Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-01-03
NORTH MISSOURI TEACHERS,
Opening Session of the Northeast
Missouri Assoclation-Prof
Gray's Address.

The Northeast Missouri Teach.
ers' Association met at the Ferris
Grand Opera House Wednesday eve
its twelfth annual session. Though
the weather was bad, a good audi.
ence was present, and the exercises
were thoroughly enjoyable.
After the echo song and the few
well chosen words by President
Nelson, prayer was offered by Rev
Joseph Jesse.
Miss Owen, of Kirksville, recit.
ed "The Baby's Soliloquy" in a
manner that merited continued ap-
plause.
Miss Nelson recited "Youne
Fucker Crying for the Moon" Ii
was we'll received.
President Nelson introduced
Prof. w. o. Gray, of Louisiana,
Mo-, who addressed the audience
on "Education and Citizenship.
Mr.. Gray paid several nice compli-
ments to the people of Mckee and
the teachers of Audrain county
He emphasized the statement thai
popular and public education is
the great safeguard to liberty. He
spoke favorably of compulsory o,
universal education. He said that
education is essential to good citi,
zenship and the man who can read
his ballot, other things being equal
is a better citizen than he who can.
not read. But he is better still
who can vote intelligently. He
favored the Blair Educational bill
and said that education makes bet.
ter citizens and while our Con
gress is approprlating money te
pay pensions to soldiers that never
were wounded, to erect public
buildings that are never used, te
drag rivers that are never navigat'
ed, to pay fficers whose only bust
ness is to draw their pay, educa,
ton, the safeguard to liberty
should receive some attention
The speaker noticed the citizer
as voter, as an officeholder and
as man. He affirmed that for all
of these duties education made him
better he did not belong to the
class that thought the world was
growing worse. but these are the
best days our country has ever
known and this is the best country
the sun shines upon. The COLDER
age is not behind us, but jus
ahead
Thursday mornings session wa
opened by song. Miss Barbars
Mullen recited the "Mocklns
Bird" following which Mr.. l.. E
Wolf, of Moberly, addressed thu
meeting on the leadership of th'
teacher. He insisted on the i'm
portance of live, energetic teacher
attending the State Association a
Sweet Springs next June. Their
are 13, 800 teachers in Missouri ant
he expects fully 1000 to attend tn
State meeting. He discussed a
length the work in contemplation
for next summers work. MI
VOLTS in earnest in his work an
we think many of Audrain teacher
will be influenced to attend tn
State meeting.
Superintendent W. e. Coleman
talk on the condition and need {
our public school system was high
ly entertaining and instructive
He voiced the sentiment of tn
!. teachers and all present when h
said, "our laws need revising; W
need county supervisor of publ
schools; we need longer schot
! terms for country schools; we nee
Ito have less catechism, and LEI
German taught in some of OF
primary Schools Mr.. Coleman
remarks met with the hearty al
, proval of all present.
Thursday evening Prof. M. ,
Thompson was unavoidably absel
and as consequence his lecture c
"Physical Science" was postpone
and new programme arranged II
l the evening. The recitations t
, Mr.. Williams and Miss Nelse
f were received with hearty applaus
The solo by Prof. Shelby was vel
i, cleverly rendered, and in respont
q to an encore appeared for the Sc
: ond time before the admlring a
;, dience.
Il Prof. FL. W. Prentiss address,
!, the association on GA Plea For o.
= Children. He said it is shan
a that the dog and horse are bett
f protected by law than the childre
:, and it is a shame that no law h
!, been enacted to prohibit the Ell
b, ployment OF children under twel
or fourteen years. He review
: the condition of child labor wi
all it's unfavorable effects in Il
. larger cities of the State. He th'
y reviewed the statistical reports {
:. prevention Of child labor aad COZ
. pulsory education in the sever
/, States that had passed such law
. He favored a stringent law
/, preventing the employment
:, children under fourteen years of ag
He favored a local option law
> compulsory education and urg
, each of these convictions in sire
and forcible language Pr