The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-09
PATRIOTIC EXERCISES
Presentation Wiley Portrait
and Out Country's Flag.
Eloquent Addresses by Prof Noble and Others
at the Closing Exercises Of The Raj
eigh Public Schools.

The portrait and flag presentation ex-
ercises which closed the present session
of the Raleigh Public schools took place
yesterday afternoon in the Academy of
Music There was large attendance and
the pupils of the schools coupled the
front seats.
On the stage were Prof. M. C. S. Noble,
who made the presentation speech of the
Wiley portrait; Mr. A. ]. Field, who pre-
sented the flag; Mayor Powell the chair
man; DR.. R. H. Lewis, Messrs. A. A.
Thompson, G. Rosenthal and ]. w Bailey,
of the School Committees State Treasurer
Lacy, Judge Walter Clark Mr.. Geo. Allen,
Rev. Eugene Daniel and Rev. w. S..
Hubbard.
After the invocation by DR.. Daniel and
the playing of an overture, Selections
from Robin Hood by McDaniel's orches-
ira, the address in presenting the por
trait of Calvin II. Wiley to the Wiley
school was made by Prof. M. c. S. Noble
1t was an eloquent address:
Prof. Noble said in substance:
"a mother, proud of a distinguished
son, is deeply touched when his loved
ones present to his friends and admirers
any token or reminder that shall hold
him and his life work in perpetual re-
membrance. My alma mater is deeply
touched and highly gratified that the por-
trait of one of her most distinguished
sons is given by his family to the public
schools OF Raleigh, and / feel greatly
honored at having been asked to present
to you for them that which is ever to
remind you of the face of him who was
North Cardinals most famous educational
agitator. The University has sent forth
/ her sons to every department of honor
able service in public and private life. In
the political world her sons have filled
every position from school committee
man to President of the this grand re-
public of ours, but although these honors
are great and worthy and spectacular and
have redounded to the good of State and
nation, she counts among her priceless
tional workman like Calvin H. Wiley, who
went about Iaboring for the uplifting of
the masses of his much loved State.
His work as an educator is a fit subject
for the orator on any occasion when North
Carolina's glorious history is to be dis
cussed.
Some of you may know that it is my
business to teach at the University not
ho art of n
also the philosophy of education and the
growth and development of educational
systems. 1t IS an inspiration to study in
detail the educational efforts and theories
of Comenius and Pestalozzi and Froebel
and Rousseau and Rabelais and Bacon and
Locke and Horace Mann, but in the mat
ter of organization and development of a
complete system for the education of a
people where slaves lived side by side
with those who were to be educated, Cal
vim HI. Wiley stands out beyond them
all.
''Preiudice against pubic education was
difficult to overcome when he first took
up the work and when a false pride too
often saddled with a quasi odium those
who attended what was known as COM
mon school, but Mr.. Wiley was philoso-
pher He swept the State over with a
discerning eye and saw that the building
of railroads and canals and the develop
ment of it's material resources was not its
greatest need-that intellectual growth
and development should be the State S
first great aim, and so he undertook the
great work of State supervision and strove
to make the schools popular by making
them efficient. This is not the proper time
nor place for a statement showing the
very great increase in attendance during
his administration. l may be permitted
to give a few facts, however, that resulted
from his wise management.
"In 1856 North Carolina paid her fe-
male teachers more per month than any
other State in the Union, the amount
being $500, while Massachusetts paid
$685.. New Hampshire $1,000 and Maine
but $500. AS early as 1860 Mississippi,
Texas, Alabama, Louisiana and Virginia
had sent commissioners to North Carolina
to examine its public school system which
was regarded as the best in the South.
Young men from college could easily find
employment at $35 a month during the
three summer months and thus be able
to return to college in the fall.
"As a writer he was faithful portrayer
of life in North Carolina during the days
OF the Revolution ana prior 10 the ClVil
War. His Almanac and Utopia will yet be
the storehouse to which the future story
tellers of North Carolina will repair for
knowledge of our life in the olden time.
The old North Carolina Reader, written
by him, stands out as model today for
history teaching in North Carolina
schools. Every page breathes with love
and admiration for the Old North State.
The selections give the best thoughts of
our greatest men and everywhere from
preface to conclusion. State pride Is in
culcated and popular education held up
as the peoples chief hope. Typical OF
his constant advocacy of the cause or
education in the pages of the Reader !
quote the following selection, written by
Mr.. Mitchell of the University:
I'm the Northern States the
President when he visits that part OF the
country, makes his triumphal entry into
the towns through files of fac
tory girls a mile or more in length
Should he favor North Carolina with a
visit. l would have him welcomed ut the
Virginia line by a mile of school mis-
tresses, each with a dictionary and a
spelling book under her arm, and the
Governor of the State or the President of
the University at their head to extend to