The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-11
STATE TEACHERS ASSOCIATIONS.

STATE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
It was my pleasure last week to at
tend the meeting of the State Teachers
Association in the city Of Spartanourg.
Twas with them all the week and met
a great many. 1t was an inspiration
to meet and mingle with these earnest,
intelligent and devoted teachers,
Theirs is great work, and I am glad
to see the increasing interest taken n
this vocation. Teaching is now pro-
fession, and the man who enters into it
with any other idea will most surely
be left behind in the procession.
There were some two hundred teach
ers in attendance upon the association,
a majority of whom were ladies. l be-
lieye it is true in the present and borne
out by the history of the past, that wo-
man is and has always been foremost
in all good works.
Ido not propose to write an account
of the meeting, but I would ike TO
take few snap shots at it as 60 along
in a rambling sort Of way.
Some of the curious, may be, would
like to know what was doing at this
meeting. Possibly I ought to satisfy
their curiosity, and then again passibly
T should not. At any rate I am glad l
had the pleasure of being there, for |
feel benefited, though I ana not a
teacher. I am friend to education,
however, and therefore eligible to mem
bership-
The sessions were held in Converse
College. One hundred and sixty teach
ers were boarding in the building and
dining in thesame dining room-living
as one big family. Just think OF that.
The social feature alone was we'll worth
the time and expense of the trip. do
not know where they could find a
better or more pleasant place to meet.
Converse is magnificent building,
costing over 100000, and it is nicely
furnished and has every convenience,
with beautiful grounds surrounding it.
President Wilson, Professor Brown,
formerly of Newberry and Mrs. Thomp-
son were all very kind and attentive to
their guests, and everything was done
to make the sojourn pleasant. I found
nothing to complain OF.
Ifthere were not paper read or dis
cussion had, the coming together OF
these workers in the same great field
would be beneficial. The coming to-
gether of sympathetic minds is helpful.
They can lay aside their cares and have
pleasure and recreation in talking over
their trials and difficulties and reverses
and successes. Really do not see how
a teacher who can possibly get there
can afford to miss these annual gather
ings. And yet it was less than score
of years since the organization was
formed and the first meeting held in
spartanburg in Woford College.
Speaking of Woford College reminds
me of thought that ran through my
mind last week while at the meeting.
DR.. Carlisle, its worthy president, was
present and made talk to the teach
ers one night. DR.. Grier, Of Erskine
College, was also there and preached
the sermon on Sunday. The thought
is this: How fortunate the denomina-,
tional colleges in this State are in hav-
ing such noble, self-sacrifcing men to
preside over them-Carlisle, Grier,
Holland-all grand men. I do not
know the president of Furman. These
institutions have done and are still
doing great work in the cause OF edu'
cation. Christian education is the
need of the country.
The association was busy for several
days discussing practical and theoret-
'ical questions connected with the cause
of education. These discussions were
Interesting and instructive.
There was also a meeting of the
School Commissioners and they effect
ed an organization. It was gotten up
under the leadership of Mr.. Thos. W.
Keitt, Newberry's very worthy and
efficient commissioner. There were
not half the school commissioners of
the State present, however.
Newberry was pretty we'll represented
st the meeting,and our girls-well, they
just captured the boys. Everybody
was remarking on the fact that New
berry had sent such handsome bevy
of young lady teachers to the associa-
ton. When they would speak to me
about it told them that we just had
plenty more like them at home, and
we have got them, too. But I will not
tell on the girls, for they promised not
to tell on me. We all had pleasant
time, and hope a profitable one as
we'll.
Professor Evans read a most excel
lent paper before the association on the
subject of geography. He ranks high
amongst the foremost teachers of the
State.