Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-03-14
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.

re- organized York County Teachers
ass ociation was held in Yorkville last
Saturday, and from every standpoint
was a big success. Practically every
school district in the county was rep
resented by teachers and most Of them
by trustees. There was fine pro-
gramme Of intellectual and technical
wisdom, some excellent music, and an
unusually pleasant day generally fol-
all interested.
Superintendent Witherspoon of the
Yorkville Graded school, being the res
ident member Of the executive COM
mittee, and laudably desirous Of a good
meeting in his home town, put forth
energetic efforts to that end. After
arranging a most excellent programme
in cooperation with the other members
of the committee, put it up to the pu-
pills of the school. and to the people OF
the town generally to help him out
The result was all that could be de-
sired. Patrons Of the school and the
citizens Of the town generally were
quick to grasp the Importance OF the
occasion and gave their hearty sup
port and contributed q full share to
the success of the day.
Special invitations were sent to all
the teachers and trustees In the coun-
ty, with requests for responses, and all
who responded were promptly assigned
to homes. There were hundred or
more responses, and as the hospita-
BILE people of the town had eagerly
spoken for nearly twice as many more,
there was no trouble In taking care OF
those who neglected to advise the
committee in advance Of their coming.
The Riddle Auto company and most
of the private automobile owners ten
dered the free use Of their machines to
Mr.. Witherspoon and the visitors who
came on the trains were carried to the
respective homes to which they had
been assigned, in short order and with
out confusion. The hosts Of the teach
ers also, commenced to get in their
work as soon as their respective guests
began to arrive, and made them to
feel entirely at home until the opening
of the programme at II o'clock.
The exercises Of the day were called
to order in the opera house at IL
o'clock a m, by Prof. ]. G. Cork OF
Rock Hill, president Of the association,
with large audience in attendance,
and were opened with an appropriate
prayer by Rev. J. L. Oates, pastor of
the Yorkville Associate Reformed
church. The prayer was followed by
an address Of welcome delivered by
J. Harry Foster, Esq, who served as
unable to be present, and this address
which was quite happily made, met
with an equally happy response from
Prof. Cork.
The opening talks Of the meeting
were made by Prof. c. 3. Haddon of
Clemson College, and Prof. F. E. Scho-
field Of the University Of South Car
olina. Prof. Haddon talked on School
Gardens" and Prof. Schofield talked on
High School Athletics. Both Of these
subjects were new to most of the
teachers and the talks contained sug-
gestions that seemed well calculated to
bear fruit in more careful considera-
ton of the matters discussed. The
principal talk Of the occasion, really
a carefully prepared and thoughtful
address, was made by DR.: s. c. Mitch
ELL president of the University of
South Carolina, on the general theme
Of "Our Influence on the Future"
DR.. Mitchell handled the subject
that was new to many of his hearers,
and in a way that was calculated to
make a lasting impression upon all
who followed him. One of the main
truths be sought to drive home was
that whereas our community life was
once builded mainly around the home,
the church and the state, the school
has now entered to take a recognized
place, the exact relation Of which Is be-
ing determined by the events Of the
present. In the presentation Of this
proposition, the speaker laid especial
and particular stress on the power of
influence as eXerted by the school
teacher. He impressed the fact that
even thoughtless words and actions
are sometimes followed by far reach
ing evil results and that the ultimate
effect of careful and conscientious
teaching may easily affect the future
history of the country. An interesting
historical incident cited to illustrate
the case in point was the fact that
the Interpretation of the constitu-
ton that made John Marshall famous
as chief justice of the United states,
was nothing more nor less than his
early school teacher had laid the foun-
dation for. All the speakers arguments
and illustrations were fine and strong,
and the address was undoubtedly
success.
Interspersed between the talks was
some delightful vocal music, with pia-
no accomplishments, by Misses Sna-
der and Russell of Winthrop college,
and Misses Godfrey and Chaplin of
Rock Hill graded school, and a special
feature Of the music was the rendition
Of the recently adopted state song
Carolina" by this highly accomplished
quartette. A recitation by Miss Reid
was also rendered admirably. The ac-
companist was Miss Outz of the
Rock Hill graded school.
At the close Of the exercises in the
opera house at about 100 o'clock, the
broke up and the visitors
were taken to dinner, which was in
waiting in the various homes. where
they were guests.
During the afternoon, the visitors
were treated to automobile rides over
the town and along the roads leading
in different directions, and were shown
other attentions that helped contri-
butte to the pleasures of the entertain
ed and the entertainers.