The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-01-04
Ed I ALTON Al TOPICS.

During the Christmas holidays there
We're four important meetings Of North
Carolina teachers held IN this city. Three
of them We're in session when the CHROME
GLE went to press last week and brief men
ton vas made of them under the head of
''EDUCATIoNAL PERSONALS.
The Educational Club is composed of
some Of the i've school men from the nj
gersity, Colleges, High Soho0ls and Public
Schools Of the State ans. object is to
stir up thought among the people and
create a popular sentiment IN favor Of
every class Of education. 1t is lamentabiy
true that large number of our people
are not thoroughly awe to the Importance
Of education, and among others there is
supreme Indifference, to put it mildly, as
to whether there should be any improve
ment III this matter or not. We heard
a teacher say during the last campaign
thar as rule those public speakers who,
in political canvass, talk most glbly and
feelingly about the education Of the peo-
pie what 4 good thing it is, and how
much they favor its advancement rarely
open their mouths on the subject at any
other time. .'Of course" said the teacher,
there are happy exceptions, a few who
are the friends of education at all times;
but # all the leaders of public thought in
North Carolina We're as eloquent IN advo-
eating educational measures i'll ordinary
paign, what an intellectual revolution
there would be in this State.'
The Educational Club hopes that by an
organized effort it can help to promote the
cause OF education by keeping its import
anee and claims before the eyes of the
people and their leaders.
The meeting of the Graded School Su
rorintendeuts Was attended by most of the
peripIeldenJs in the State. They dis
cussed the peculiar interests and needs of
the Graded schools and the best methods
Of their management These schools have
done great work for many of our towns
and show what all our public schools
might be made If we had the money in the
country districts to employ such talent as
zo new sec Il most Of our city public
schools.
Enough money to secure frst-cIass aDil-
ity 10 the work of any business or profes-
sion viii secure good ami satisfactory re-
suits, and il IS about the only thing that
viii. With the exception Of some preach
ers and the missionaries, 4en do not labor
solely for the good Of humanity. They
want to make a living ard all they can
besides. and they will not enter q profess
| sion where even the possibilities . wealth,
/ influence. or fame are but slig... IS com
pared with other professions and pursuits.
| II we want good education We must ex-
pect TO pay good salaries. The public
/ schools in the cities have been greatly i'm
/ proved because they have generally had
/ able men conducting them. The services
of these men could not be bad in any pro
fession without good pay. The conclusion
| is inevitable that the only thing that will
materially advance education, public OF
private, IS more money. Every man who
| has to consider the question must decide
between two propositions: More money
and better schools or no more money and
| no better schools.
The State has not, in fixing salaries for
| its officers. shown much appreciation o.
educational work. The salary of the Su
perintendent OF Public Instruction IS The
lowest Of the salaries Of State officers
His salary is only one half that of tht
Treasurer, whose Chief Clerk receives jus
what the superintendent Of Public In
struction does. If the State showed a
great anxiety about her intellectual ad
vancement as she does about her none,
she would probably enjoy more of both.
The Executive Committee Of the Teach
er's Assembly net and prepared an attrac
tive programme for next Summer, the de
ta:'s Of which Will not be published jus
yet. The Assembly " i'll meet on the 19t
Of June at Morehead City. After session
Of out two weeks a parry Of one hundre
teachers VIII 80 to Europe and spend fey
weeks The voyage across the ocean wi
! be made in first class steamer al MAJ
, | Ntll0GSiS IOW LtlcS. obtEetdIJ ildlIcll Sd y
that all travelling expenses including hott
charges from Morehead City to Europ
aud return will not exceed $40 Th
party will 90 as far East as Cons, antinc
pie They can spend about four weeks i
Europe, but those who wish can stay longt
and return on their ticket, which Is goo
> for one year This is a wonderfully chea
/, trip and shows that there is no lack of el
e terprise in the North Carolina Teacher
/ Assembly.
Besides the above meetings there was
Q meeting of a special committee apponte
! by the Teachers Assembly to memorial,
: the Legislature and try to secure tn
passage OF a bill abolishing the presel
. system OF Summer Normals and establish
e ing Central Training School for teache
is running about eight months in a yea
i The committee will appear before the E.
ucational Committee of the Legislature
. behalf Of this measure and we will NAL
!, further comments on their proposition
a another time.
q Evidently the teachers are awake, az
;, the CHRONICLE rejoices at it. The appr
priations that the State has made in tt
/ educational field for the past fifteen yea
E have paid well, and have paid in a We
e. that will be seen more plainly as the f
t,ra uufolGS itself The GO >iature ShOu