with the early settlement Of |
Tennessee. Her pioneers believed in the |
Bible, a-d hence advocated learning. Tie |
Institutions founded By them at an early I
day were the fruitful germs Of a high civil. /
zatiOn. Heretofore the academies, col /
.eges and universities Of Tennessee have /
been h5T educators, and have remedied 50 1
far rs possible the lack of a good system of /
public schools. Yet, with the exception /
IF d little aid from and thrO Oh North Car |
Dina, all these institutions really depended !
upon private enterprise. In this point Of !
view the educational annals of Tenuez see /
are remarkable. Nowhere else do We find /
such a rec0Id Ci long, patient, heroic,
poorly reQuited toll in behalf Of /
mans highest welfare. While these
noble men worked hard, lived plainly and /
lied poor, they accomplished a work for
.0lid results unsurpassed if indeed ever
.gualled elseW here. In cabins and IN
slightly brick houses the sons Of Tennessee
we're so trained in classic, legal and modi-
al lore as 10 rank for elOqUence, skill and
alent with those Of New York and MasSa-
.hUsetta; while her daughters for elegance,
Tace, and ali the accomplishments that
dorm the highest type Of woman, were re-
lOwned throughout the land. While this
mstOried band Of Intellectual heroes were
.Oing this work for their own State, such
anne and note did they acquire as to draw
rom contiguous and remote States a con-
taut and mighty stream Of disciples, iusO-
much that for years previous to the la.e
war, Tennessee was the seat Of
agai, medical and female education for a
asst and wealthy region. l again repeat,
With emphasis, such a work has never been
one elsewhere by any body Of educators
.Eaided by large public and private bene-
actions.
And to-day we see and enjoy the fruit Of
lese unparalleled labOrs in results which,
predicted even ten years since, would
ave been ridiculed as the dreams OF a dis
rjered Imagination; results, indeed, as ex-
raOrdinaTy as were the labOrS upon which
hon ava baSn1 ITnon what Of her State has |