The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-06-16
ASSEMBLY GETS
DOWN TO BUSINESS
important Addresses at Yes
terday's Session.
SUpT. CHAS. H. MEBANE
SAYS SOME STEPS BACKWARD
WOULD BE WE'LL.
THE ACADEMY AND THE COLLEGE
Discussed by Profs. Horner and Holt. Prot
Caryleon the Teacher and the Com
muniiy." Prof. Foust on the
Graded School.

Norehead, y. c., June .-(Editoriai
Observation-Disclosures of the best pieces
of work ever done by the Teachers As
sembly was the appointment of a com
mittee at the last session to prepare q
course in English and Literature and
report at the present session OF the As
sembly. The committee appointed was
composed of Edwin Minis, Trinity 1oi-
lece. Durham. Chairman; }. \. Joynef'
State Normal and Industrial College.
{, Greensboro: B. II. Sledd, Wake Forest
College. Wake Forest; T. II. Harrison,
davidson College, Davidson; Thomas
Hume, University of North Carolina,
Chanel Hill: !. A. Bivins, Graded
schools. Charlotte: j. ID. Eggleston.
Graded Schools, Asheville: w. i. Wlht-
sett. Whitsett Institute. WmtSett.
IN the absence of Prof. Minis. chair
man of the committee. the report was
read by Prof. ]. Y. .Joyner. of the State
Normal and Industrial school at Greens
horo It is an elaborate and exhaustive
treatment of the important matter and
will be published in full. 1t win have
interest for every student of English and
tistics were given from the University,
Davidson, Wake Forest and Trinity
which showed that few students who
were matriculated were we'll prepared IN
English. In fact the reports from these
colleges showed that comparatively few
boys would be admitted if a thorough
preparation in English was made con-
dition precedent to entrance. or 2oI
4 nv Il
the three colleges above mentioned, ISi
had to be admitted on conditions
which means that they knew little Eng
lish, So were excluded. and 50 per cent.
we're not well prepared. The average
number of books read by the applicants
for entrance in one of the colleges was
2H.
The preparatory and graded schools
were urged to teach more English and
to have uniform system, and courses
of study were mapped out.
In a brilliant and witty speech, DIR. j.
b .Shearer, president Of Davidson Col
lcge. discussed the report. commencing it
i'm the main, but contending that the
sterner studies Of Latin, Greek and
Mathematics was the best course land
that a studious youth would learn more
about grammar and English by thor
ough study Of English itself. He paid
a high tribute to the grammar schools
where boys Were prepared for college,
and argued that while the longer Eng
lish course might be wisest for boys who
did not intend to go to college, that boys
who expected to go to college ought to
stick mainly to Latin, Greek and Mat
thenatics.
Prof. Joyner replied vigorously, and at
length to President Shearer, maintain
ing with many arguments and illustra.
tiQns, that the true way to learn Eng
lish was to study it, and attacked the
notion that the living, vital Language
of the Anglo-Saxon could be learned bet
ter by studying a dead language than
by stduy:ng the masters of English Lit
erature.
Miss Hilliard, Of Oxford, spoke most
interestingly upon the need of study
Of German to get at the roots Of many
OF the English words, holding that the
language could be better learned in that
way than by so much Latin and Greek
Capt. G. b. benson, Of Raleigh, gave
some incidents in the schools Of 1S47-'51
showing that more attention was given
to the study Of English in that decade
than is generally supposed, and CON.
Cured in the report of the committee
and with DIR. Shearer that all students
Of English world make greater progress
by much writing.
The discussion occupied nearly three
hours and showed that the teachers moi
only know more than men of other pro.
fessions, but that they are coming to be
a profession of fluent takers.
The address of President RagsdaIe
was one Of the finest addresses of its
kind delivered in the history of the AS
cembly. 1t was fun of healthy optimism.
pointing out sixteen reasons for encour-
agement to those interested in the prog
ress Of education. 1t was delivered with
fine effect and produced a marked inn
preston. IT It's conclusion. Prof. Rags.
dale was til recipient Of warm congratu-
lations from ali sources. Nothing
married its escr.irnc in matter or in 1eliy-
cry.
AT the opening oc The exercises last
night. an instrumental solo was given
by Mss Ada Clapp. Of Whitsett Insti
thle' VINO is an excellent performer.
One OF the first orators among the
young men Of the State is Prof. J. r.
,afiyle, OF Wake Forest College.
nave heard him at conventions, picil.cs,
bailqhets and educational assemblies,
ana never YET knew him to fail to capt.
vate ms hearers. He has action--ac-
lioh-aciion and what is even better he
mas an intense earnestness and ele-
gance OF style that does not hermit
me nearer TO think Of anything else
when Carlyle talks. He Il : e.rn,,
man, one of the most potential fac;nrs
in our educational life. His theme r..
day was 'The Teacher and tbe rono.
mnnity,' and he handled the subject in
an original and striking style. His
ideal OF the place Of the teacher is high
he held it mp with real eloquence and
stimulated many to higher aspirations.
PROF. CARLYLES ADDRESS.
Among other things Prof. Carlyle
said:
ssIha American onmn,nnffy yr ,,,,,.,o