Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-15
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THGsEsSIoNes-
GINNING TOMORROW.
Address of Superintendent "'i'am ~
rox--Assignmcnts of whitcNnd
Coiorcd Teachers.

white teachers at 10 o'clock and the
colored teachers at 70 o'clock The at
tendance was LARGE, only few cases Of
absence being noted at either meeting.
ADDRESS OF TuE SUPERINTENDENT.
Superintendent Fox presided and called
Che meeting 90 order. he then addressed
The teachers in n very fclcltous manner
reviewing their work of the past year aud
instructing and COunsClhng them ior the
future. lie expressed his great gratihca-
ton at meeting them ngMn anu hoptu
they had returned with improved hcaiih'
ready to enter upon their duties with 70
newed zeal and energy. He spoke IN COM
pliment of the good work he witnessed IA
The last session he had observed s2arcely
any orrors. and had no fault 10 md ne
called attention 10 the errors ohiy o. 1'o
purpose OF cOunsellIng their adYoidahc" al
the future.
MUTUAL DEPENDENCE.
The Superintcndent spoke of the rcla-
fions existing between himself and them.
He had come among them lew months
AGO a stranger, but he hoped he had l0ly
proved himself their friend. lie desired 70
have established and recognized the lGu-
tual helpfulncs Of one 70 the other. Ills
spccess as superintendent depends upon
thor success rs teachers. Tie desires that
an shall work together for the improve
mont Of our SCHOOLS, and for their increased
usefuincSs, efficiency, ana success.
With reference 20 the work o. the APP
preaching session. the superintendent said
he had one question TO ask. he number
~ children coming into our schools will be
between 5000 and 1900 white and between
1900 and 5000 colored. The responsible
ties involved in such a work are very great.
These children are 60 Ice the future rulers,
LEGISLATORS. merchants. Lusiness-men IN
general. heads of house holds, DC. In
word the great duties OF puDhc
administration are soon to iall upon those
who are now our pupils. They VIII be
largely what the teachers make them. Inc
teachers must necessarily exert powerful
influence upon the manners. morals. and
general culture Of these children. lie dsi
not claim that all of their education Will
be obtained from the school. Much OF IL
will come from the home, some from the
Church. and yet part, aud no inconsldera-
bic part from the school OF the streets.
Still the teachers power TO mould cla-
racter will be great. Tho honor OF pre-
paring these children Tor Iuture usctui.
ness will fall TO them and the 0iscrcQIt oil
failure must reflect somewhat upon thCm.
What is the spirit with which they under
take this great work. If for money only
IL viii become n CALLING drudgcry. IN view
of the worries ard annoyanccs incident 10
the teachers life he could not undcrStahd
how anybody can endure #, II entered
Will make them failures IN their work II 1t
docs not shorten their llves.
WHY VIZ TEACH.
Some. said the Superintendent, teach to
enable the children TO acquired better llVe-
hhoOd. That is a good object, a worthy
mOtiyc-one which ought not 10 be and can
not be ignored. Whoever adds TO the gem
eral wealth and prosperity OF community
or helps others to do il dOcsag good work ara
is worthy Of common dation; and the city
might well bear the eXp6 nse Of the schools
for this object alone. But this Is not the
best object Of orr labors, the Dcs' mouye
for our guidance. The true basis OF all
our work, and the qualification for the eX-
pense 10 entails upon the people is 10 MAKE
good citizens, men ard women, IN the
bTOndcst SENSE This basis cannot he over
thrown, and It imposes upon ~ the Cuty OF
at least having that ideal constantly before
us. Yet there Is higher motive even IMAM
that. We must remember always That we
IRE training immortal souls, and that the
results VIII follow Us, not only. IN tins
world. but into eternity. The law orGood !
reasons foTbids the teaching OF anything /
OF a partisan or sectarian nature; but be- /
hind that are the principles OF good gov /
eminent and OF true and genuine morality, |
which can be and ought 10 be taught.
THE FRONT or ALL PROFESSIONS.
When we consider these things, said the |
SUPERINTENDENT.
rises in dignity and Importance TO the very |
front Of all the professions, hence we !
should constantly have before Us grand /
ideal We may never Toe able 10 attain !
unto the ideal, but by proper effort We may |
approximate more and more closely; Such |
an ideal will be an incentive 10 higher en- |
deavOr. 1t will enlarge our conceptions OF /
our work, Will elevate our aims, and /
strengthen our purpose to do the very best |
of which we are capable. With such an !
sdeal before Us we shall have less cause to |
find fault with our failures or with the an |
noyances and troubles which seem to I'M /
pede our progress. We ind implements /,
and difficulties everywhere IN our work, !
but if we keep before Us the possibilities /
of the human mind with which we are I
dealing and the ideal to which we are |
aspiring We Will not DO easily disturbed or |
lose our equanimlty.
Superintendent Fox concluded by hoping |
that the teachers will go to their work with |
zeal and an earnest desire and purpose TO |
30 the very best they can III this grand /
work Of training and developing the future |
citizens of our city and state.
Mr.. LoyEYsTEIN.
Hon j. TAYLOR Ellyson. chairman Of the |
School Board, was expected 10 be present 1
and address the teachers. but he sent ,
note Of excuse that he was engaged upon /
city business which could not Dc deferred |
even for an hour.
Senator Loyenstcin. vicc-chairrnan, was .
present. however. aud spoke very plea
santly for few moments, expressing his /
delight at meeting the teachers who, he
said. are evidently IN good health and
anxious 10 get 10 work again. lie hoped, |
n he believed, the teachc> would take the |
good advice given them hy the Superln-
PENDENT, declared that Richmond IS proud
of her public schools, and believes them
equal to any in the land. For himself he
\ 3 Nse.a.r y sNi
the School Board than of any other with
which his fellow-citizcns have ever honor
ed him. He pledged the board TO do all IN
their power III the interests of the teachers
and schools. He would have the teachers
regard their positions as OF llie-tenuTe, but
the board means to scrutluize their work
carefully; and although he would make no
threat. no hestated not TO saw that all who
are found wanting VIII be given an oppor-
tunity to seek employment elsewhere.
TIE Ex-sUPEmNTESDENT.
Colonel John Is. Cary. former superin-
tendent, also spoke briefly. tie told u
story Of a minister who once addressed his
congregation as "fcllow-citizens.' He
proposed 10 reverse the preachers order
and address these principals and teachers
g. brethren and sisters" He couldn't
keep away from the teachers. He met
some during the summer and was delight
cd 70 greet them, as he always IS, whether
NJ home or abroad. lie retncmD ercd win
what feelings be stood on this platform for
the first time three years ago, hut his ex-
perience as superintendent would never be
forgotten. nor the friendships formed ever
broken. He came here to-day forplcasure,
not for work. He wanted to put on his
glasses and take good look at them and
shake their hands. He found them still
good-lookng, and had received o cordial
greeting. He claimedto be Their friend and
devoted % their interest and those of the
schools. II is an easy matter to give advice.I
Most people are fond OF it. They much
prefer giving 10 receiving. He had done
81 for three years, and now he heard his
friend, Superintendent Fox. doing the
same thing. lie had no doubt the teachers
would receive II as they had done his. He
declared that the pleasure Of the teachers
life constitute its greatest charm, far over
balancing all the duties and responsible
ties the worries and annOyanceS: and il