The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-06-30
To the Teachers Of Virginia.

To the Teachers Of Virginia.
The subject OF education In all its phases
Is assuming an importance and awaken
ing an interest throughout our State never
before realized. Everywhere evidences
exist OF deep, heartfelt concern on the
part OF our people with regard TO the ply
sicsl, moral, and literary training OF the
rising generation. Wise direction and we'll
considered methods must be given to this
earnest desire TO improve the educational
status OF society, else zeal may be chilled
into indifference, or, by blind, spasmodic
efforts, produce results not conducive to
the best interests OF the people and the
State. II is from this standpoint that the
Educational Association OF Virginia, at its
last session. held at Hollins Institute, ap-
pointed the undersigned committee to urge
upon the teachers OF all grades in our State
the importance OF more intimate association
and more systematic cooperation, not only
in the actual work OF education, but in im-
pressing the public mind with proper views
on educational questions. The committee
beg, therefore, 10 present the following re-
flections and suggestions TO the teachers ef
Virginia. The aim OF the Association and
the desire OF its members is to advance all
the true educational interests OF the Slate.
Both the present and the immediate future
are full OF danger TO sound education in
Virginia, as both are big with promise OF
splendid results. Neither can dangers be
avoided nor good results obtained without
the cooperation Of an intelligent public
opinion; no enlightened public opinion can
subsist without being fostered by men who
know what they want and have the courage
Of their convictions; and not even such
men can hope to become lasting force,
save by organized, persistent effort. Then,
low-teachers, let us show ourselves wor-
thy of our high calling, and ready to deal
with the arreaching social and moral pro-
blems in whose solution we are and must
inevitably be willing or unwilling factors.
The public schools are an unQuestiOnable
and prodIsious fact Jet the private teachers
do all IN their power to aid their legitimate
development, so as to yield the greatest
good 10 the greatest number. The private
schools have always been, and will probably
ALWAYS remain, tue ultimate shaping educa-
tional influence Of the State; let the public
school teachers do all in their power to keep
these schools equal TO the best OF their kind
to be found anywhere.
The Two school systems are properly
supplementary, not antagonistic; let us keep
them so to the common good OF all. But 10
do ANYTHING we must act, and act together
Shall we alone OF the learned professions OF
the State remain without Influence, indeed
without existence as a body! We, whose
boast and proud privilege it is TO train the
minds, TO give ideas, to teach thinking,
shall we wait alphabetically until new gene.
ration has come with its new ideas and
thrust them upon us, or thrust us aside to
make room for new Virginia, which shall
laugh to scorn our claim that we are the
trne Virginians with true Virginia ideas ?
Is it not plain even TO the superb fetal
thinker that the traditions which we vene-
rate. the principles TO which we hold, the
characteristics which we love, and which,
all together, have made In the past that
splendid type of humanity known as the
Virginian-;s it not plain that all these
must be forgotten, must change ana disap-
pear from our society, unless we can modify
and adapt them TO the new order OF things !!
Ii is enough, perhaps, 10 mention two OF
tue most obvious reasons FOR this assertion,
each reason sufficient in Itself: one Is the
presence as a political factor and an edu-
cational problem in our midst OF more than
half a million Of negroes; the other is 'he
fact that in our present society the edLca-
tion OF our children must depend NOR on
tho school and less on the home than ever
b, orc In the bistorv Of Virginia, and on
both accounts are we teachers vitality In
terested.
We repeat We should act, and act to-
gether, as an Association. The lack OF
organized cooperation has always been one
OF the greatest sources OF weakness in the
development Of the whole South. Let us
have done with it. The "burniDg ques.
tions" of education, so deeply pondered
elsewhere, demand most earnest thought
and consultation AT our hands also. In the
front rank among lhem stands the subject
OF education for our Virginia women.
What shall il be? Virginia society, as
such, is less able than ever before to protect
our women la the life struggle, and more
than ever do they need all the help that can
be given them.
Again: Shall we baye well.educated,
teachers, or have our
ranks full of incompetence and ignorance
ignorance IN profession where ignorance
is vice? And such questions abound. In
the list Of subjects for discussion at the ap-
DroacAing meeting Of the Association will
be found some Of those questions from
W hich this generation can in no wise escape.
They are stirring the world around us; we
cannot remain unmoyed. TO that list, ap.
pended below, we invite your attention.
And we beg you most earnestly not only TO
read those questions, but to come to the |
meeting and discuss them. We say advised |
", " diScass them " they are not for parti- |
,an wrangling; they demand our calmest
md wisest thoughts. Papers will be read |
IN the following subjects; these papers will |
,e discussed, and then, probably, they will |
De voted epon and either rejected or
published as the deliberate opinion OF the |
Association. We are In the new Virginia
nd the new South we must lead or be led;
We must stand tim and be masterful, OF be
controlled by new elements ia our popula-
sn. Let us lead, and prove ourselves Of
bat same stock which made Virginia glori-
us in the past, aud which is to-day power
! The life OF almost every State In the
IniO1.
The Association meets in Norfolk city on
le 5tk OF July.
Respectfully,
CHARLES l.. Cooke, Chairman;
THOMAS X. PRICE,
X. ii. HARRIS,
r. NJ. SAUNDERS,
N. b. WEBSTER,