The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-28

lima for the liberal ana generous alu given
en- me in the public school work. | have
reached the people in their homes around
the fireside as / never could have done
had not the columns of the newspapers
been open to the cause of public educa-
ton.
II have heard some criticism of the
present Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton, because il is said that he seeks pub
licity, he wants everything he says and
writes, published. / have sought public
: ity for the office, and the cause it rep
resents. but have not sought it for the
man. The editors know this is true, and
if it were not they would have closed
their columns to me ere this. ] rejoice
that we have reached that period in our
history of public education that it is pos
Sible to reach the great bulk of our popu-
lation through the newspapers. The
press Of this State has tremendous pow
or. and it is enough to make glad the
hearts of every friend Of public education
to see so much of this great power on the
side Of public schools.
''if it be possible for those who have
gone TO the Spirit Land to rejoice over
the affairs of men in this life, | am sure
that DR.. Calvin ii. Wiley rejoices over
the means we have of reaching tie people
on the subject of education.
Il know of no one agency that can do
so much to hasten on that glad day when
every child in North Carolina may have
n practical public school education as the
press of this State. These men. rs edi
tors. who reach the people day after day,
and week after week, and are the mould
ers Of public sentiment on all questions
OF public interest. May these men in the
years to come use their pens and their
intcllects as never before in behalf of
these boys and girls who are to be the
future citizens of this State"
Prof. VI. C. s. Noblefollewed with an
admirable address on the Qualifications
of the County Supervisors. Il am
glad. he said, Ito be with you gentlemen
tonight and bring from the University.
which is in close touch with the public
schools. a kindly greeting and God-speed,
The thought and aspiration of the Uni
yersity is to let the light Of education
shine into every corner of the State and
to carry the glad tidings unto all
This is the age of the specialist. The
trend is to individualize and not to gen
eralize. And if we expect to carry on
the work of education we must strive TO
became specialists. The time of the
smatterer is past. The standard of the
county supervisor cannot be too high.
THE first qualification is scholarship.
The very best scholar in the county
should be secured if possible for the SUI
perintendent and it should be available
scholarship. The county superintend-
ent should be man of professional train
ing. He should be familiar with the
lives of the great educators. Be ac-
quainted with the his tory of educations
in its struggles and Announcements. They
should be familiar with the lives Of Ba-
con and Martin Luther, and Murphy. and
Calvin j. Wiley, of our own State.
THE county superintendent should be
man of practical experience. Common
sense and experience teach this.
.'Tle county supervisor should not hold
the position unless he has taught school.
He should be a man who has served in
the ranks He should know something
about primary work. Statistics show that
half of the boys and girls of the common
schools do not go into the fifth reader.
He ought to have a personal knowledge
in order to approve the work OF the
teacher. He ought to be an expert in
primary work.
s',rhe county supervisor ought to have
who thinks that the public schools are
to reach a certain class and that any
thing will do. makes a mistake To have
his heart in the work he must labor in
season and out of season. He should
attend every meeting and association
which is for the benefit of education.
1.-THE methodologist is a much abused
person, but / believe that II county SUI
perintendent should be Il methodologist.
The teacher would be helped by such a
practical supervisor.
"A good supervisor will be the man
who is not seeking the position. The
seeker for the position is not generally
the DroDer man.
Il belive in building mp our profession.
Men should be chosen from their expert
ence and fitness. j do not believe that
Il county supervisor should be man who
has failed at every other calling.
Il have independence and love enough
for my profession to say that county
.uperyisor should be Il teacher. lie
should not be an adventurer from anoth-
or professional lawyer, doctor. car
penter. a locomotive engineer, II steam
boat captain or somebody you know, or
somebody else but he ought to be
teacher. ! believe the time is here when
the county supervisors will be teachers
They must be teachers first and supervis-
ors next"
Supervisors Ellis. Askew. Conyers.
Keyser. Swain. Baker. Hunter and
Mates joined in the general discussion
which followed as TO what should be
| the character of the work and qualifica-
tons Of the supervisor. The ideas adj
vanced by Prof. Noble were warmly
praised and heartily concurred in.
| The following supervisors We're in at
| tendance:
II. W. Norris, Wake; Street Brewer,
Sampson; A. NJ Mates, Vance; ID. Il.
Ellis. Buncombe Alex Baker, Granville;
J. II. Tingle, Pitt: l.. ;. Swain, Wash
ington: ]. A. Anthony, Cleveland; Robt
S. Green, Jr., Davidson; j. X. Rodwell.
Warren; r. w. Askew, Bertie; X. Il.
Hunter Mecklenburg: Paul Long, North
ampton: r. S. Mitchell, Franklin; l..
NJ. Conyers, Nash; James W. Hays, Will
son: Keyser. Rowan.
This body Of educators will hold SEES,
sions again today-this morning, begin.
ming at 10 O'Clock, this afternoon, be-
ginning at o'clock; and tonight COM