Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-09-29
P. P.CLAXTON'S FAREWELL
A NOTABLE GATHERING IN
HIS HONOR,
An Address From The Retiring
superintendent Showing The
Remarkable progress of The
City schools Since Their Estab
lHoln

liShnemt.
The farewells between Prof. p. p.
Claxton, who retires from the superin-
| tendency of the city schools to proies=
| sorship in the Greensboro Normal col
lege. were said last night in the rooms
of the Y. M. c. A. BY invitation of the
school committee the well-wishers of Mr..
Claxton turned out in force and gave him
| an earnest of their regards. The company
was received in the parlors by the wives
of the committeeman and after an hour
of reception were shown to the lecture
hall where Professor Claxton was called
upon for talk.
Professor Claxton's speech reviewed
the history of the city's graded schools,
from their beginning six years ago when
the election that opened their career was
carried by a majority of two, down to
the auspicious opening in '93, and might
be fitly termed talk of"then and now"
The speaker told of the meagre
| facilities for education as he found
| then, committee appointed under
the law without property and
| without funds; the purchase and repair
of the old academy, the anticipated slim
| attendance at the opening and he great
surprise when 600 children clamored for
| admission; the work of the first session
lasting but four and half months with
ten teachers, crowded rooms, no appa
ratus, the first grades averaging ten
years of age, and Indebtedness for a next
years starter. The needs of the second
| term were anticipated by plans for a
hft,I 4 hoe ncfa
drawings ranged from an $1,000 house
to the one finally accepted, now known
as the Orange street building at cosl
of 81 0,0O0 the delay in opening because
Of the unfinished structure; the request
of the City Council for $4,000,
which, though granted. was more than
| absorbed and the schools were suddenly
| closed, but Immediately reopened by the
prompt response of the citizens to a pop
| ular subscription of So 900 that contin-
ucd the term two months longer. Then
| followed the act of the legislature, sub.
sequently ratified by the people that
gave the committee $25 900 to provide
the needed increase in seating; The INSULT
| cheney of the fund to defray expenses in
| volved in the building and the in
| currence of more Indebtedness. the heavy
interest payments and the call for econ
| omy; and in all the intricaccs of the sit
| uations evolved the wisdom of the com.
| mittee in carrying on the work without
serious injury to the progress of the
school.
Coming down to the present the
speaker said the admissions are 1850
| with 30 teachers; the buildings arc COM
| Portable and commodious and the equip
| ment good, the course of study is
| ft,1I and META ho ;,I.
although the work is not fully developed
the organization is preparing the chill
dren to be men and women, out of which
| the professional man and the artisan
| with strength Of character is to come
AS an index to the progress of the six
years the grade ages show almost mar
vcllouS change. At the start the first
grade children averaged 1917 years, now
the average is 61a, and the 9TH grade
age is now what the I'd was then
Abiding to the needs of the schools,
| Mr.. Claxton specified a nc-months
session, less crowding, building for the
| children of the factory district a well
endowed public library. free kndcrgar-
tens, and industrial training.
The speaker concluded his remarks
with expressions OF gratitude to the
people of AsheviIle by whom he had
been so kindly received and who have
made his stay more than pleasant; !;
to the committee for their interest in
| the work and devotion to the best in
terests of the schools, for their uniform
kindness and personal friendship, whose
policy has been to hold the superintcnd-
ent responsible for results and to give
him freedom as to methods; whose teach.
ers have been of all sects and crccds and
/ M ri M tfN,,
has influenced anyone in their selection
To the thousands of pupils, "for whom
| | have labored and who have been the
subject ofmy every thought. and whose
interests have been the object of every
plan and every effort, who have been
uniformly kind and obedient, l wish for
them true and strong and happy man
hood or womanhood following upon a
happy childhood and joyous youth. We
are training you tor the victories we
may ourselves never win. AS are ar
rows in the hands of giant SO are
children to him that loveth them. To
you we shall as city and as State
soon commit every interest and to YOU
we look for its careful preservation and
unfolding. For this reason does the city
and the State provide for your educa-
ton. Your duty is to improve your
every opportunity"
To the teachers and superintendent
he said: without you all else, build
ings, course of study, plans, taxes. all
would have been vain. The teacher makes
the school. Ours is a noble calling, the
most sacred and the most responsible
that a man or woman may eater. No
one else stands so close to the spring of
life and destiny of the child as its teacher.
| M ut her f1rOfaScinr a nd do 10
such skill and such conservation. l have
never uttered an unkind word against
anyone of you. Your relation to me has
ever been the most pleasant, and you
have, each and all, treated me in the
most courteous and considerate manner.
Twill you pardon me ii | say there is
one yet that l hold dearer than all and
love, | sometimes think, as do nothing
else, one for which | sometimes feel |
would like to give my life, as
the patriot docs for his country or the
martyr for his father, one for whom my
love seems to myself to stand in the place
OF religion and creed, one that holds nv
heart and mind as none other. | thus
personify, for the schools themselves and
the cause OF education in this city seem
thus to assume a personality. For six
years it has had my waking thoughts
and my dreams as well. Not for an hour
at any time has it been out of my mind.
1t has been born and grown up under my
supervision, and feel for it all the love
and solicitude that one feels for his own
child. have watched it in sickness and
in health, have nourished it
with my life. l have planned
for It's future, l have dreamed
OF the day of it's strength and maturity
when it shall stand forth in all its beauty
a source of life and light, a fountain from