The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-03-12


bOrO', on the 9th day of De
, cember, 1873, by SNperinteI
dent W. f. SHROPSHIRE, {
ObiOn County, Tennessee.
Fellow-laborers and Companions in the gre
Cause of Education in Tennessee:
/ have selected as the theme {
the paper shall read at this tim
Education in Tennessee-a sui
ject which conceive to be freighte
with more interest, anG invested wit
more momentous importance iha
any other, on the occasion which ha
called us together.
/ am neither toe vain nor too pre-
sumptuous to believe that 1 may b,
able to suggest or advance anything
specially new or instructing, but my
efforts will be mainly directed to
wards eliciting discussion, and devils
ing those means which may tend to
the accomplishment of that purpose
which is nearest to our hearts-the
truest, best and most practicable
methods of diffusing knowledge and
its attendant blessings, throughout
the length and breadth of our fair
State.
We have met as a body of educa-
tors to discuss educational measures,
to mature plans aud to offer sugges-
tions, the adoption of which, we con-
fidently hope, will unerringiy lead to
the attainment of superior and more
satisfactory results in the future than
in the past. If we have not been
blind to the workings of our public
school system, we certainly have
gained some wisdom. and some val
liable experience that may be made
to subserve the educational interests
of our State, and direct US in course
Of more practical usefulness. The
most bitter opponents of the cause
cannot but admit that much has been
already accomplished, but still the
most sanguine educator must con-
cede that we have made but begin
ming, and stand but yet on the thres-
hold of the temple, while the wide
field of labor lies untended, uncar.
ed for, and uncultivated before us.
1t becomes US, then, as earnest
and jealous educators, imbned with
a sense of the grandeur of our mis-
sion, to make still greater aud more
persistent efforts towards the attain
ment Of perfection, and to tarry not
by the wayside, uhtiI we have achiev.
ed the permanent success Of that
undertaking. in which, as band
Of brothers, we are engaged, There
lies before US a grand and noble work
to complete before we may venture
to relax single educational muscle,
or overlook one of the many sacred
stimulants that encourage US, as we
tread the path of duty. Il is a
weakness inherent in human nature,
and a component part of frsil NOR.
tality, to rest satisfied with the sue
cess of the past; but with such in.
centives as should animate each one
of us, there can be no halting place,
until that goal, where center all our
hopes, has been reached. Like the
great American showman,0 ave
must keep our cause before the peo-
ple," until they become fully posses $
sed with that same spirit which ac-
tuates and directs US in that forward
course which will not fail to lead US
eventually tothe attainment of our
purpose. Our whole duty will not
have been discharged, either towards
ourselves or to our fellow man, until
the sun of intelligence sheds his ra-
diant beams into each nook aud cor
ner Of every home in Tennessee.
bringing an era of prosperity to her
people and blessing to her chill
dren. So long as there remains one
being throughout the whole extent
OF our proud domain, whose starving
intellect is deprived Of that educa.
tional food which it is our bounden,
nay, our sacred duty to provide, our
work is incomplete aud our duty un-
fulfilled. When we have succeeded
in that grand enterprise to which our
best and most earnest energies have
been devoted. then may we proudly
point to the banner of our . VoIun-
teer State.' as it waves In beauty
and in glory over an enlightened, vir.
tpous and happy people,
aBet us, then be up and doing,
With a heart fol, every fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Lab'ring early, lab'ring late. "