The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-02

The following paper was read before
the. educational conference here last
fal: by Miss Julia 3. Swanson. rural
teacher OF PIttsylyania county:
Madam President. Ladies and Gentle
men,-I consider 1t rare honor and
high privilege to stand here before you
in the cause OF education. Other speak
err in this place,have stirred you with
their words Of eloquence on this sub
joct; 80 1 fear to trust myself upon
the waves OF expectation. realizing
that my effort must result in mere
ripples.
This occasion, which has brought SO
many of our people together in this
beautiful and historic city. is full OF
meaning. 1t marks an epoch in the
history Of our State. We stand to-day
at the threshold OF a great educational
awakening. which means that our be-
loved Virginia is to regain in our ma
ton the place of pre- eminence from
which adversely expelled her. We
know that the past record of Virginia
has been glorious. rich in patriotism
intellect and craftsmanship. 1t has
been virginia's thought that nodded
policies. Virgina's genius that formed
parties, and Virginia's yalor that
gained territory. But tho cruel hand
of war laid waste our beautiful land
and she has had to overcome difficult
ties and adverse conditions that seemed
too great for the resources at her COM
mand: but in spite OF 1t all. she has
struggled onward and upward, and Is
still the grand Old Dominion.
She presents herself to us. her sons
and daughters. to-day with a stronger
arpead than ever. and clearer right
To- every sertice we can render her
Shall We turn a deaf ear to that ap-
peal and give our services as teachers
to other States. because they are Of
fering us greater Observation-Disclosures
salaries? No, a thousand times no; fol-
wa are sons and daughters OF the
grandest old State in the Union. THAI
State is now full OF needs; there is
work for us all; something. be it ever
sc small. that will help the oncomine
OF the day. when she shall be restored
to her true position in our nation.
I beg your pardon. gracious hearers
If ere this you have had enough of my
subject. I come before you to-day will
a modest message to the primary teach.
ers. though ] do not fee! that I an
we'll fitted to speak. There are Sc
many more capable than I among you
but the conductor of this department
called upon me. and 1 could not refuse
Now am here, what 1 have to ga!
seems so very simple that ! feel timit
III telling you. I have chosen as my
topic Drawing, as an Aid to Primary
Work" I have chosen this because
believe that. the most direct way, O.
opening up higher life to the children
Hin our public schools is to train then
to see and appreciate beauty-beauty
which. as nearly as We can spell 1t out
the supreme truth Of nature. There
is in the commonest child, Just by vir
tue of his being a human child, power
OF thought. feeling and action. whicl
| can be appealed to and awakened int
happy activity through drawing. Witt
| every child there Is born in some dc
i gree a power OF individual creation
and very closely allied to this Is an
other-that Of curiosity or observation
land we as primary teachers should la,
hold on these two great insttnctiv
j powers and give them free play II
training the children. Drawing dis
tinctly recognizes these two menta