Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-06-30
THE TEACHERS ASSEMBLY.
IMPRESSIONS OF BUNCOMBE'S
sUPERINTENDENT.
Mai. c. h. way Tells "The Citizen"
of His Trip and the Earnest ana
Able Men ana women who
Made UP the Assembly.


Able Men and women who
Made Up the semIbly.
Maj. c. B. Way, Buncombc's excellent
county superintendent Of schools. who
attended the Teachers assembly at Morek
head City, was assigned prominent
position on the program tor the Super
intcndcnt's day."
His address on Compulsory cduca-
tion," was superb effort, rejecting
credit upon Maj. Way and the county be
represents, and was highly commended
by several leading newspapers. Nj.
Way was also elected president of Super.
intcndcnts' association Of tho state. Bun
combe may well feel a pride in her efficient
superintendent.
In talk with THE CITIZEN this morn
ing Maj. Way said:
There is nothing in her borders that
North Carolina has more cause to bc
proud ofthan her Teachers assembly.
In proportion it is colossal. In culture
and talent it willcompare favorably with
any similar organization in the country.
Its patriotic devotion to our state, and
to the supreme interest of education, ell
title il to the sympathy, honor and as
sistancc of all our people. The men who
projected. and by their faith and work
carried to success, this splendid institu-
ton are entitled to the honor and graft
tudc of the state.
"Only few short years ago, the
Teachers assembly meant only a few
hundred teachers crampcd and huddlcd
up at the little Black Mountain hotel in
the mountains! During the past two
weeks nearly four thousand members
have gathered by the sea to study, to
plan, to consult to compare experiences,
to renew old acquaintance and make
new ones. and to enjoy tn" varied de-
lights OF social, professional and official
intercourse. 1t was indeed splendid
gathering and memorable occasion.
at is a habit, as well as instinct, with
me, to study crowds Of people Being
my first visit. | looked at this one often
long, and SCI CliOusly. ] concluded, in the
first place, that il was the very finest
looking asscmblagc OF men aud women
had ever seen together. Then, il was the
best naturcd crowd ever saw. 1t seemed
as though, by unanimous, secret agree
ncnt, every one had mace up his mind to
he content with everything Cand every
body to object to nothing. to take in the
full benefit ofevcrything crjoyablc;i ignore
anything that was not, land to have "a
general good time Aud they did 1t
was crowd with brains. From it you
might select tirst-class governor and
legislature for half dozen states, and
presidents for dozen colleges.
ut was thoroughly earnest crowd
The educational workers meant school
work, and they did it. The part that
were on a lark meant business, too, and
every one OF them had birds in his (hcr
game bag.
when reached Morchead, Talmagc
and Harris had had their say and gone.
Gov. Holt gave us good, sound, speech,
full OF good sense and good will. We
thanked him. Time and space would
fail to even briefly refer to
all the admirable speeches and papers
given. Many Of them were OF high
order of literary merit. There was no
lack of musical skill. and the lovely
musicians were ever willing to give the
inspiring influence of their sweet art to
the assembly. noticed that none re-
fused to do any work assigned them.
"On Tuesday evening We had breezy
little discussion on the place Of meeting
for next year. Ashcvillc was put into
nomination and her claims pressed by
Mcssrs. King, Mackcy, Atkins. Way and
others. The sentiment for the noun
tains was strong-and that means Ashc-
ville-but we had no definite, business
proposition to offer, and the assembly
could not act on an" other, so that was
left to the decision OF the executive COM
mittec.
III Ashevilc wants the mex t session she
must get ready direct, positive obliga-
tiun that the members of the assembly
will he boarded here at 81 per day, and
protfcr it to that committee. They may
yet accept it.
"Of course | was especially interested
in County supcrlntcndents' day"-bcing
one OF them, and having place on the
program. This was Thursday. and
was especially glad to hear general cx-
precision that ii was one of the very best
days OF the meeting. Some Of the best
papers OF the session were given by ST.
pcrintendents that dav. Gov. Jarvis,
being detained north, his time that even
ing was assigned to Compulsory cduca-
ton represented atirmativcly by nlyscH,
and on the negative by Superintendent
John s. Long, OF Craven county. Col
Long is a fine speaker, and did we'll for
man who, being in favor of the educa-
ton Of the masses, was compelled to
talk against the only possible way to
educate them.
81 assure YOU that Buncombc was
worthily represented by as able a body
| of teachers as any county in the state.
You will more fully appreciate this, when
name among those present President
Atkins, oi the Ashcvilc Female college;
President d. l.. Ellis and Miss Mcdonald,
of Farview college, and Prof Reagan
and Mrs. Mcdowell, Of Weavcrvillc col
lcse. feel gratifcd to all our teachers
and friends who went from Buncombc.
Now, let me say this one thing more.
The people are not helping the teachers
as they ought, and as they could
mean the great mass of the people.
Many are, but all ought, for the teachers
are doing noble work for them. You
newspaper men ought to lend us all your
great power, to enable ne to get to the
people"
That Mai. Way enjoyed himself he has
already said, and now all tha. is needed
to fill his cup OF JOY is the assurance that
| The session of the county tenchera, insti