The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-20
TEACHERS HAVE
RETURNED HOME
The Superintendents' Meet
iog Closed Yesterday.
A SUCCESSFUL MEEIlNG
A SUCCESSFUL MEETING
Prof. Moses Speaks of Promotion in
Public Schools.
THE LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS WORK
Prof. J. |. Fo1s', Of GoIdshoro, Was Elected
President Prof J A. Matheson, Of Dur.
ham. Vice President; and Prof.
W. G, Lane Secretary,

The last session of the Associa ton
opened yesterday morning at $3.50 O'Clock
In many respects it was the most inter
csting Of all the sessions. For lack OF
time, the report of Superintendent J.
Blair, on Plans fer School Room Decor
alton" and the paper by Superintendent
Brooks on Some Aspects of Negro Edu-
cation" were necessarily omitted. Papers
wer read By J. T. Alderman and E. p.
Moses, President G. r. Winston and Prof.
p. p. Claxton delivered valuable address,
rs, after which the association went into
executive session for the election OF Off,
GERS.
IN opening the meeting, Superintendent
Crimsley discussed the work Of the Libra
nv committee of the State Library Assoc
citation This committee is making an
earnest effort to establish public town Ii
braries rs well as libraries in the public
schools of the State. Superintendent
Moses followed, reading the bill which
this committee is endeavoring 10 get
through the Legislature, and explained
the Scales act empowering the boardg
of aldermen in Incorporated towns to APP
propriate part of the town funds to the
purpose OF public libraries. The asso-
citation unanimously approved the plans
of the Library committee.
promotions in Public Schools, the first
paper of the session, as presented by e.
T. Moses, dealt critically with this per-
picking problenl. The speaker began by
emphasizing the responsibility of the SUI
perintendent for the curse of improper
promotions. He showed clearly wherein
our systems OF promotion are defective,
pointing out the evils OF improper co-or-
dination OF grade work, of irregular at
tendance and especially of allowing the
teacncrs tc be the Judge of their own
pupils. The Superintendent, he said,
ought To be familiar with the work OF
his school, he ought not only to teach, bat
to examine the pupils of his school and
relieve the teachers of the responsibility
OF promotions. He advocated spelling
as a standard of comparison and illustrate
ed his method by examples in the Raleigh
schools
Superintendent j. T. Alderman next
spoke on TSome Hindrances to Public
Education" He made the following points:
The duty of the State is to educate. ,. The
educational system OF our State is in de-
plorabie condition. 3. Among the causes
hindering our educational progress, he dis
cussed inherited Tar Heel conservatism.
the indifference OF the people, prejudice
and jealousy, rivalry among private paro-
chial and institutions of higher education.
partisan politics, poor facilities. inefh-
cicnt teachers. and the district school sys-
tenn and incompetent committeeman.
The address of Dr. Geo. I. Winston
dealt in detail with the purpose, method
and extent of industrial education on the
country and city public schools He be-
gan by saying that the only question now
before our people is not the necessity OF
Industrial training but at whot point in
the school course it should begin. He
insisted that this training which should
fit nine teaths OF the children of the State
for some industrial occupation in life
ought to begin at the very first or the
school course. and extend through the
curricula OF our highest institutions.
This industrial training does not mini
mize the Importance of the usual branches
of study; it ought TO go on in correlation
with these, applying them to the practi-
cal affairs of life.
The Kindergarten is the first step in
this work. Out of this play creative
occupation industrial training should grow
in four divisions. 1st. drawing and design
ing, End working in wood. 3rd. Textile
manufacture. and 4th clay modelling.
Proceeding to detail. DR.. Winston EN-.
phasized the fact that these courses a1e
peculiarly adapted to North Carolina. The
material for wood work abounds around US
and is decaying unproductive in our for
ests. We live in the midst of the cotton
belt ard were the first cotton manufac-
turer OF the South. The abundance OF
material, the poverty of our soil. and the
need of manufacturing demand the intro
duction of industrial training in our pub
lie schools.
Instead OF utilizing these resources our
people are exporting our lumber, cotton
and fine clay at an extra cost. We
are importing these same materials in
an expensive manufactured form. The
uurDose OF industrial training, aside from
ITS great educational value. is to create
love IN the student. for practical life.
produce skilled labor and intelligent man
ufacturers.
The easiest, most accessible and cheap
est course is in drawing, designing and
wood work The wisdom of introducing
such a course is indicated by the success
which has attended the experimental
the schools at Charlotte, Wilmington. and
Durham.
Courses in textile training like drawing.
and wood work, should begin in the Kin
dargarten. Plating in straw, basket maxi
ing. etc. are but the beginning of spin
ming and weaving.
Clay modelling. brick and porcelain
work. like The other branches of indus
trial training are very easily accessible
40 our people. Instead of imported New
England pressed brick and Dresden China
wares. which are made from North Caro-
lima clay, IT is our duty to train the next
generation to manufacture these things
here al home.
These courses may be introduced with
out excessive cost. Even in our country
schools drawing may be introduced. and
Ill. ...hnls nj q cost of one tcach-