The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-30
TIE ASSOCIATION.
Importance OF Attending-The Power OF
Song.

1t is refreshing at tunes, 10 WlLn-
draw from the turmoil of every day
existence and spend a few moments IN
the company of those who can, and DO,
talk about something else than politics
and cotton areas. Such a place and
such people strange as it may seem
exist in Newberry County. The place
is the Graded School Building in the
town of Newberry the people are the
small band of teachers who convene
monthly to discuss the best methods
of conducting the educational ma
ehinery of the county, exchanging ex-
periences, and proiting by the advice
of those capable of advising, where
minor detail and major specialties have
given rise to seemingly insurmontable
difficulties. It is a source of gratifica-
ton that so many of the teachers of
the county have enlisted 'for the war"
and are regular attendants at the meet
ings Of the association; and yet, it is
to be regretted that there are others
who do not seem to appreciate the
effort to improve the capacities, and
elevate the status of educators in our
midst until it shall reach point above
the dead level of mediocrity, or so-so-
ism. To such, would say. you do
not know what you miss, for, whilst 1t
is true, that we have not, as yet, set
the rivers on fire, still, the brotherly
and sisterly discussions have kindled a
fame, that continues to grow brighter,
as the days roll by, and promises to
give light enough, at no distant day,
to call attention to the fact, that we
have made an effort to do our duty.
Let Us consider some of the reasons
urged for non-attendance. II fear that
I'll be given u paper to prepare says
one, "and, could never get up before
all those teachers, and read any pro-
duction Of nine" My dear brother,
or dearer sister, you should try it once,
and my word for it you will cease to
quake at the thought of sail those
teachers" whom you will find to be
nothing but human beings, like your
self, snbject to all of the conditions
that dominate any, or nearly all, col
lective bodies. You will find them
not only willing, but anxious to gar
ner each and every spark of original
ity that emanates from your pen. II
any paper prepared by you should be
the subject of criticism, you will find
that critisism to be Of the kind which
docs not wound, and which possibly
no one will more keenly enjoy than
yourself. 81 don't need the association
to tell me how to manage a lot OF
chaps" says another. Fortunate coun-
ty! fortunate State and still more
fortunate people, who have for a
teacher person OF such super-eminent
qualifications My dear friend, you
may not need the assistance to be OBJ
tanned at the association, but over and
above all others the association needs
you, fhungers and thirsts'' for you,
and it is SO evidently your duty to
come to it and give it the benefit OF
your accumulated store, that we will
present no other argument in justifi'
cation of the assertion that all teachers
should take an active interest IN ali
that pertains to the betterment OF the
educational system, and its advance
ment along the picket lines of progress
to a point secondary to hat of no other
commonwealth.
T have been impressed with some OF
the lines of thought developed by the
Editor of the "Teachers' Column
There is flood for reflection" not only
for the teacher, but for the patron in
them, and I would ask careful peru
sal of the articles found in that section
of your weekly paper. The "Grade"
system recommended, is especially
worthy Of note, both on account of its
simplicity and effectiveness.
It may work some harGships tC
those who are 10 the fraternity, "fol
Doodle" alone; but it will rebound to
the benefit Of the on-coming genera
tion by sending out the advocates OF .
''stand still motion"
There are some we'll defined rights
which pertain to the aforesaid on-com'
degeneration, prominent among which
is that, to have their instructors keel
abreast with the van of progressive
thought and method in fact. so vel
defined is this right, that it should be
enforced to that extent which woulc
make attendance upon the association
aud institutes within reach sine quc
non in the consideration of admissi
bilities to the higher grades, if not o
all. make no war upon the teaching:
of 1880; I simply commend the genius 0
the man of 1892; and the woman, who il
an ere of supposed financial depression
would willingly have pawned the in
sigma Of rank to make passable thu
man who laid bare the gem of all th'
seas. I hold dear to my heart, th'
traditions of the Fathers in the goodl1
olden time, when the mellow notes o
the stage-horn woke the eye ofexpec
tation in the quietly happy hamlet
along its route. bare my head befor
the Herculean prodigy born Of fir
and water, that has evolved the Pres
ent, that has joined the East to th
West with bands of steel and REDUCED
the "circling" of the earth from th
long and weary months of the earle
times to a pleasant 'outing" Of only
few days, and yet even this wonder
worker is fast nearing an occultatio
with the Snhtle electrical force tha