The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-14
THE YOUNG MEN. TAKE PROMINENT PART
Great Speeches by Bruce,
White and Prof. Noble.
R. [. MADISON PLEAsEs THE ASSEMBLY
Prof. P. P. Claxton of the Greensboro
Normal on Teaching Children Lit
erature. Prof. Venable's Speech.
Paper by Miss Halliburton.
Especial to News and observer)

tSpecldl TO news anu OUSeINeIsJ
Wilmington, N. c., June 13-The ad-
dress of Governor Aycock before the
Teachers Assembly tonight closed the
most busy and brilliant day the teachers
have yet had. He arrived at Wilmington
late this afternoon. and was metz at the
station by a detachment of Naval Re-
serves from the Wilmington Division, who
fired a Governors salute from the Hotch-
kiss &c. b. Aycock" of campaign fame.
After viewing the sites of three proposed
encampments for the State Guard shown
him by officers of the organization, the
Governor departed for Wrightsvile, which
place was reached in time to deliver his
address scheduled for S:45 at night.
An immense crowd thronged the Assem-
bly, hall to listen to him. He spoke with
his characteristic grace, and was the re-
cipient of many fluctuations upon his
mastcrly effort in behalf of education. He
told of the early struggles of our fore
fathers in building this glorious State
and showed that in their struggle for
material things culture was neglected. But
tine awakening has come and We must
perfect our educational system so that
none shall be ignorant, for knowledge is
power. power makes money and with
money We further advance the cause of
education. In love of liberty the sons of
no State have been trained higher, and
trained in any branch of industry, none
were more capable. In closing he urged
just three reasons for better trained cit
izen, his usefulness, his own happiness
and the increase to the States strength.
The general concensus of opinion of the
teachers is that this assembly in the first
year of the century is in many respects
the most successful and pleasant ever
held. Certain it is that the addresses
delivered have been of a high order
OF excellence, especially President
Holts last night, and all teachers seem
on fire with enthusiasm for the work
of educational advancement.
IN the report this morning for the
Committee on Course in English, Prof
p. T.. Claxton. of the Greensboro Nor
-mal-said that the committee had agreed
that 1t is mere waste of time to at
tempt to teach children literature by
writing, that the best and most sue
cessful way is to instruct them by oral
language lessons. He also offered the
suggestion that selection of dozen or
A. \.
which should be required as parallel
reading matter in every public school.
Miss Halburton, of Asheville, read
paper on some general lines.
The next speaker was Prof. r. L.
Madison, who told of some things the
county board of education must do to
speech was interesting and full of
humor
Prof. S. F. Venahle, county superin-
tendent of Buncombe, then addressed
the assembly on the Duties of the
County Superintendent He spoke of
the responsibility resting upon the
superintendent in seeing that the best
education is given to the children of
the State. To be able to do, one must
be fitted to do. Some of the qualities
Of a good superintendent, in fact the
sine qua non of one, are strength, per-
sistence, determination, enthusiasm
and conservatism. He is a leader and
inspires those about him with interest
in his work. Very much mistaken is
any one" said he, who suppose that
a conscientious superintendent lies on
a bed of roses"
Young men have been prominent in
all the activities of the assembly ana
this morning Mr.. Bruce White, of
Franklinton, the young county superin-
tendent held the attention of the aud
fence for thirty minutes in meaty
speech, and one of the most interesting
yet delivered THE first thing" he
said. that the majority of county su-
perintendents should do is to resign"
meaning to say that SO many are in
competent that they are better out
than in. In the course of his remarks
he said that considering their circum-
stances and surroundings, the public
school teacher has shown a higher de-
gree of patriotism than any other pro-
fession.
Col. Toon pronounced this speech one
of the best yet delivered.
Closing the morning exercises, Prof.
M. G. s. Noble spoke on the relation
Of the county superintendent to the
teacher. 1t were impossible in bare
outline TO do justice to fhis address.
full Of meat and abounding in rarest