Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-12-29

Kings Is not to be compared In mnteria
Importance with an assemblaee like this
In TACT, may say that they are not 70 b,
mentioned the same dax ls.-1Ae week
They meet TO advance their own selgsl
interests, but we come to devise way,
and means to benefit coming generation,
yet unborn. That is the work of IN,
school man. A large majority a.
us are not natives to the mapo,
born, but we are here 10 STAY
remember that. II has been the practic,
In Texas for years, beginning, i think
| down at Fairfield, when man comes q
the state to nut him down at the fool
and make him spell up. II was the old.
fashioned way OF spelling, and 1t was a
mighty good fashion. / hate 10 confess
II, said Mr. Rogers, but abroad Texas
stands at disadvantage. In the matter
OF reputation IN other states 1t Is below
par. think can spell the cause I'm one
wordi it's ignorance. II those people in
other states who think so poorly of us
would only take time to nav
Texas even flying trip they would
discover every previous idea formed
about II TO be an error. As matter Of
fact when its youth and disadvantages
are taken into consideration Texas
stands first Ia every respect. IL had
achieved results that were wonderful in
the cause OF education. Twenty wears AGO
there wereinot six brick school-honses in
the state. Now it is dotted with them.
and 1t has school system which in cities
AZ least will compare fayorably with that
of any state. Applause.
PRESIDENT !, n. GALLAGHER
| followed with the annual address, which
is given below:
10 the superintendent OF Texas
IL gives me more pleasure than ! can
express to meet here to-day SO many of
my fellow superintendent see before
me some OF the veteran workers OF the
state. They have grown gray in service,
and they come to our councils commend.
cd alike by their ripe experience and ac.
knowledged success. / see young men
who are devoting the best energies OF
youth and talent to our work, aud whose
progressive ardor will make itself felt in
our conferences, | see others still who
have come from distant states to cast their
lots with us. They come well accredited
by the professional brethren where they
! lived. ! extend to them special welcome
and cordial invitation to participate in
our deliberations.
Every interest has developed in Texas
with phenomenal rapidity. The city pub
lie schools, though long neglected have
recently come rapidly 90 the front.
Scarcely ten years ago the first steps were
taken by the people of Brenham towards
organizing system of schools for
their city They were the first
TO avail themselves of the provisions of
the legislative enactment OF 1875, author
| izing cities TO maintain public schools,
and were consequently the pioneers in
city school organization. They verified
the proverb that all beginnings are dim.
cult. Friends of the movement had to
contend with a minority outspoken in
| their opposition to public schools This
minority contested every advance step
| with a pertinacity worthy Of a better
cause, and IL was not until the supreme
court had declared the constitutionallty
of the statute and confirmed The rights the
city had acquired under 1t, that the situa-
ton was accepted. Other cities soon fol-
| lowed Brenham's worthy example, and
every year since has swelled the list OF
| those willing to try the so.called expert.
ment Of free education.
| 1t Is deeply regretted that we have no
comprehensive record showing the devel-
opment OF the school interests In the
several cities and that their present con
ditlon can be ascertained only by esti-
mates based upon partial returns TO the
state department of education, From
these returns we learn that eighty-three
cities ana towns have assumed control of
their schools, and estimate that they en-
ploy corps Of thousand teachers and
have $4,000 children enrolled. They
receive this year $4,000 from the
state appropriation and raise as much
more by local taxation.
These favorable results were achieved
in the face of most discouragIng circum-
stances. The people We're unacquainted
with the plans OF graded school work,
and ignorant OF their merits. This
caused many real friends of the measure
TO regard IL as an experiment and give II
only lukewarm support. The political
preiudices of the dominant party of the
state were melted against free schools,
and the typical Southern pride reyolted
at the idea OF patronizing an institution
which had been, although enormously,
classed among the public charities. The
school, furniture and buildings, owned
by the cities on assuming control OF their
schools, were in the majority of instances
unworthy Ol iltHiipuf idNiAl-
ties, and lily adapted rooms, oyercrowded
with children, are personal experiences
fresh In the memories OF nearly all who
are present to-day Under these clrcum-
stances, with unframed teachers, and un-
classified pupils, the work of organiza-
ton was indeed bringing order out OF
chaos. In almost every instance the graded
school system was placed upon trial OF
its efficiency weighted down with these
difficulties, but If In a single instance the
people ever condemned 1t by withdrawing
their support, that instance has never
come TO my knowledge. These difficult
ties, however, are being rapidly overcome.
The people are supporting the schools
with singular unanimity. They have
cheeriully taxed themselves 10 provide
suitable buildings and necessary furniture
and supplies. Every year adds TO the ex-
perience and efficiency of our teachers,
aud renders closer classification oil
pupils possible We can even now conf.
IDENTIFY invite a comparison Of city schools
with many states much older than ours.
This association was organized at
Houston, IN 1852. Il has held meetings
at Galveston, Austin and New Orleans. |
quote from its constitution the clause
which enumerates The purpose Of its or
ranization: 'rhe object OF this associa-
80, ebau ba arsf the uniOn of guDeriu-