The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-08-10
NORMAL SCHOOLS.
4 Correspondent Praises the NOrmaIs
this Year.
Especial Cor. STATE CHRoNICLE.l


WASHINGTON, n. c., Aug. j. 1888. The
Summer Normals have been more largely
attended than heretofore, the interest and
enthusiasm has been greater, the PEOPLE
take much more interest and are kind and
attentive to the teachers In fact, the
Teachers are loud in their praises of the
treatment received.
These NOrmals are doing much good
The able Normal instructors. with few ex-
ceptions, are Superintendents or Teachers
in North Carolina. They are men and
women of ripe scholarship have the SPIRIT
and ADAPTABIITY, hence their LIFE and
enthusiasm arouse the Teachers of our
public schools AMI the people, too, to an
appreciation and interest little dreamed of
four years ago
A large number of buildings have been
erected within four or five years, a better
grade of teachers occupy them, and, under
the able and safe direction of the State
Superintendent there is but little else
needed to give longer school terms to the
country schools.
1t was the pleasure of the writer to be
present four or five days at the Washing
ton Normal The Principal or head of
this Normal was Professor Alex. Graham
a ripe scholar, an able instructor and q
good organizer, who taught SO long at
Fayetteville and is now Superintendent Of
the Charlotte N. c. City Graded Schools.
His 'Talks on Words alone are of such
interest and instruction as to call to the
school room, daily, large numbers of the
citizens and there was no such thing as
growing tired of hearing him. He is an
interesting talker on any subject pertain
ing to the school. He was very ably as
sisted by Mr.. Collier Cobb who is too well
known to be introduced to North Carolina
people; by Mr.. Brady, of Charlotte, who
talked on Grammar and Literature; 10y
Mr. Raub, author of Raub's Grammar and
Arithmetic: by Miss Nellie Cook, of the
Wilmington Graded schools, and by Misses
Shipp and Hall, Of the Charlotte Graded
Schools
There is not ID State. of which the writer
has any knowledge, 50 we'll off in TEACH
iNti FORCE as North Carolina whose in
structors and Superintendents-S State, city
and county-are fully alive to the NEEDS
of the day, and, in methods Of instruc-
ton, in discipline, &c are not inferior tc
those of any city il the Union.
The Teachers who attend, or many of
them, become County Institute workers
and in this way every teacher can have
the benefits of the methods of instruction
Of our ablest and most progressive educa-
tors. 1t is the fault of the teachers them
selves if they do not attend. The increase
in attendance upon the NOrmals and the
increase in the number of County InSti
tuteS are conclusive Of increased interest
and Of the good work that is being done.
If this plan of work is prosecuted, good,
live County Superintendents put and kept
in office, it Will not be many years until
you will see neat and well furnished school
buildings dotting the hills and valleys OF
North Carolina.
The cause for Increased attendance is
due to the fact that OUR own educators
! have charge of the schools, know the wants
of the people and govern themselves ac
cordingly.
| One J. J. Ladd who was, eight years
| ago, an EMIsSARY from some New England
State, remarked that he came to North
Carolina 70 teach the IGNORANT NATIVES.
| He and others of his ILK who came from
| the same direction to INSTRUCT the Nor
mails, were TOTALLY ignorant of our needs,
talked of things which had no application
whatever and disguised the teachers who
did not return to succeeding Normals.
Since NATIVE teachers, superior Ia EVERY
qualiticat ion to Mr. Ladd have had charge
an increased and GROWING interest is to be
seen everywhere.
HIBERNIAN.