Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-11-29
TEACHERS IN SESSION.
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY TEACH
Frs FROM THE SOUTH
WEST PRESENT.
Address Of Welcome by Judge Wall;
Response by Prof. Hsy-Lecture
by Prof. James II. Garfield
on "Ihe State and
Education"

Education"
The opening session OF the Southern
Kansas Teachers association last night at
the Lewis academy called out large
crowd Before the meeting was called TO
order the ushers were at the door of the
chapel hall informing those arriving tina:
they would be compelled to go to the gal
lery, and within few minutes the gallery
was completely filled. There were, as es-
timated by County Superintendent Pence,
about one hundred and eighsy teachers
present, fifty from Cowley county and
about the same number from Sumner.
while Kingman, Pratt. Reno, Harvey and
Butler were represented. The fact that
Prof. James H. Garfield was to lecture
was sufficient to call out Wichita audi
ence. com posed of those most interested in
educational affairs. It was an audience
many degrees above the average. and even
glance was quite sufficient TO convince
one of that fact.
The retiring president, Prof. J. N. Nay
lor, president Of Lewis academy. called the
meeting to order and the Rev. j. ID.
Hewitt offered prayer.
Judge T. B. Wall was on the program
to deliver the address of welcome, and in
the course Of his remarks said:
The real heroes of the world are TO it I'M
known. The memories of the true heroes
are seldom perpetuated in bronze and mar
BILE and preserved in poetry and song. To
take the fresh and anxious mind OF the
child, with its confding spirit and gener-
Gus nature, is a delicate and important
task. The men and women of Kansas who
intelligently, faithfully and nobly devote
their energies and consecrate their lives to
the education of the children of the state
are true heroes and heroines. In Kansas
there is a grand army of 1000 school
children mustered under the tuition OF
the school teachers of kansas-an army
greater than ever marshalled under the
leadership OF Napoleon. These children are
being trained for greater victories
To be a faithful and efficient officer in the
preparation of these for the battle and VIC
tories of life is an honor and responsibility
not fully appreciated The avocation of
school teaching is rapidly being recognized
as profession, and the public Will &C
knowledge that it bears more important
relation to society than any of the other so
called learned professions. With full ap-
probation of this, the noblest of all pro-
LESSONS. teachers will no longer regard it
as an ungrateful and unsatisfactory call
iug-then it will truly be;
ga delightful task to rear the tender
thought
And teach the young idea how to shoot,
And pour the fresh instruction DER the
mind,
To breathe the enlivening spirit and fix
The generous purpose in the growing
breast"
Upon this Thanksgiving day the truly
patriotic citizen of Kansas can well be
thankful for the splendid public school
system of the state, her universities, col
! leges and academies. These have largely
contributed to make Kansas great. The
school teachers of the state have largely
| contributed to this and to have been a
participant in it is to have won true re-
nown. Wichita with her complete system
| of public schools, her colleges and acade-
mics welcome You here. That you may
have happy and profitable meeting and
return to your respective charges strength
ened for your important duties Is the wish
| of all. BY these meetings the public Will
learn to more fully appreciate the i'm
portanE relations which you bear TO
society,""
Prof. Hay, superintendent Of the Win
field schools, responded by saying he had
felt the teachers were going to have good
time. Had been met at the depot and es-
corted to the hotel and from that time was
sure they were going to have good time.
| He believed the teachers had come to
work and cheer each other. In behalf of
the teachers he extended thanks for the
kind reception.
Prof Naylor announced the exercises for
today which commence in the chapel at
$50 prompt, with the presidents address
and in the north and south rooms OF the
academy building on the second floor
could be found interesting exhibits.
After selection by the choir, Prof.
Naylor presented Prof. Garfield, of the
State university, who would lecture on
"The State and Education" He was re-
ceived with applause. He referred to the
fact that Kansas at an early date made
provision for common schools and also
for higher education. As an EXPLANATION
why such was done at an early date when
there was so much excitement over ques-
lions that intensely interested all, he re-
ferred to the colonial days when in New
| England the church and school house
were side by side, aiding and supporting
each other. The idea to educate was one
that seemed to prevail with all who reach
ed the then new world, They
| seemed to be convinced that
to educate was to add strength to the COL
onies, and also that it was a moral duty
also for all parents to educate their chill
dren, or at least give them as good an ed
ucation as they were able. Hence it is
not strange that nearly two hundred
years afterwards early kansans in their
famous Wyandotte convention should not
forget, amid the excitement of the day.
that Kansas must educate its youth.
The speaker in speaking of the relation
| of the common school and state and the
| higher educational institutions was OF
the opinion that the day would
never come when the educational question
would be resubmitted. This way OF
putting it seemed to be very forcible to a
Wichita and southern Kansas audience,
| and hewas given clever hand There might
| be changes to conform with advancement.
| There had been many changes in the last
twenty years, which had greatly increased
the educational institutions of the state
The changes" however, would be in tn.
| line Of Improvement, and no turning back.
| The state was founded on society. So
| cety is, to a great degree. the result OF ed
ucation, making education the foundation
| of good government The speaker OBJ
served that there were less objections now
a-days to state educational institutions
than a few years ago. The opposition had
melted away in the face OF investigation
| and a more thorough understanding OF the
Importance Of education. The speaker,
although reading from manuscript, was
| so familiar with it that the lecture lost
| little of its effect. The audience was one
/ that could understand q manuscript: