The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-02-06


received no benefit from
It sOd over one-ninth OF them were not
enrolled in any school community. Stree
the meeting of the Legislature there
has assembled at Austin 2 convention
of tescheFs, from d Il srent parts Of the
State, composed OF gentlemen OF eX-
perieBce and distinguished ability in
their profession, who have presented a
MON lriaI, to be prescribed through me,
TO the Legislature, containing their
views upon the manner in which our
free common schools may be improved.
Their memorial, attached TO this mes
sage, Is respectfully submitted for your
favorable consideration.
In attendance upon said convention
was also DR.. B. S-srs, general agent of
the Peabody education fund, who sd-
dressed the following letter TO me:
AUSTIN, February 1, 1919.
Hls Exc ll-ncy, o. N. Roberto, Governor Of
Texas:
Sri beg leave to address, through
YOU, 10 the General Assembly of the
State the following proposition, to-wit:
II the Legislature shall see lit to estsb-
hsh & fgst class normal school,
and to appropriate for its current
expenses six thousand dollars per
snuum, the trustees of the Peabody
education fund will duplicate ;ha5
sum for the same purpose for a period
of Two years, with the expectation of
renewing the arrangement from year to
year alter that period curing the
pleasure Of both parties.
Your Obedient servant,
B. SEARS, Gene. al Agent.
The first question is, can She Legis
lature constItutionslly accede to and
comply with this liberal offer if it be
90 Inclined2
TIE Constitution provides that
taxes shall be levied and collected
by general laws, and fer public pur-
poses only" Ia the enumeration Of
the objects alone for which the Lagis-
lalure shall have the right 70 levy
taxes is Included, "the support of
public schools in which shall be in
cluded colleges and univcrs ties esta6-
iiShed by the S ate" 4 normal school
might most properly be regarded as e
public school IN connection with ana
The greatest want in our common
schools is supply of competent teach
eTs, who would teach upon the most
improved modern plan of teaching.
The second question is, how shall
the pupils be procured at such schoolP
Few persons, in different parts of the
STATE, VINO might desire to be teachers
of common schools, would have the
means to spend two or three hundred
dollars in going to such school.
Persons who had education enough TO
enter sIch a school TO learn the science
and practice OF teaching school would
most likely go TO some higher school
ID learn those things which would III
them for some Of the learned profess
sioEs. 4 normal school for the edu-
cation OF teachers must therefore he a
very cheap school, in order to attract
pupils. 1 would respectfully suggest
that should such a scnool be establish
ed, the building for which might be
easily obtained by gift or rent, tue
Legislature might direct the counties
10 reserve that portion of the money
appropriated to them each year,
for which 10 scholars are
taught, or even that for which no
scholars are enrolled in school Commu-
mites. and set it apart annually as g
fund for the support of scholars at the
normal school to the extent Of paying
their board and tuition.
These scholars, selected by the coun-
ty court of each county having such a
fund reserve, might be pledged to re-
turn to the county from which they
were sent and teach so many years In
its free commc schools. SUCH moneys
would be we'll spent i'll the promotion
of the purposes of free common schools
by spreading educated teachers all over
the State, without which our system
never can, and never Will, be perfect
ed, however laVIshly the money of the
people may be devoted to 1t. I re-
specially submit, also, in this connec-
ton, condensed summary of the
views of the secretary of the Board of
Eluca'ion of the State as to the laws
necessary to the improvement of our
school system. He has been connected
with this business as superintendent
and secretary for five years, and his
views deserve consideration.
o. NJ. ROBERTS.
To His Excellency, o. NJ. Roberts, Governor of
Texas:
In pursuance Of the invitation made
by your excellency to the teachers OF
Texas, ''to meet in convention and in
Vestlgate the present school law and
suggest such practicable improvements
as can and should be made in our sys-
TEN of education" a meeting was held
in the city of Austin, commencing on
the twenty eighth of January, 1879,
and continued in session for three days.
Many important matters were consid-
cred and discussed, and the under
signed, a committee appointed by said
convention, have the honor to submit
as the result of their deliberations the
following suggestions, and respectfully
ask your excellency TO transmit the
same, with such recommendations as
you may deem proper, 10 the honora-
ble Legislature now in session:
1. We recommend that the generous
offer made by the trustees Of the Pea
body education fund, through the
Rev. DR.. Barnes Sears, the general
agent, to duplicate an appropriation
of SIX thousand dollars per annum for
the support of normal school by the
SIS ate be accepted and that the State
establish a first class normal school,
which shall be exclusively devoted to
the education OF teachers as early as
practicable. Il affords the committee
great pleasure to state that DIR. Sears,
In consultation with US, has given III
qualified assurance that the appropria.
ton from the Peabody fund will be in
creased and continued as may be re-
orired by this important department OF
education.
2. We recommend that an appropri-
alton Of twenty thousand dollars be
made to the State Agricultural and
Mechanical College of Texls to estab
lish a course of practical instruction
IN agriculture.
8. We recommend that not more
than two school communities be allow
ed to be formed IN any village, town or
city not taking control OF its o"n
schools, and that one communifs sasll
include all tho walJe and the other AL
rne cuIoied children il said village,
town or city.
4 We recommend that there be
three grades of ceriifcstes, applicants
who shall pass an examination in or
typography, reading, writing, geography
aud arithmetic, as far as simplepropOr
ton, getting general average of 20,
and not lower than so In zny branch,
/ shall be entitled to q third grade certi.