St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-06-01
Evening Session.
The convention met again shortly befor
8 o'clock, when

The convention met again shortly before
s o'clock, when
JUDGE A. A. GUNBY,
Of Monroe, La, was introduced. His ad-
dress was upon the life and works of
Horace Mann, the greatest of American
educators. 1t was proper at convention
of superintendent, he said, to speak of
the work of one that was foremost in that
position Mann, like many eminent
Americans, was born on farm. He &C
quired capable classical education, be-
eame lawyer, was Massachusetts legis-
lator and spent four years in the United
States Congress. Judge Gunby confined
his remarks 10 Mr.. Mann's career as an
educator. He was never Teacher except
during short time in youth and toward
the close of his life, when he was presi-
dent of Antioch College, in Indiana. 1t
was not as school teacher he gained re-
nown 1t was as an organizer, leader aud
inspirer of teachers that his name has he
come imperishsble. Hs was offered the
position of secretary of the Mass a;husetts
board of education in 1889. He accepted
this as his most fruitful field for good.
He laid aside all professional and Political
honors, and devoted himself wholly to the
cause of the common schools HIS work
as secretary was herculean. He labored
steadily fifteen hours day, king no va.
cation except when he journeyed through
Europe at his own expense to study the
foreign school system. His works en-
braced nearly every problem connected
with school,. The speaker made bold to
say no man was fitted to be legislator
until he had read the works of Horace
Mann. He spoke and preached reforms in
school wrote letters and books and turned
the powers of the press into appeals for
them. Then he turned to seeming school
buildings in Massachusetts. When town
is entered containing cosy and neat school
houses it is Immediately set down as a
seat of enlightenment When, as is too
often the case 10 Louisiana town is en-
tered which contains no school whatever,
or some cabin known euphoniously as
Splinter Head" Hog Wallow." or
s'Buzzard's Roost," that town is set dowo
as a site of ignorance. thriftlessness and
general Indifference Mann's efforts in
cIuded new textbo ,ks, apparatus, the
furnishings of school houses ami even
their adornments. He elevated the condi
ton of teachers. He was largely instru-
mental in bringing the teacher to the front
rank. In this last work the parish super
intendents of Louisiana must carry out
the ideas of Mr.. Mann. They must con-
tinue to raise the standard of teachers and
the best results must be hoped for in the
men of twenty five years hence.
Judge Gunby went Cd to show how Hor-
ace Mann affected the general common
school system, and spoke of the necessity
of educating the American citiz- n. He
reviewed the career of great educational
statesmen, placing foremost among them
Thomas Jefferson, whom he named the
greatest American legislator. Another
| Virginian, nearest to the hearts of South
e,nsrs, turned his flashing sword into a
teachers scepter, and became servant OF
education. So when the Louisiana legis-
lator is considering education let him re-
member he is emnlating jefferson when
he is humbly and nobly teaching let him
remember he is still following the immor-
tai Lee.