The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-11-08


stitute will take such a one kindly by the
hand and instruct him carefully upon all
these Necessary points Of school doctrine
If these be mastered, they will prove tC
him reliable chart and compass as he
sails upon the troublous waters Of the
sea of public school life.
While these discussions will be of price
less value to the younger members of the
profession, cannot conceive that they
will be altogether without interest and
profit to those who have grown gray
in this splendid field of labor. When We
have reached that pitch of conceit thai
disposes us to view with satisfaction anG
complacency our supposed merits a:
teachers, there need be wanting no better
proof of our unworthiness to remain
longer at this kind of work.
We must never cease to assume towards
the great question of education the atti-
tude of learners. We must not be unwil-
ling to place ourselves at the feet of the
humblest member of the profession, If we
can but get the glimpse of one new idea.
! The human mind is too finite to grasp any
one subject in its entirety. How much
less can it comprehend one of such mag
nitnde as education. Hence we should
esteem it a privilege to hear any discus
sion upon a question OF so transcendent
importance to us. 1 always consider my
! self the debtor of him who investigates
subject and formulates the results of his
investigation that 1 may be enlightened.
Be as diligent as we may, so broad and
far reaching is this great question that
the life of no man, however great his tai
ents and industry, is adequate to the
task of comprising it in its
hight ard depth, length and breadth. How
! foolish then to decline the assistance of
other co laborers in this great field.
have limited at certain questions that
more Immediately concern US in the
school room, but our discussion must not
be confined within these narrow limits;
they must take wider range and en-
brace questions affecting the admitistra-
ton of school affairs in county and state.
IL there be obnoxious school laws upon
the statute book, if there be need of other
and better laws, or if amendments to those
already existing be needed, the first
impulse to affect these changes and i'm
provements must be felt in these centers
of activity, viz: the county teachers
Institutes; but we will be powerless to
impress our views on any legislation
respecting school matters without strong
coherent organization. With unity of
purpose, harmony of action and ooncen-
tration of energy much good of special
and general nature may be expected of
this and similar organizations; but, with
out union there can be no strength" l
need scarcely to remind You that all
human. interests have long since recog-
ni1 tha vi
of organization, and the strange spectacle
and anomaly of weak organization is
left to the most intelligent class of men
and women in this state. The lawyers,
physicians, dentists, druggists, editors,
architects, underwriters, farmers, laborers
and, indeed, all classes, have effected Or
CARNATIONS for self-protection and the
promotion of their individual interests.
Does everything go so we'll with us and are
our interests so we'll guarded by others as
to leave nothing more to be desired by us?
One point of difference is to be noted be-
tween ours and other organizations, that
while the others are selfish in their aims
and purposes, ours extends UNNECESSARILY
beyond the narrow limits of self and com.
prehends in it's wide embrace the whole
circuit of public and human good; for all
nations and peoples (tyrants excepted)
are directly interested in the diffusion of
knowledge and in the blessings that attend
public education. Hence our cause is the
cause of humanity. The right solution of
this problem in my judgment, transcends
all others in its direct bearing on human
society, government and happiness.
Education is superior to all other inter- |
ests, because it includes them. The whole |
is greater than any of its parts. If these
high considerations do not reach US, let
us at least be drawn and held together by
the cohesive power of self interest. Let
us make "a long pull, a strong pull, and a
pull all together"
Last year the state was nearly $1,000,-
900 behind in her settlement with the
public school teachers. Your vouchers,
representing several months work, at a
poor salary, were cashed by sharks at
heavy discount, that you might have
means for meeting the pressing demands
of daily life. How many of you have
taken any well concerted action to pre-
vent recurrence of this iniquityY Prob
ably not one; and yet we will continue to
hear our teachers bitterly lamenting the
condition of our school affairs, while not
one of them will take more than passive
interest in the selection of our lawmakers,
or trouble himself to bring before the
public mind any school question requir-
ing legislation. 1t is time that this
apathetic feeling should cease to exist. If
the Twenty -frst legislature should ad
journ without making a adequate
provision for meeting its
overdue obligations, and for
preventing possible deficit in the future,
ask you, in all earnestness, where would
you place the blame? l know of no class
more deeply concerned in the spirit of the
next legislature and its attitude toward
the public schools than the great body of
teachers of this state. If our teachers
would carry with them the weight and in
fuenoe that rightfully belong to them,
they must organize. Think what would
be the effect upon our legislature of |
petition or recommendation backed as a
unit by the 1000 or 5000 teachers of this
state, who, for mere pittance, are IN
selfshly devoting themselves to the
amelioration of our people. If we would