The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-06-29
STATE ENTERTAINMENTS ASSOCIATION


SAN ANTONIO, June 27.-The annual
convention of the State Association OF
Public School superintendent and
principals, which is an adjunct of the
State Teachers association, convened
here this morning at 10 o'clock with
400 members in attendance.
The welcoming address in behalf OF
San Antonio was delivered by W. q.
Brann, editor of the Daily Express.
j. E. Brinkly of Columbus, Tex, de-
livered the response, which was inter
esting and appropriate.
President f. NJ. Pace of Palestine
then made his annual address. He
said in part:
THE teachers duty is not restricted
to his pupils. AS a citizen of the
community he owes a duty to the
community. AS citizen of the state
he owes a duty to the state. AS a
citizen OF the republic he owes duty
to the republic. His information
should not be limited by the course of
study that he is expected tC teach.
He should be accurately and cleverly
informed upon all the events
and issues of the day, and he should
have an opinion founded upon intelll-
gence, reason and justice, upon every
current political question or issue. We
hold that it is our duty 20 teach, net
because we are paid a monthly stipend,
but because we have been blessed as
the man in the parable of the talent
was blessed. If we accept this view OF
the case we are carried to the cOnclus-
ion that our work as teachers does not
end when we step without the walls OF
the school room. 1t is our duty to
have views and opinions upon ques-
tions OF public policy and to partici-
pate in public discussions of matters
pertaining to the welfare of the state,
whenever such discussions tend to en-
Tighten the masses"
A. s. Grant of Palestine then read
an address on the subject of free night
schools for towns and cities. He said
"There is not only an unquestionable
necessity for the establishment OF a
comprehensive system of night schools,
but it is equally essential that they
should be attended. While it is true
that schools possess inherent features
of attraction, yet they are insufficient
to complete it's success. General
public favor and endorsement would
act far more powerful as an incentive
than the greatest merits the school
itself could possess. The most perfect
system of schools that could be devised
would utterly fail unless it received
the support and approval Of
the public. Upon this score
however, there is little ground for fear
The generous people of Texas never
have and never will withhold theil
favor from any cause as important and
worthy as this"
Both Dr. Thomas Flavin of the Gal
weston night schools and Professor
Alex Hogg, superintendent of the Fort
| Worth schools, were absent.
Superintendent w. s. Sutton deliv-
cred an extemporaneous address ex
planning that he did not know that he
would be called on to participate in
the discussion and had heretofore not
prepared any paper. His address,
however, was highly interesting one.
The first topic which came up fol-
discussion at the afternoon session was
the subject of "Literatnre in the Pub
lie Schools" On this topic the first
paper read was one entitled "Litera-
ture as Means of Culture" by Supt.
A. W. Kinnard of Longview. This
paper was followed by one by Supt,
Leonard Lemon of Sherman on "How
to Inculcate in Pupils Taste for Lit
erature." 1t was in part as follows:
"a favorite figure is one which
likeps the child's mind to blank page
upon which the schoolmaster may
write what he plesses. The figure is
grossly wrong. The child mind is not
a negative to which training is to
make positive; it is not a dark plate
upon which the picture of light is to
be drawn. The figure represents the
positive power as coming from with
out, while as matter of fact. the vita
force comes from within. Life pre-
sents the opportunities The readi'
ness to seize them and the strength tc
preserve comes from Unborn qualities
The child mind is generating a battery
of vast mental and spiritual potentl
aIities; we may lay the wires and tc
some extent guide the current, but
the flashing charge springs from
its own activity, and if we do not helE
it it will Zlgzag a way OF It's own.
w. w. Barnett of Houston spoke a.
considerable length on the subject o.
Methods of Establishing Libraries.
He spoke of the Importance of placing
, pupils libraries in the public schools
suggesting, among other methods o.
attaining them, the giving of librar!
entertainments, securing donations
and by purchase through the schoo
board. He also spoke at great length
on the Importance of establishing
methods of securing teachers libraries
The following officers were theI
elected for the ensuing year: G. b
f Putnam, Colorado City, president; ]
, E Blair. Temple, vice president; A.W
Kinnard, Longview, secretary; j. V
Brown, Luling treasurer. Waco wa
chosen as the next place of holding it
session.
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