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

in q position to speak hereafter with
one voice, and in all its department to
strike with a thousand energetic arms,
nerved and animated with one heart, one
mind and one hope" Again he says:
Its direct and obvious tendency is to
create and foster more catholic spirit
among educators, to unite the efforts of
the friends of popular intelligence, to
repress hostility between schools of
different grades and sections, to elevate
the standad of teaching, to enliven and
widen the popular interest in education
1t is pathetic to think that this plan,
like so many other plans of Wiley, was
broken up by the war. The last meet
ing of the association was held in
Greensboro in 1861. and then it went
down, after having accomplished such
widespread results during the four years
of it's existence 1t was left to the As
sembly of the past eighteen years to
carry out the ideals here so luminously
set forth During these years the AS
sembly, whether meeting at Morehead,
Asheville or Wrightsville, has been
rallying point of all the educational
forces of the State. Incidentally teach
ers have had the chance to spend a
week or more in the mountains or by
the seashore enjoying the blessings of
good climate. comradship and good fell
lowship. Many important reforms have
been started in connection with the AS
sembly such as the agitation for a
larger school fund better textbooks,
increased efficiency on the part of the
teachers. and the establishment of edu-.
cational journals. The names of the
presidents and secretaries and executive
committees of the Assembly include
many of those who have been the most
effective leaders in the States educa-
tional work. Committees on legislation
have recommended measures that have
become an organic part of the States
laws; committees ON various subjects
connected with school and college work
have made Investigations of facts and
recommendations of progress that have
rad prevailing results.
Valuable as has been the work of the
Assembly in the past, it is believed that
the work of the future will be still more
significant The meeting this year, COM
ing as it does after a year of unpre-
cedented enthusiasm and agitation
should be a record breaking one in point
of attendance and results. Never before
have so many of the leading educators
and public spirited citizens of the State
been on the program, and besides there
are such men outside the State as Mr..
Walter Page, Dr. Wallace Buttrick Pro-
fessor Claxton.
The emphasis of the program has been
put on the common school question, a
whole day being given to the conSidera-
tion of the practical phases of the work
by men who know what they are talking
about. Outside of these discussions will
be addresses on subjects that will ap-
peal to all classes of our people. 1t is
evident that there will oe more college
and university men than ever before, to
say nothing of private school and public
school men, citizens who will come out
of consideration for this great work. 1t
is proposed to set in operation certain
definite movements that will tend to the
better understanding of the relation of
all the parts of our school system. 1t is
hoped that the enthusiasm of the first
year will be supplemented by some very
practical and intelligent efforts tending
toward the uniformity and correlation
of our educational work.
EDWIN MINIS.