The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-06-20
MANY ENCOURAGE MENTS
THE VALUE OF A GATHERING OF
TEACHERS FROM ALL KINDS
OF SCHOOLS.
PAPERS AND ADDRESSES OF HIGH ORDER
The Teachers Favor the Proposed Constitutional
Amendment, and Desire The Election
Of Practical Teacher as President
Of the A. & N. College.

OF the a. d N. l0Ilege.
AIorehead City, June 19.-(Editorial
Correspondence)-T Teachers As
sembly has adjourned and most of the
teachers have returned to their homes,
though few of them remain to enjoy a
longer vacation on the seashore
In all its history there has not been
so pleasant a session of the Assembly,
and more teachers have been present
continuously than / have seen at any
previous session of this great education
al organization. The discussions,
speeches. papers and addresses have
been of the highest order and the spirit
of the gathering has been helpful and
most admirable. From the moment that
President Ragsdale let the gavel fall
until Dr. Shearer pronounced the bene-
diction, the exercises We're worthy of the
greatest educational assembly of any
State in the country-and what more
could be said?
The sermon on Sunday morning by
Rev. DIR. j. b. Shearer. president of
Davidson College, on Solomon was an
effort of rare interest and ability and
made profound impression. After the
sermon. Prof. Alexander Graham. Of
Charlotte, said to the preacher: Il am
glad you preached that sermon. / had
given Solomon up to hardness Of heart
and reprObacy of mind. but your sermon
gives me hope that will yet meet Sol
ONION in the better land The genial
superintendent OF Charlotte's city
schools, having just been unanimously
reelected by his board, while troubled APP
parently about Solomon's chances for
wearing a starry crown evidently felt
himself already walking the golden
streets. 1t was an original and instruc-
tive Bible sermon, in which practical les
sons were drawn from the life of the
gether with DIR. Shearer's address on
Christian Education We're two of the
strongest deliverances heard during the
Assembly.
The success of this session was prim-
arily due to Prof. w. T. Whitsett, prin-
cipal of Whitsett Institute, secretary and
treasurer. BY ability and zeal he has
built up in Guilford county one Of the
largest and best high schools in North
Carolina. The energy and brains that
enabled him to do this made him aE
ideal secretary of the Teachers Assem-
bly,. He organized for success and when
he was reelected secretary every mem
Der present arose in his seat and felt
glad to pay SO high compliment to the
efficiency and success Of the secretary. /
have never known a man who filed any
position better than Prof. Whitsett and
all the educators and friends of educa-
ton in the State owe him debt of
gratitude for the success of the only in
stitution in the State that brings the col
lege president and the teacher OF the
humblest common school together en- q
common plane. The president Of the
State University and the humble man
who teaches in log school only few
months in the year meet here on 4 COM
mon level, and discuss the common proll-
lem of educating the masses. This fact
Secretary Whitsett has always kept in
mind and it is due to his close touch
with primary, intermediate, high schon',
college, seminary and university that for
a whole week the most progressive teach
ers in each have together been studying
how to reach the people, how to re-
move illiteracy and how to elevate the
citizenship of the State. So long as the
state, denominational and private school
teachers are united and earnest in their
efforts just so long will this Assembly
be blessing to the State and the centre
Of the educational life of the State.
he A
bly, about politics or political questions,
but there is no class of men and women
who exert so salutary an influence upon
public questions as the teachers. ] fouhd
them deeply interested in the COnst'tn-
tional Amendment They regard it rs
a long step in the education of the people
and believe it will prove mighty sim
nlous to general education. 1T is along
the line that l have been advocating
all my life" said one of the oldest and
wisest teachers. II believe that Eien
who have shown by actually voting in
telligently that they have the capacity
to vote ought not to have the ballet
taken from them, but l believe just rs
strongly that young boys ought to be re-
quired to learn to read and write before
they are permitted to exercise
the high right of suffrage. The amend
ment submitted will secure more interest
in public education, particularly in the
country, than all the efforts we have
been making for quarter of a celtur-.
No State can require it's young men to
qualify themselves to become educated
as condition precedent to voting with
out providing educational facilities
A prominent politician said: '"The
day is near at hand when no man can
successfully run for office who does rot
declare for increased taxation for pub
lie schools"
/ heard much talk about the presi-
dency of the Agricultural and Mcchani
cal College. The teachers feel deeply The
Importance to the whole educational sys-
tenn of the State Of the necessity of Sc
lccting the right man to succeed the re-
firing president. They are earnest IL