The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-06-26
CONVENTION OF TEXAS
SCHOOL SUPERINTEND-
ENTS AT GALVESTON.
SPEECHES AND RESOLUTIONS.
Recommendations to be Presented the
Next Legislature-Views of Professor
Cooper, DR.. Baldwin and Others.
Annual Officers Elected.

GALVESTON, lex, June 24.-The School
| Superintendents' association of the State
convened in Harmony hall this morning.
The hall was tastefully decorated for the
occasion. At 1O:30 President w. A. Banks
called the convention to order. Rev. DR..
Bird pronounced the invocation.
President Banks stated that before pro-
ceeding with the regular order of business
he wished the association to express their
appreciation of the presentation made to
| it by one of the students OF the State
Agricultural and Mechanical college of a
| beautiful gavel in which various woods of
Texas were artistically blended. He
thought it was due that the thanks. of the
association should be extended to the
student for his appropriate gift. A motion
to this effect unanimously prevailed.
President Banks then delivered his an
nual address. He briefly sketched.the his
| tory of public schools N Texas in which he
gave a synopsis of the liberal provision
made by the Republic and State for the
support and general diffusion of knowledge
among the masses, Yet with all these
liberal provisions the public school system
efficiency and thoroughness that was observ-
able in the schools of other and older States
that we're not nearly so richly endowed as
in Texas. This was notably true of the
country schools, which was in a meas
ure due to the indifference of the peo-
IL -
system. He, however had noted
decided improvement and the people
were becoming awakened to the Importance
of not only havingIbut maintaining good
schools. He advocated the establishment
OF free high schools in the populous coun-
ties of the State where the scholars of the
public schools could receive more thor
ough and practical education and be better
prepared to enter upon the discharge of in
telligent citizenship; that the general and
practical diffusion of knowledge among
coming generations was the bulwerk of our
liberties and the safety of a free and en-
lightened nation.
President Banks made many more peril
nent suggestions and at the conclusion of
the address was warmly applauded. At
this iuncture Prof H. Lee Sellers stepped
on the stage and in behalf of the teachers
of the public schools of Galveston present.
ed a beautiful basket of flowers to Hon.
Oscar HI. Cooper as token of their esteem
of him as a man and al scholar and Chris
tian gentleman.
MIR. Cooper gracefully responded and ex-
pressed his surprised thanks for the beauti-
full gift and his appreciation of the kindly
feelings and sentiments that accompanied
it.
A recess of ten minutes was then taken
for the distribution of badges and enroll.
ment OF names. Upon coming to order
again the president announced that the re-
port of the committee on memorial was in
order. Prof Cooper, as chairmaE of the
committee, prefaced it with a telling
speech in its favor and then read the re-
port as follows:
To the President and Members of the
Texas superintendent Association: We,
the undersigned committee, appointed at
the midwinter meeting of your ASSOCIATION
to prepare and submit for your considera-
ton a synopsis of the changes which
should be made in the school system of the
State, respectfully report the following
recommendation:
1. we recommend that each county of
the State be divided into as many school
districts as justices of the peace and that
the boundaries of the two coincide
2. We recommend that the office Of
county superintendent be established in
every county having population of 10000
or more. That the establishment of the
Office be left optional with the commits.
sioners court Of any county having popu-
lation of less than 10000, and that the
salary in no case be less than $500 per an
mum, the same to be appropriated from the
general revenue of the county.
3. We recommend to the board of
trustees of each school district for period
OF not less chan three years, uniform Sc
ries of text books covering the several
branches of study required to be taught
in public schools, and that adoption of
text books by counties be optional.
4. We recommend that two additional
State normal schools for white teachers be
established-one in northern, the other in
central Texas.
5. We recommend that it be made the
duty of the commissioners court of each
county to order an election to be held on
the first Saturday in June of each year in
each school district not voting a local tax
to determine whether such tax shall be
levied.
6. We recommend the enforced collec-
ton of the $S00,00 defaulted interest due
the available school fund under the land
laws enacted prior to the year 1888.
7. We recommend the investment of the
permanent school fund, both State and
county, in securities to be created for the
construction and equipment of school
houses.
The report was ordered received, and if
approved by Superintendents association,
to be passed to the State Teachers associa-
ton, and if concurred in by that body, to
be drafted into memorial to the legisla-
ture, but to be circulated broadcast for sig
natures before being presented to the legis-
lative bodies for their action thereon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Upon reassembling Prof. Lattimer moved
that in the future an annual fee of 25 cents
be charged members. Adopted.
Prof. Pennybacker N owed that the office
of treasurer be created and treasurer
elected, in view of the motion Just adopted.
This prevailed, and on motion of DR.. Bald
win Prof. Penny backer was declared duly
elected treasurer ofthe association.