The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-29

pared boys for their classes. They are
annually sending into the life of the COM
monwealth host OF well-equipped minds,
prepared to play well their part amid the
activities of modern life.
Superintendent Mebane was to have
welcomed the association to Raleigh and
in his absence his address was read by
Secretary Whitsctt as follows:
WELCOME TO ACADEMY MEN.
"Gentlemen of the Association of
Academies and High Schools: / am
glad TO greet YOU here and especially
appreciate the privilege | have rs It
school official TO extend to YOU hearty
welcome to your States capital. | feel
quite sure that | also express the senti-
ment of the good people of Raleigh,
when | say that you are welcome to the
best that Raleigh affords, which means
Of course the best of everything to be
had in first class city.
One year has passed since you were
assembled here. A year of remarkable
activity and success in your special work
SO far as ] can learn. One year ago
in speaking of the great service You
and your predecessors have rendered
the State, said, | thought the State
owed you lasting obligations and that
it ought to take hold and aid you ill
this work, but | feel now like j might
possibly congratulate you;-that you are
still free from the strong arm of the
State.
Here YOU can meet and devise ways
and means for advancement and inn
provement in your work, without fear
rs to what the next Legislature will
do to destroy your plans and purposes
You can even prepare practically all OF
the public school teachers for their
work. in the rural districts without one
cent of expense to the State. and mira
bile dictu the great State will not en-
act laws to make you stop this good
work.
"Btt the greatest blessing that is
yours to enjoy is that you can work
ont your future veal or woe and no
politician or modern statesman will dare
modest or make You afraid.
But my friends, to be serious, | am
in hearty sympathy with your work. AS
Il public school official, | can truly speak
from personal knowledge of your work.
| am glad to say that the influence or
your work has been seen and felt by
me in two directions.
"Fmst-In reaching downward to the
dark corners of the State. by sending
out young men and women, who have
gone into the by-ways, and here created
interest not only among the children, but
also among the parents upon the sub
ject of education.
These teachers have carried sun
shine and gladneSS into many homes,
which were previously tlarkened with
ignorance. These young men and these
young women, who come face to face
with the great masses of our common
people. are the ones who will save us
from the woes of ignorance and make us
an intelligent people. if we are ever. 10
become such. | use here the term com
mon people in no ignohle sense. for
thousands of these people though igno-
rant so far as books are concerned, still
have noble hearts and high conceptions
of moral right and wrong.
''Second--I have seen your Influence
reaching upward--I have found many
Young men who when they first entered
the. Academy or High School. had no
idea of or desire to acquire Il college
education, but in Your schools, that de-
sire for knowledge. which once kindled
i'll the heart of Il young man or woman,
no earthly obstacle can crush, has been
created and developed by your labors.
Thus you are the feeders for the uni
versity and colleges.
I'm this way you furnish leaders
for the various professions, and leaders
especially in your own work which
reaches back down again to the great
mass of our people
May YOU go OH with your great work,
and achieve even greater things i'll the
future than you and your worthy pre-
decessors have in the past.
For until some mighty change takes
place >afnong the people of this com
lnonwcalth. we shall have to depend
upon private energy and efforts TO carry
the gospel of education to large por-
ton of our people.
There is one fact that needs no fur
Their demonstration III North Carolina i'll
regard to educational work, to-wit: that
the public schools must be separated
from politics and placed upon Il basis
Of merit i'll their operation. so that teach
ers and school officials will be selected
for their qualifications TO render the
best service. and not for service they
have rendered or may reIlder some politl-
cal schemers; otherwise. these public
schools will forever remain Il miserable
farce and failure.
again | extend to you a most cordial
welcome and wish for you both pleas
4 y.