The news & observer., 1897-02-19

1he CoJau number of volumes taken
from the library for reading during the
year was 11,767.
Dr. Alderman's report further bore
testimony to the administrative vigor and
general power of the University when it
came into his hands from his predecessor,
Dr. George T. Winston He also spoke
IN terms of high praise of the faculty
and officers Of the University, declaring
that there was no limit to their desire
in and out of departmental
work, and stating that he had received
from them all only the utmost co-opera-
tion and cordiality in all forms Of work
for the betterment Of the University.
After the reading of these reports the
trustees went into the election of pro-
fessor of Pedagogics, and, upon
President Alderman's recommendation,
Superintendent Clinton White Toms. of
the Durham Graded Schools, was unani-
mOusly chosen.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Prof. G. W. Toms is the States young
est superintendent, as well as one of the
most energetic and progressive, he being
twenty-seyen years Of age.
He was born in HertfOrd, n. c., and
prepared for college in the High School
Of that town. He was prepared for and
entered the University of the State at
the age 16, graduating in four years
with the class of 80 Shortly after grad
uat5on he established the Plymouth
High School at Plymouth, N. G. While
teaching at Plymouth he began to look
at life seriously, and there was awaken
ed in him keen and deep interest in
education. He saw the way in which
those who did not have the privilege OF
schools and education would have to
grow, and realized how much the impor-
tance and prosperity of a State rests
upon the education of her sons; the re-
suit was that he began to interest him
self in public education. He was soon
elected to a position in the Graded
Schools of Durham His work almost
immediately began to attract attention
and praise throughout the town, and it
was not long before Professor Toms
was known as one of the most modern
and progressive men in the schools of
North Carolina.
The work of Professor Toms had at
tracted so much attention, and his ability
was so we'll recognized, that on the re-
signation of Professor Kennedy from
NAtN NShk'CAAANNIihCuNS III - uLCs 4CO1suG was
elected unanimously to fill his place, and
a town was never better pleased by an
appointment than was Durham by the
action of the School Board in '94.
Under his administration the schools
have made wonderful progress. They
stand to-day unequaled by any In the
State His ability was quickly recognized,
and at the end of his first year as super
intendent, he was elected at the annual
meeting of the North Carolina City Su-
perintendents' Association in Raleigh,
president of that association. He has
been for some time a member Of the
Executive committee Of the North Caro-
lima Teachers Assembly. He shows his
interest in his chosen field of work by
the active part he takes in the different
OrganiZa tions of educators throughout
the country, and he is an active member
both of the National Educators Associa-
tiOn and of the National Reform School
Association. Professor Toms is a born
teacher He has that rare and happy
faculty for imparting instruction in an
interesting and highly pleasing way that
never tires his pupils, but awakens in
them a keen and lively love for their
work. He enjoys the love and admiration
of all his pupils.
AS a d!sciplinarian he has few if any
superiors, and his schools are models Of
order and system. His organization is
most perfect. He has especially distin-
guished his administration at Durham
by the successful introduction Of the
manual training feature into the city
schools
Prof Toms is a citizen of whom the
State is justly proud. and he will prove
most valuable acquisition to the Uni
versity.
THE ADMISSION OF WOMEN.
Arrangements were made for strength
ening the Summer school by appropriate
ing $500 to be used i'm equipping and pro-
viding special facilities for it. An appro-
Driation was also made for the purchase
Of an y ray apparatus for the University.
The following resolution was then pro-
posed and adopted by majority vote:
Resolved, That the postgraduate
courses at the University be opened to
women under such regulations as the IA
Guilty may prescribe"
This resolution was in accordance with
a recommendation in the Presidents re-
port There was some opposition TO it
conservative members of the board, but
the majority Of them thought the expert
ment could do no harm, and, for the pres
ent at least, no great number would
take advantage of it.
Col. Paul h. Means wanted to go fur
ther, even than the above resolution
went, He offered an amendment, in
the nature of a substitute for the resolu-
tion as follows: That women be accorded
all the educational advantages of the
University of North Carolina, at any time
given in that institution to men
Speeches We're made in favor of this
amendment by Col Means, Mr.. Lusk,
and Attorney General Walser.
The amendment was defeated by a
vote Of 20 to 4.
AT this point Mr.. f. s. Spruill offered
the following resolution:
Resolved, That the thanks Of the
Board of Trustees of the University are
hereby rendered to his Excellency Gov
ernor Russell, for the manly, courageous