Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-02-26

fact thst proper degree o: interest il
being arCu ed in behalf of this meeting,
the lRndSble objects OF which shoDit re-
ceive the encouragement and most cor.
dial aid Of our entire community. The
audience manifested very spprecistive
attention of the exercises, and seemed
to be very much interested in the rro-
ceediDgs. Especially were the ladies In.
terested, for they evidently enjoyed ev-
cry feature OF the exercises, listening
with close attention and manifest appro.
baton.
COLONEL FLEECE's Address.
Colonel George B. Fleece, superinten-
dent Of Shelby county public schools,
delivered the. following able and instruct
i've idress, which We commend to the
serious attention of every teacher and
friend OF educstiOn as 8 mastery paper
worthy of their study!
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-FolloW.
| ing tbs example OF other States now far
| In advance OF Tennessee ia educational
enterprise, the very efficient and able
State superintendent Of public instruc
ton he5 wisely recommended the or
| ganizstion of teachers Institutes to be
held in every coUaty in the Stale, az
often as practicable. Responding to his
recommendation, and anxious to pro-
mote the great cause he has bean called
to superiBtend, We have called you to-
gether to-day and now invite your at
tention to the programme Of exercises
| which will engage your attention dur
| ing the sitting OF this institute, These
institutes might be more suggt lively
named II t.Iiey were called itiDerant nor
nal schools, for such indeed they are in
tended to be, thus supplyil g require
neut o. our school system which nor
Tai schools are intended to supply.
With the wide range of free thinking,
advance thinking, new ideas, original
scheme, plans and PRINCIPLES which
| thTonR the race OF the worlds
modern educators, it has Of late become
among those upon whom governments
and States have thrown the responsible.
ity of conducting public educational in
| stitutions a matter OF serious thought,
what are true principles of mental
moral and physical development,
what are the plans of educa-
ton, modes of instruction,
and policy Of administration of schools
which, while they conform to these prin-
cipes, will work cut prscticsl results
best prOmotiye Of the great aud benefit
! cent scheme OF universal enllghten-
ment? Met in convention to-day, we
have face 20 face the champions OF mary
diverse doctrines touching these things,
aud :his institute is Intended to be 8
| sup-lit battlefield on which the war Of
ideas shall be waged with all the bright
AIMS OF the mind, that truth may pre-
vail and error surrender. We expect,
then, that every teacher present will feel
free 10 enter the lists, bravely TO cham
pion any theory, system or pan he may
favor, and thus, in fraternal devotion to
the high cause Of truth, out of all that
may be said and done, we may be able to
eliminate some grains Of genuine truth
that, in the crncible of exper eDce, will be
moulded into the structure of future
system Of instruction, that will stand to
witness mans hnal restoration to the
image OF his creator. We hope 10 have
a most free and thorough interchange of
| views, exposition OF plans and elucida-
ton OF theories, however diverse they
may be, 10 tie end that in the generous
contribution of all all msy be b snefited.
II through this institute It's members
could be organized into a united adop-
ton, practice aud advocacy OF the best
theory and practice OF teschiDg-the
best curriculum Of learning for public
schools and would recognize the best
and highest ends to be ccomplished,
then would cur assembling be an epoch
indeed in the history OF education in
Tennessee that the future historian
would note among the important
events of the centennial year.
We do hope ard desire that when we
| adjourn We VII have approached as
nearly as our individuality will allow to
unity OF principle, policy and practice
that will give new impetus to the cause
If public instruction, new life TO the toll
some labors OF the teacher, and broader,
richer, and more fruitful fields fo= his
future husbandry. Of civilization. We
should, at this institute, with sill possible
suthoTity, recognize the dignity and re-
sponsibinty OF the profession of teacher;
We should erect a standard Of prOfes-
sional orthodox so high and pure that
only men and wumen of the exalted
virtues and high attachments in scholar
sup should as ume to be numbered
among the educators of races, the built
ers Of future civilization. But we have
more to do than can be done. The war
upon illiteracy should be waged with the
brightest blades Of trutn, piercing to the
dividing asunder of joints and marrow.
Why, l have had applications for certifi-
Gates aud authority to teach in the pub
lie schools Of thisaccuniy by 30. called
teachers who could not tell me the diff.
ference between the equator and the
tropics, latitude and longitude, diameter
and circumference, multiple and divisor,
uumerator and denomination, verbs and
punctuation. The time has come when
the work of teaching must be remit
ted TO professional teachers, and
professional tsachers, to succeed, must
enter upon their work as upon mission
sublime in all its meaning and ends
But we have more TO do than can be
done by our teachers alone. High as is
their calling, wide and deep and
strong and enduring as the structure
will be reared by their bands, they caa.
not make brick without straW-tbe NOR
tar, the brick, aud the straw must be
furnished 10 their hands. The ''einews
of wsrn have, in these utilitatisn times,
become needful in the march OF civiliza-
ton to its msjestic destiny. Food, and
rsiment - money! money! vile and
sbominab,e as IL is in much that 1t does
in This world, is prime factor in the
problem Of educational progress. Subtle,
my sterlous and sublime as Ia the mild,
and high as are intellectual pursuits
above al others, the mind is neverthe.
Lees 50 Joined to tie body, 30 sympa-
thizss with its tot and hunger, and de.
c5y, that IL lingers out pTecarious i'm
pTIzonment, cursed, deRr AIDED, ruined, II
such be the poor fate of the body. YET,
sire; the teacher must BE- full Of vitality
soul and body-if he teaches we /; the
student, if he learn we'll; and the
school system must be fed by
the generous cutpourings Of public
approval and public material susteata
ton, IL the system survives to accom-
pish the high mission Of public Ell
ligh'enmeDt, The imIetus taken Of
late by educational enterprise IL one OF
the phenomena Of the times. The sun
CT civilization rCse Awsy of In the orr
ent, IN the twilight OF tine aud directly
poured its rays upon q sorrowing vor q.
Ga snd up II fas kept It's mFJssiic
msrch-now blight y beamiDg upon q