The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-24
STATE NORMAL INSTITUTE
HELD RECENTLY AT FLORENCE,
ALABAMA.
FOrIy-FIve Counties Represented
Many Of the Leading Teachers
of the State Present.


looRREsPoSDKNoE on THE APPEAL
Florence, Ala, June 2l.-A few
weeks ago circulars we're distributed
containing The following announce
ment: estate Normal institute, Flor
euce, Ala. The Florence State Nor
NAL Institute, under the management
OF the State Super otendent OF Edu:
cation and Prof. 7. j. Mitchell, will
open in the Normal School Building,
Monday, MAY 81, 1886, and continue
three weeks" The institute was
opened Monday with devotional exer-
cises and music, after WHICH addresses
OF welcome on behalf OF the Normal
School were delivered by DR.. James
A. Heard, and on behalf OF the cili-
zsns OF Florence by the Hon. r. I.
Simpson. There addresses were re-
sponded TO by State Superintendent
Palmer and the members of the Insti-
tute faculty. The scope OF instruc-
ton included all the branches OF
study required in the public schools
OF the S ate, conducted by faculty
consisting OF the following prominent
educa'ors Science and art oil teach
ing and school management, Prof, t,
]. Mitchell; arithmetic and algebra,
Prof. j. X. Powers; < ography and
history, Prof, J. A, b Lovett; gram
mar and rhetoric, the Rev. M. l..
Frierson; orthcgraphy and reading,
Prof. S. l.. Robertson; natural
sciences, Prof. NJ. O. Wilson; history
OF languages and literature, Prof. +.
r. Carichoff; penmahship, Prof. M.
A Kirby; model class and calisthen-
les, Mics Julia SCurry; vocal music,
Miss w. M. Allen.
Officers and committees OF arrange
ments for various purposes were Sc
lected from the faculty OF the normal
school and from the cit zens Of Flor
ence, all OF whom rendered most eff
Gent services in decorations, music
and every assiSi anCe possible Tor the
benefit and promotion OF the Teach.
ers' Institute. A large number of the
district teachers were persons OF linn
tied means. Board in private families
was1 provided for them. The 3lst Of
May heTalded the first arrival Of the
expected visitols, and by the I'd Of
June the spaciors chapel Of the State
Normal School was filled witt lnxiors
fac 8, eagerly l'Staning to the instruc'
ton OF teachers OF ability and ex-
perience, whose addresses on the var
ious branches OF education were to
many OF them as precious jewels, the
value OF which could not be estimated.
During the session OF the Institute the
students OF the Normal College in its
normal dep lrtment were examined, a
large majority OF whom reflected
much credit on the profe 5ors OF the
college and their adjunct teachers,
Mrs Jennie Thompson and Mis-. Mag
gle Brock. The Teachers Institute,
80 productive of valuable and lasting
results for the promotion of educa.
ton, is msinly die 10 the trustees o
the Peabody fu d, who were not for
getful even of us in our obscurity,
md the donation for this college YVES
admirably appropriated and mensged
by our worthy State Superintendent
OF Education, Col S. Palmer, OF Mont
gomery, Ala.
Forty.fve counties OF Alabama were
represented at the Teachers'I institute
During the session, ddTesses were de.
livered by Prof. T G. Lamar Of Pratt.
vile, Rev. ]. ]. Barclay Of Wheeler
Station, Prof. j. d, Anderson of Hunts.
vile, Ala. Friday night, the 18th
instant, the close OF the session was
announced. The evening exercises
opened with an instrumental over
ture, piano, violin, cornet and from
bone. Prof. Rober'3on was requested
TO read an impromptu poem writes
by him on the occasion Of the recent
Musse Shoals picnic Mics Fannie
E Payne, Of Auburn, Ala, graduate
OF the Normal College at TENNESSEE
beautiful capital, renCered with touch
ing pathos an exquisite recitation
During the entertainment Miss Lemon
OF Montgomery, Ala, and Miss Luli
Merrell, Of Tuscumbia, sang severa
songs
At the cloee OF the exercises of thu
18th instant Prof. Mitchell, the pre-
siding genius, came forward TO address
his apprtciative audience for the las
time. His whole manner indicated
that IL was no easy task to cay fare
we'll to those who had SO earnest,
litteued TO his instruction for the al
too brief term Of the Insti ute. Prof
Mitchell paid q glowing tribute to tn,
citizens OF Florence, their hospitality
tn, IL untiring interests, the kindness
received by him and his co.worker
by the faculty Of the State Norma
College.
A copy OF resolutions was read b,
Mr.. Potts, consisting Of thanks to thu
trustees Of the Peabody fund, to Col
Palmer, Superintendent OF Education
ard others
Prof ]. X. Powers delivered a shor
address interspe sed with extracts from
letter received from Col. Palmer
The benefit OF this Institute to tn
teachers in remote distric time alon
can reveal II was certainly meet
ing irsught with the kindliest feeling
ami deepest interests. An excursion
on the steamer johnson, Capt. Jacl
Sheath in charge, and trip across thu
country to the far-fsmed Muse
Shoals were some of the pleasing Incl
dents Of the entertainments planned
for the visiting teachers.
The Female Institute of this place
Miss Sallie Collier, principal, gave it
closing exercises several days age
The evening entertainments of tina
Institution, j. Guiding calisthenics
drills and readings of essays by gradu
ates, were very creii able. The instru
mental music rendered by the pupil
of Mics Clayton, were Just encomium
OF the nkill o. their worthy teacher.
The examinations and exhibition
OF the colored schools taught by Prof,
Wsllsce and Shipper were worthy G
notice, and gave evidence Of decide
talent and improvement in many q
their pupils.
Florence IS prOverbially healthy
, the people hospitable, and we are bt
| ginning 10 think that as an educatienl
: community we know "no such wor
as tail.' 8, &, p. II,