The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-02-03

! influence in the State equal to that of any 9th
or association or organization. They also serve
to cultivate an esprit du corps which will result
| in an increase of knowledge and in creating
longing for greater proficiency in our profes
| sion.
BY thus meeting together and exchanging
IDEAS you learn new methods of teaching many
particular subjects 1t also gives you an OPP
portunity to let the people learn to appreciate
the dignity of your labors and the nobility o.
your profession.
AT the close of Prot. Owenss address,
DR.. Sears
took the floor and after a few brief Introductory
remarks spoke of the great Indifference felt by
the people in the maintenance and success OF
the public schools. This is one of the great diff
iculties the teacher has to encounter. Many
people are in favor of cutting down the ex-
penses of the public schools. He felt sure that
If the matter were left to the decision of the
wife and mother, they would more likely adj
wise reduction in the whiskey and tobacco
bills. People complain that so much money is
expended on the schools without an adequate
return. How absurd. Schools are the means
of making money. This Is low view to take
of education. but nevertheless it is true. 1t is
better to give good education to your children
than lay up money for them and give them q
poor education. Education il the seed-corn
which will surely yield its return when the har-
vest time comes.
This city needs manufactures and several eff
forts to establish them have failed always and
will fail so long as the people are not educated.
Manufactures cannot be carried on without
skilled and educated laborers. If he were urg-
ing the establishment of manufactures here,
he would still insist upon the importance of
good schools to their successful operation.
But, is money the end and improvement the
means or improvement the end and money the
means? The true end of money so far as this
world is concerned>is to produce an instructed
christian civilization.
1t is the duty of parents to support the pub
lie school system, for they save money by it =
If the public schools Of Staunton were closed
to-day, there are many children in the city who
would never get an education and those who
did, would not be SO well educated and at q
greater cost. He knew this to be So and spoke
from his own personal knowledge.
He urged all parents to put themselves in
sympathy with the object OF this meeting and
with the City School Board and by their COM
bined efforts prevail upon the City Council to
make such an appropriation as will keep the
public schools in existence and bring them to
proper standard of exceiepcy.
He spoke of the Importance OF teaching chill
dren to sing, and insisted that music teaching
should be retained in the Staunton schools AS
to the kind of furniture of the school-rooms he
insisted that whilst it should not be extrava-
CANT, it should be of good quality and adapt
ed to the comfort of the pupils. He drew
vivid picture of the old school-room and its
many discomforts, which created much amuse-
ment, as nearly all present could from expert
ence appreciate the trIthfulness of his descrip-
ton.
He spoke in the most complimentary terms
of the public schools of Staunton and said there
was but one cityin the State which could rival
the schools of our city.
In conclusion he urged the friends of the
school to give it their hearty sympathy, pat
ronage and encouragement
Address by Prof. J. J. Ladd.
Prof. Lladd said that he was proud to be regis
tered among the Common School Teachers
Teaching had been the business of his life. He
then gave graphic and amusing description of
the first school he taught 81 years ago amid the
hills of the screen Mountain State" The grim
wolf, poverty, drove him to 1t then, and it has
been tracking him ever since. He trudged for
some miles through the snow from one to seven
feet deep, with the thermometer IS degrees be-
low zero, in search of ga school-house to keep
He found an old man splitting rails who was
School Committee man, and appli ed to him to
be employed as teacher. When he asked the
old man the number of scholars and what wages
were allowed, he received the reply that there
were % scholars and that the neighbors, jointly,
had paid nine dollars per month. but he did not
hi r. h nav hot
youthful pedagogue thought that the prospects
were not encouraging, but as he was in needy
mountaineering for his tuition for the past
session-he told the old man that he could not
teach for 50 per month, but would agree to do 1t
for SO per month. He was told to call again
the next day and he would be informed of the
decision of the Committee men after they could
be consulted. He had to walk again several
miles and back through the snow. He was en-
gagged, but was told by the old man, that he
would probably be carried out by the large boys
on rail, and be deposited in the snow, as that
had been the fate of two teachers during the
past year. He entered upon his duties as teach
er with trepidaton, when he saw the size and
witnessed the rudeness of the boys who were
larger than himself He was diff1dent, too, of
his capacity, and he attended Teachers Insti-
tute and took note of everything that was
said more particularly what was said about
corporal punishment The boys look ed at him.
and he looked at his memorandum book. The
larger boys chewed tobacco, and srat upon the
floor, and seemed to try how near they could
spit to his feet without splitting upon them. He
was afraid to forbid the use of tobacco in his
school, for fear that it was popular habit in
that neighborhood. He had to walk through
the snow ~ miles to the house at which he was
II f1xyV ~,
children. Upon entering he found the cat
snoozing upon the bread-board, and the result
was his keen appetite was at once duled, and
he preferred to go to bed without his supper
He was shown into the guest room where he
went to ed,-getting between the feather beds
but not to sleep, for he shook all night as if he
had an ague, and the next morning found the
snow which had been blown through the cracks
ofthe house, piled up the side ofhis bed. He got
with the boys, secured their respect.
and they did not spit upon. or otherwise modest
him. AT the end of three months, he received
his $50, and even with less rate of salary than
Goldsmith's "Village Preacher with forty
pounds year. like him, he felt passing
rich.'' He visited that place years afterwards,
when he found that the old School-house, the
door-hinges of which consisted of four old boot
soles, was supplanted by.a new and painted one.
He required with pleasure to the good he had
done in the three months he had taught there.
THIRD DAY-FRIDAY.
MORNING SESSION.
Institute was opened at half past nine o'clock
with singing by the Infant class of the Staun-
ton public schools. This was one Of the most
interesting sights we have ever witnessed. The
stage was crowded with a number of little
children ranging from five to ten years, and all
joining in the chorusses in accurate time and
with glowing countenances and dancing eyes,
which showed the great interest and pleasure
they took IN the performance. The losinging
by some five OF six was also very remarkable,
and still more so when it is remembered that
but one hour week is spent In teaching shem
to sing In conclusion Or RroMn assisted by