Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1898-04-01
CAMDEN COUNTY TEACH
Frs ASSOCIATION.

SOuhly INV h~N o.
H., March 70, 1898, at 1880 a.
III. Devotional exercises were
conducted by Mr.. John NJ Bell
and prayer offered by Mr.. 7. B.
Bou5hall. The Camden County
Teachers Association was or
ganized by electing G. B. Gar
rett, President; NJ. B. Burgess,
Sect'y.; and Miss Lima A.Gilbert,
urer.
A committee, composed Of T.
c. Mccoy, w. J. Burgess and
Celus Ferebee, was appointed to
draft Constitution and Bylaws
for the Association and report
at l P. IN.
Nh. c. 3. Garrett, IN stating
the object and importance of the
meeting, among other things,
said:
OBJECT AND IMPORTANCE OF THE
TEACHERS ASoONlH iCS'
"Fcllow teachers, ladies and gentle,
men:
We have met to-day, as has been an
nounccd, for the purpose OF organizing
a Teachers Association. We will call
your attention to its object and I'M
pOrtanCe. There is strength III union,
III being organized. We have assoC1a-
tious of almost all professions. Why
not have a Teachers Association We
will, if we are true to our profession,
if we wish to improve ourselves, IT we,
who have had less practice in teaching
than others, would profit by their ex-
perienCe.
1. Tie first and prime object of a
Teachers Association is that the teach
ers may improve themselves in the art
of teaching. My sympathy is extend
ed to all persons who think they know
it all, - to those who have no concern
for their i'm prOvement. He who is not
advancing Ill his chosen profession Is
surely going backwards. He IS pro-
crossing or retrogradin9. How then
may we improve ourselves! BY ex-
changing our opinions upon the varl-
Gus duties of the teacher, and by offer
ing suggestions as to the adjustment OF
seemingly insurmountable difficulties.
We think the best possible means OF
thus helping each other is to meet to
gethcr in a Teachers Association. II
the teacher becomes more proficient
in his or her vocation, the public, Of
course, vii, receive the benefit. We
cannot have better schools without bet
ter teachers. You can have longer
terms by voting more tax. but the
schools will improve as the teachers do
II. HarU0ny bet70een teacher ana
be0bLe. We hope that the formation OF
the TeaChers's Association will pro
ducc harmony of feeling and action
among the teachers, school officers and
the people generally. We fear that
too often there is a lack Of such har.
mOny. We regret some teachers dc
not give due credit to the school Off
GERS i'll their work for the public. Very
often the school officers and patrons Of
the schools do no; extend their sympa
thy toward the teacher who has the
tedious task of being monarch of his
little empire-thc school room. He
necessarily must be legislator, judiC1
airy and executive of his domain. We
trust by our meeting toge her, that tea
cher and people will better understand
the other, after carefully considering
the condition and duties of one an
other.
III. Importance Of Public Education
We as people to maintain our right!
of citizenship. need education. To jis
charge our duty to God and man, re
quires a training of our intelleCts. The
Holy Writ says 'be wise as serpents
Get wisdom and sell it not We no
only need education, but we need pub
lie education. The people compose
the state, hence for the protection o
itself the state offers public education
Not that any indiv dual shall be aideC
by the state for his personal benefit
but the advantages are offered to al
for the benefit of the commonwealth
Our form of gov ernment neCessitates
the education ofthe masses The gov
ernment declares that the people lule
and to rule irtelligently the people
must be intelligent, and to be intelli
gent the proper means must be utilized
to produce the desired effect. Holmes
we believe, said that Public education
is better than standing army, that il
is the safe guard of the nation Then
if so much depends upon public educa
llOL, lllS u dNuClS liz " SSS " IL llld
they honorably discharge their every
duty. We, as teachers, mnst not be
idle. We must remember that life is
what we make it
1t is not longer terms and more
schools VIC need so much, but 6e{tcJ
ones. The way to make better schools
is TO III IKE better teachers. When the
people see good results from 'ubl.c
schools, they will not call them farce
but they will heartily support then
with their sympathies and with thcil
taxes"
In the absence of Mr.. c. H
Spencer, Prof. Il. H. Briggs, Of
the A. c. Institute, of E. City
introduced the subject, How
may teachers mutually aid each
other in their profession" in a
short but appropriate address
after which Miss Anne Boush-
all read an essay. She said:
HOW MANY TEACHERS MUTUALLY All
EACH OTHER IN THEIR PROFESSION?
This querY presupposes that school
teachers need aid also that teaching
is profession, and teachers need aid
i'll the successful prosecution of their
profession.
The inquiry naturally arises as to
what a real teacher is. A wide differ
ence exists between school teacher
aud school keeper.
Many in these days who pose as
school teachers are Onlv school boon
ers. III this sad truth lies many draw.
backs to the progress of public educa-
ton. 1t may not be a depression here
to look for a nol..ert at the diffcrcn &C
between the two classes mentioned IN
order IT, at we may know who it is that
needs mutual aid from those of the
profession who are capable of furnish
ing such assistance.
The teachers is among the noblest
and most responsible ofalf professions,
aud teachers are bound to do what
thSy can to elevate it.
Lord Bacon said every man owes a