The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-22
Most Interesting Day of reacn-
ers' Assembly.
ABLE, RINGING ADDRESSES
A UNITED EFFORT TO WIN THE
STATE Is AUGUST ELECTION.
spec,A1 @oMMlTTeEAPeolNTE0
Leading Statesmen, Learned p'S'hes
Successful instructors, inf'ueh''d'
Editors and Others speak
for Local Tax.

tor Local ! AK
Atlantic Hotel, Morehead City, \. g.,
June 21.-(SpeciaD-This has been the
most notable day in the session OF the
assembly. The question for discussion
was the election in August to vote for
an increase of tax for public education
Among the speakers were the strong
men of the State, and if they could nave
baen heard by the voters in every town
shin in the State, the success OF the spe-
e;al tax election would be assured. Inis
WAS a big day in the States history
notantial of great results. The speeches
were of a high order, convincing, patriotic
and uplifting. No skeleton account can
convey any adequate conception or the
facts with which they teemed and the
spirit of deep conviction with which they
were delivered.
| send copious extracts from some or
the regular addresses, and will tomorrow
make fuller reference to other strong
speeches made. A special committee COM
posed of the following gentlement was
appointed to have charge of the cam
paign which is to be waged for the adop-
ton of the local tax: Messrs. Jarvis,
Gully, Horner, Thompson, Alderman,
Grant, Madison and Kilgo.
SUPT. MBBANES ADDRESS.
The first prepared address was by
State Superintendent Mebane, who said:
Fellow Teachers, Ladies and Gentlemen:
1t is under peculiar circumstances that
I am to speak to you this morning. / am
to have something to say in regard to a
class of officers that is in the future. The
county supervisor will come into exist
ence on the first Monday in July. While
/ have to deal with something that does
not now exist, yet l hope to be able to
present you, the representatives of edu-
cation in North Carolina, some of the
characteristics and qualifications that we
hope to have in the men who are to be
our county supervisors.
First / will make the assertion that we
have right to expect greater results
from the efforts in the interest of our
public schools, from the county supervis-
or, than we ever received from the county
superintendent or the county examiner.
Why do / say this? Upon what do
base my expectations? 1t is this, be-
cause section Z Of the general school law
as passed by the last General Assembly
says that the county supervisor shall be
a practical school teacher. What is a
practical school teacher? He is man
whose business is that Of teaching, a
man whose profession is that Of teach
ing. We want school man and no 9TH
er for county supervisor. A man who
even taught two years ago and has since
engaged in other business as profession
shall not call him a practical teacher,
but shall declare such man ineligible
to the office of county supervisor. Yes,
my friends, the law calls for q practical
teacher to fill the important office of
county supervisor, and we expect just
such a man in every county in North
Carolina. How was it under our former
school laws? Who were our county sup
erintendents? While we had some wide
awake, energetic school men for county
superintendents, some men who made
sacrifices for the schools, whose hearts
were in this work; men by whose ener-
gies and perseverance the standard Of
scholarship was raised among their
teachers men who taught their teachers
how to teach, men who gave life and in
SEPARATION to the schools over which they
had control; while we had some such men
as these, we also had very many lawyers,
preachers, doctors, merchants and others
who would secure the office Of county
superintendent to supplement their sal
aries or other business in which they
were engaged. The trouble was not with
the office, but with the officers. Some
Of these men seemed to be more interest
ed in their perdiem and number OF days
they could charge against the school fund
than they were in the progress OF the
schools Of their counties. / sincerity hope
we will not have county supervisors of
this character. What can We expect OF
eur public schools il they are to receive
their life and inspiration from a man
who devotes his efforts and energies to
preaching the gospel? There is no class
Of men for whom have a more profound
respect than for the ministers Of the gcs-
pei, but we do not want them for our
county supervisors. What may we ex-
pect il this life and inspiration is to
come from a lawyer who will only give
q day OF thought now and then to schools
and education? What can we expect ii
this life and inspiration must come from
a man engaged in general mercantile
business whose mind is absorbed in his
business, or should be? Such a man as
this to lead the educational forces Of a
county, and yet we have had just such
men in many Of our counties. Ii we have
no school men, no educators for these
important offices, then it is burning
shame for the professional teacher. l, as
the official head Of the public school
system, say we have the men. say we
have practical teachers to fill these inn
portant offices, and l say further thai
we must have school men in these offices
Would the physician think of calling
on a teacher to examine medical stu
dents for license? Would the lawyer o.
North Carolina call on school teacher
for legal advice? Would the merchant
ask the advice and guidance of the teach
er in his business transactions? These
questions are simply absurd, and ye
there is just as much sense in doins
these things as there is in asking thes'
men to do the work Of education. Th,