The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-07-07
EDUCATION.
Some Remarks Synopsized from Colonei
Holiengsworth's Address, Delivered at
Tyler, Texas, June 30th.

Some Remarks Synopsized from Noi""'i
Holiengsworth's Address, Delivered ut
Tyler. Texas, June 30th.
The following extracts are made from the
admirable address of Col, o, n. Hollings-
worth delivered at Tyler, June SOth. There
address is too lengthy TO be reproduced but
it is document worthy of perusal
throughout;
The founders of the republic of Texas
fully comprehended the value and import
ance of universal education. History
furnishes no instance whore any govern
ment ever manifested more interest in
behalf of popular education than did the
fathers Of the republic Of Texas. Md be
it said to the credit of tine sound statesman
ship that has controlled the legislation OF
the republic and the state from
1896 to this date, the wise
policy inaugurated by the sires of '3B has
been persistently adhered to. Under the
operation OF this policy Texas to-day refers,
with pride and grateful memory OF her
heroic fathers and wise statesmen, TO her
educational endowment represented by ~
500 900 cash common school iund, 5000,
600 University fund.- $ll,0OO for her unfor-
tunate blind, $4,000 Tor her mutes, and to
a landed endowment of 40 100000 acres to
fee simple to the counties for the benefit OF
common schools, LOCO 600 acres to her I'm
iversty 100000 acres TO her Institute for
the Blind, 100000 acres to her Institute for
the Mutes, 1903 22J acres for her orphans
home, and 100 600 acres for the unfortunate
lunatics. What other state in the Ameri-
can Union can boast of such endowment
What other people under the sun cav claim
such legacy Each county holdSin fee
simple for free school purposes lands equal
in area TO one-Hftieth part Of the state OF
Rhode Island
Our university lands equal the territory
Of Delaware. The lands held in trust by
the state, as u permanent endowment for
common free schools, comprise an area
larger by 6 900 coo acres than the whole ter
ritory Of all the states of New England.
And the aggregation of all our school and
asylum lands constitutes an area, greater
than one-third of the German empire
The question before the people of Texas
to day, which shadows all others, is "hOw
shall this princely inheritance be managed
for the best interest of the children and the
commonwealth" Here is question
worthy your consideration; worthy the
deepest thought and earnest efforts of
statesmen. II may, if private interests of
land spectators and local politicians are
considered, be, like many private estates,
squandered, and the children of the state
robbed of their possessions; or, on the
other hand, if wise counsel prevails, be so
managed as to yield to the children, for
purposes intended, its full value.
Let 1t be ever so wisely and economically
managed it will never constitute more than
nucleus upon which to build complete
system of education.
We have the nucleus, the ground work of
splendid system of education, deeply and
wisely laid by the founders of the republic,
and it only needs patient, pains-taking and
wise legislation to develop it to u standard
of perfection unsurpassed by any other
government in the world But to do this
we must have more money. There are to-
day three hundred thousand children of
lawful scholastic aye in the state.
The state assumed the obligation of their
education, and public sentiment should
demand that she should do it faithfully and
efficiently. Under the constitution and the
law the state cannot efficiently discharge
the sacred obligation She has assumed
The constitution and the law must be
changed.
There should be state superintendent of
instruction; there should be county SUI
perintendent of public instruction in all the
populous counties; there should be spc-
0iiic state school tax--the revenue provided
for support of schools should not be
dependent upon amount raised for
general revenue there should be
authority granted to counties to sup
plement state aid by local taxation
there should be uniform system of the
examination of teachers without charge,
which would give them authority to teach
for series OF years in any county of the
state; there should be authority for organ
i2ing permanent schoO, districts in all popu-
Ions counties; there should be revenue
provided for a longer school term; there
should be better teaching and better com.
pensation paid to teachers; summer normal
Institutes should be established by law; and
their powers and duties clearly defined; a
state educational council, to be composed
of delegates chosen f'om the respective
summer institutes, should be established
by law, and its duties and powers clearly
defined; there should be established in each
populous county free county academy, to
be composed of pupils selected, upon com.
petitive examination, from the elementary
schools of the county; there should III a
state university, complete and thorough in
all its appointments, TO be composed, in
part, of students selected from the county
academies upon competitive examination.
Texas Is an empire state IN territory, but
the empire in the field OF literature, art,
science, and material wealth. She pos.
scsscs, in her soils, in her climate, in her
minerals, in her forests in her water power,
in her grapes, all the elements of material
greatness and she needs only to cultivate
the bran-powcr of her boys and
girls in order to realize tho full
fruits of all the rich blessings with
which nature has endowed her. 10
accomplish this Grand end, to place our
own loved Texas in the van Of the march of
civilization, TO place her in that proud po-
sltion in which She will pay tribute to no
country, but rejoice in the superior skin
and talent OF her own sons and daughters
let US work with tnat determination
which knows no failure, for better system
of education; work Tor the common schools,
work Tor the academies, work for the col
leges, work tor the university, work by
your vote aud your influence for honest
government, and thus serve your country,
your children and your God.