Colored Teachers' State Association Annual Session -1886

Miss C. M. Thompson, Jefferson, Third Vice-President -1889

Norris Wright Cuney In 1886 he became Texas national committeeman of the Republican party, the most important political position given to a black man of the South in the nineteenth century. 

Colored Teachers' State Association President

Texas school journal‎  article - 1886

The second annual session of the Colored Teacher's association of Texas will be held in Galveston, June 22 and 23, 1886.

PROGRAMME—MONDAY, JUNE 22.

"The Wide-awake Teacher, and Why He is So," P. E. Spratlin, Dallas.

Discussion opened by J. D. Davis, Richmond.

"Are Our Boys Safe?" I. M. Burgan, Waco.

Discussion opened by N. Q. Henderson, Weimar.

" Industrial Education." C. J. Anderson, Brenham.

Discussion opened by A. H. Caldwell, Bryan. 

TUESDAY, JUNE 23.

" Wanted : A Teacher." F. H. Mabson, Galveston.

Discussion opened by W. G. Wilson, Hearne.

" Are Our Methods of Teaching Practical ? " H. T. Kealing, Hempstead.

Discussion opened by J. H. Stewart, Hearne.

" Should the State Adopt a Uniform System of Text Books?" S. H. Smothers, Brazoria.

Discussion opened by J. T. C. Newsom, Henderson.

Blackboard Exercises.

The success of the association is now assured. Every teacher in the state is cordially invited to attend and become a member. Besides the recreation, and the attractions of Galveston, there will be profit to all who attend. The Houston & Texas Central railroad will sell round-trip tickets at four cents a mile, or one and one-third fare, beginning June 19, and good for six days. Efforts will be made to secure similar reduction on other roads. All persons expecting to attend should write to J. R. Gibson, chairman of committee on arrangements, Galveston, Texas, notifying him of such intention.

If your school has not closed by the date of meeting, get leave of absence for three days, and attend anyway.

L. C. Anderson.
H. T. Kealing,
I. M. Burgan
M. N. Brown,
C. J. Waring,
Executive Committee.

The Colored Teachers' Association.

We are indebted to L. C. Anderson, President, and H. T. Kealing, Secretary, for a memorandum of the proceedings of the second annual meeting of the Colored Teachers' Association at Galveston, June 22-23, 1886, from which we make the following extracts:

The meeting was held at Dalian's Pavilion, and was called to order by President Anderson promptly at 10 o'clock on the morning of June 22. There were over fifty teachers present; representatives from the counties of Waller. Gonzales, Galveston, Colorado, Grimes, Robertson. Henderson, Walker, Harrison, Dallas, Washington, Harris, Fort Bend, Brazos, Brazoria, Wharton, Travis, and Hood. 

Hon. N. W. Cuney, of Galveston. made the welcoming address, which was replied to by President Anderson. who, in concluding, referred to the need of the teacher's work in counteracting the spirit of communism abroad in our land. 

P. E. Spratlin, of Dallas, read a paper on " The Wide Awake Teacher," who was known, he said, by his zeal for his profession ; by his desire to keep abreast with the advance in educational thought, and by his adoption of the latest text-books. The paper was discussed by J. D. Davis, of Richmond, and R. H. Harbert, of Marshall. Mr. Harbert said it was the man after all, and not the book that determined the character of the school. 

C. J. Anderson, of Brenham, read a paper on Industrial education, in which he traced the growth of institutions devoted to industrial education. He called attention to the special need of such institutions among the colored people. 

He was followed by A. H. Colwell, of Bryan, and H. T. Kealing, of Hempstead. Mr. Kealing said that unless the negro prepared to contest his place subject to the law of the survival of the fittest, he would go down before the influx of skilled labor from foreign lands. He submitted a resolution asking legislative action, looking to the establishment within the state of a well equipped mechanical school for colored youth. The resolution was adopted by a unanimous vote. 

R. H Mabson moved, to further the object of the resolution, that a committee of five, including the president, be appointed to memorialize the legislature to provide for the industrial education of the colored youth of Texas. The following were appointed members of the committee : L. C. Anderson, P. E. Spratlin, R. H. Mabson, S. H. Smothers, I. B. Scott. 

The chair then appointed the following committees : On resolutions: C. W. Luckie, S. H. Smothers, J. W. M. Abernathy, I. M. Burgan, A. H. Colwell, Miss I. B. Evans, Miss Clara Scull. On memorial: F. H. Mabson, P. E. Spratlin, J. R. Gibson. On the the temperance question : R. H. Harbert, J. H. Stewart, I. B. Scott, Miss Silvia Wilson, Miss Florence Holmes. 

Wanted, a Teacher, was the title of an interesting and instructive paper read by F. H. Mabson. H. T. Kealing read a paper, Are Our Methods of Teaching Practical? In which he announced his opposition to what is termed a classical education, and made a strong plea in favor of devoting more time to the study of science and all that tends to lit students to the practical work of life. 

S. H. Smothers read a paper in which he opposed State Uniformity in Text-Books. J. T. C. Newsom and others joined the discussion.

Are Our Boys Safe ? was the subject of a paper read by I. M. Burgan, which was discussed by N. Q. Henderson, of Weimar. 

This closed the regular programme of the session 

The Committee on Memorials reported the deaths of Prof. E. H. Anderson, late Principal of Prairie View Normal, and Miss E. J. Green, late teacher in the Brenham public schools. A proper tribute was paid to their worth as teachers and leaders in moral and professional work. 

The Committee on the Temperance Question presented a series of resolutions protesting against the use of intoxicating liquors and advising the adoption of a text-book teaching the effects of alcohol on the human system. 

The Association was addressed by W. M. Crow, Superintendent of the Galveston public schools, H. Lee Sellers, Principal of the Ball High School, and by J. M. Fendley, Principal of the Third District Grammar School. 

The following officers were elected for the year 1886-7. President, F. H. Mabson; First Vice-President. C. W. Luckie; Second Vice President, R. H. Harbert; Third Vice- President, Miss F. O. Harding; Secretary, J. R. Gibson; Treasurer, S. H. Smothers. 

The Association adjourned to meet at Dallas in 1887, on a date to be appointed by the Executive Committee. 

The Argus Club of Galveston, N. W.  Cuney president, entertained the Association at a dinner, which was said to be a grand affair.

Texas school journal‎

by Texas. State Dept. of Education -- 1886

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