The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-09-26
An Address to the Friends of
Education.

The question OF the hour il popular
education \ wise system Of ploIic
schools, literally supported and eff
clentiy administered, is essential. not
only 10 the social and political welfare
OF our State, but also 10 its material
prosperity. Wealth and knowledge are
as l~nseparahle as ignorance and vice.
Education expands and sha:pens all the
human faculties, quickens the public
spirit, makes liberal the public senti-
ment. and creates a thirst for progress
and Improvement, whereby wealth is
produced at home and capital is attract
ed from abroad.
Never had we greater necessity for ed
ucation than now The struggle for
wealth and power grows tiercer day by
day, and the State which fail. to employ
the most potent factor of success must
be content to see her hard earned gains
consumed by others, and to sigh over
undevelOped ~resources. Popular edu-
cation means a more enlightened and
profitable system of agriculture, the in
PRODUCTION of trades aud manufactures,
the economy of labor by employing ma
chinery, and the economy of material
by utilizing what is now wasted, the
improvement Of our stock the protection
of our fish aud game, the protection Of
our forests and the development of our
mineral resources. 1t is safe TO say
that none of these OBJ cts will be ac-
cOmplished until the public mind is
stimulated and directed by a judicious
system of education.
This subject has appealed to our legs
laiors. and the wisdom of their action is
already seen in It's happy results. The
establishment of the University Normal
School and its successful prosecution
for the past two years have deeply stir
red the public mind, and throughout
the State there is an interest in educa
tion unparalleled IN our history. There
is a general demand for improved me
tLods of instruction, for longer school
terms, for a sJricter and more intelli-
gel.t supervision of the public schools,
and for the most advanced educational
facilities of all kinds. To these demands
the representatives of the people will no
doubt respond, but we must remember
that legislation alone cannot accomplish
the work. To a great extent education
is in the hands of the teachers, and it is
their duty both to take the lead and to
bear the burdens. 1t is for them to OBJ
serve the defects in the public school
system, to devise remedies, and by o n
certed action to execute their plans.
The combined energy, intelligence aud
enthusiasm Of all the teachers in North
Carolina cal accomplish a great reform
in education, but nothing will ever be
done by discord or ~listless indifference.
The Importance Of unity in their efforts
was felt by every teacher at the State
Normal School, and the result was the
organization Of the State Teachers As
ISOLATION.
The object Of the Association is to
build up the public school system in
North Carolina, and the teachers who
organized it have thought proper to in
wife tue cooperation OF their fellow
laborers throughout the State. The
many details of the work will be COM
pleted hereafter in accordance with the
wishes of the Association when fully
organized. The first step is to bring
all the teachers together by forming
County Teachers Associations, when
at stated intervals the teachers in
the respective counties meet to-
gether, compare views. read Educa-
tional Journals, aud familiarize them
selves with the methods aud ideas
of teachers having a national reputa-
ton for learning and skill when they
study the needs and wishes of the peo-
pie for whom they teach, and stimulate
them to a due appreciation Of educa-
ton; when they search out and remedy
the defects in the public school sys-
tenn. and establish that system firmly
in the confidence of the public; and
when delegations from county assOcia-
tions meet annually in the State Teach
ers' Association for conference and mu-
tual Improvement, a step VIII be taken
not only for promoting education, but
for elevating the business of teaching
The teachers, if they will, may make
their calling professional. 1t is under
stood that every member of a county
association is also a member Of the
State Association. and is entitled to all
les privileges. 1t is earnestly hoped
that no teacher will be found outside
of our rar ks at the next annual meet
ing. Both patriotism and self-intereSt
call for tie earnest, active u persls-
tent co operation of teachers through
out the State.
The authorized agents OF the Asso-
citation are the members Of the Advi-
sorry Committee in the several counties,
to whom copies of the constitution and
letters Of advice have been forwarded.
The Association has established a
Teachers Bureau, whose object it is to
secure employment for merit nrlJus
teachers aud to provide suitable teach
ers for persons desiring to employ them.
The Bureau is under the control aud
management of the Executive Com~
mittee.
All persons desiring Information con
corning the Association or the Bureau
are invited to correspond with Prof.
George I. Winston, Chairman of the
Executive Committee, Chapel Hill,
N. G.
KEMP p. BATTLE,
Pres. SITE Teachers Association.
JOHN G.. SCARBOROUGH.
Sup't. Pub. Instruction.
STATE papers please copy.