The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-04

''"i IiHS the nrSt Summer School for
teachers in the South. in which these
teachers could receive better training for
their work. Nearly four thousand teach
ers have attended these summer schools
and the effect upon the schools has been
very great.
When, through the generosity OF it's
alumni and friends, the University was
reopened in 1875, 1t was because of the
firm conviction that the State could never
rise from its poverty and humiliation
without the strength that should come
from educated leadership. How we'll the
hope and faith were justified which they
placed in the University is shown by the
fact that in the first three classes after
the reopening there were trained for the
public such-men as Charles B. Ayeock,
the champion of the children's schools;
James Y. Joyner, the devoted Superin-
tendent of Public instructions; Charles
d. McIver, President of the State Normal
and Industrial College, who has educated
forty per cent of all the women teachers
in the States graded schools besides
many hundreds of the country school
teachers; Edwin A. Alderman, who as
teacher, Superintendent of City Schools;
dent of the University, has done a great
and brilliant work for the State; M. C. S.
Noble, teacher, superintendent, professor
in the University, and superintendent of
the Summer School, reaching hundreds
of teachers in his work. and George T.
Winston, a student in the closing years
OF the old University and a young pro-
fessor at it's reopening, whose work
for the upbuilding of the University and
now for the development of the States
great technical school is known to all.
The gifts of six such men to the educa-
tional work of the State was indeed a
glorious return for the small investment
of capital and the large investment OF
loving sacrifice and service. Who can es-
innate their value in dollars and cents
to the State?
McIver, Alderman, Joyner, Noble, Ora
ham and others of the University's sons
have for fifteen years gone from county
to county in the State holding institutes
and preaching the gospel of education.
They rejoice in the increased interest
and greater hopefulness of the newer
warfare, against ignorance, but the fight
is an old one with them and they have
never lost heart nor faith in their peo-
pie.
The University has taken a great part
in the establishment of the city graded
shcools. Over one-half of these have
been established with University men as
| their first superintendent. The majority
| of the present superintendent and prin-
| cipals have been trained at the Universe
! ty and in each community it is safe to
| say that University men have been
among the strongest and most active sup
| porters of the system.
| OF the present county superintendent
more than one-fifth are young alumni of
the University, and this is a hopeful
| sign for the futre, as the fight is going
to turn on the ability and fidelity OF
these county superintendent. OF the
present students in the University over
one hundred have taught in the public
schools and many have secured places to
teach this summer. Over three thousand
students have matriculated in the Uni
versity since 1875. Forty per cent of
these taught for year or two and
| about twenty five per cent have continu-
ed as teachers. Has not the University
met this new call upon it to give its
sons to the service of the State as nobly
as IL ala the Gail OF 1901 WHeH OHS-lldll
of it's SONS went forth to fight for the
land they loved, and one in three laid
down his life for it? Such service as has
been given by some of its sons in the
past decade or so could not be bought
with money.
/ l trust that / will not be misunder-
stood The University does not AFRO
/ gate to itself all of the credit for the
work done in behalf of the education o1
| the people nor claim that it has borne
ali of the burden. Others have done
noble service, and the church schools
and colleges have been forwad in the
fight. To them the State owes a debt
of gratitude which it can never repay
| There is in my heart only cordial well
come for such sturdy fellow-soldiers in
| the great warfare against ignorance
| The purpose of my writing is not to be-
little them but to show that the Univer-
sity has not fallen short of the high
ideals of public service set by the faith
ers. 1t is after all. but the big public
school, established by the people for
the people. and it's highest privilege and
glory is to serve the people faithfully
and we'll.