Programme of the Third Annual Session of the

Colored State Teachers' Association

at Dallas, June 22-23, 1887.

FIRST DAY.

Address — President F. H. Mabson, Galveston.

Paper— What Shall the Harvest be? Miss С . M. Thompson, Jefferson. Discussion opened by G. W. Conner, Paris.

Paper — Primary Work, R. H. Harbert, Houston. Discussion opened by S. H. Ewell, Dallas.

SECOND DAY.

Paper — Intermediate Work, J. R. Gibson, Galveston. Discussion opened by J. H. Stewart, Hearne.

Paper — Should the State of Texas Provide a System of Compulsory Education? J. D. Davis, Richmond. Discussion opened by P. S. Wilkinson, Brazoria.

Paper — The Inequality of Intellects, I. B. Scott, Marshall. Discussion opened by W. W. Jones. Belton.

THIRD DAY.

Paper— High School "Work, N. A. Banks, Waco. Discussion opened by R. A. Scull, Galveston.

Paper — Progress of Public Schools in Texas, F. J. Webb, Jr.. Austin. Discussion opened by J. W. Ray. Dallas.

Paper — Physical Culture, A. J. Moore, Waco. Discussion opened by A. J. Criner, Orange.

Teachers desiring to engage board in advance will please write Mr. J. P. Starks, 325 Burford street, Dallas.

Provision will be made for public exhibition of school work. Each teacher is expected to present some work of art showing the skill of pupils — writing, composition, drawing, etc. All such work must be addressed to Prof. P. E. Spratlin, chairman of the committee of arrangements, Dallas, Texas.

Railroad fares over the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe and the Houston & Texas Central railroads will be one fare for the round trip, with $5 as the maximum.

 

THIRD ANNUAL SESSION OF THE COLORED TEACHERS' STATE

ASSOCIATION.

HELD AT DALLAS, TEXAS, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 22, 23, 1887.

This body convened in annual session June 21, with about 105 teachers in attendance.

The morning session was opened with a song, and prayer by Rev. C. N. Pryor.

F. H. Mabson. of Galveston, presided, and A. J. Moore, of Waco, was elected secretary pro tern. It was expected that Mayor Connor would deliver the welcome address ; but a letter of regret was read by the secretary, announcing Mr. Connor's inability to be present. Mr. N. W. Harlee delivered the address, and after its eloquent delivery, the association felt that it was warmly welcomed. E. W. Wiley, Esq., also addressed the body in an able manner; the speech-making was conducted with an able response from President Mabson. Committees on resolutions, temperance and memorials, were appointed. A vast amount of merriment was produced by H. T. Kealing moving that the misnomer, professor, be stricken from the minutes and its use boycotted in the convention.

Amid some confusion, this motion prevailed.

A paper entitled, "What Will the Harvest Be ? " was read by Miss С. М. Thompson, of Jefferson. This lady has achieved some reputation as an authoress, and in this production, she demonstrated her ability.

At 2:30. p. m., the convention adjourned.

Second Day's Proceedings.

At 10:30, a. m., the convention reconvened. The session was opened with singing, Mrs. M. L. Terree, of Fort Worth, presiding at the organ. Prayer by Rev. J. W. Roberts, after which Dr. Arch Cochran was introduced. He spoke eloquently for twenty minutes, and tendered wholesome advice appropriate to the occasion. He remarked: "I am not here to touch upon politics, nor to discuss the issues of to-day other than that of education—that issue of all issues, the education of the masses—to encourage those who have made such great and unparalleled progress during the last twenty-five years. " He bade the fifteen hundred colored teachers of the state of Texas God-speed in their great work, and said that when they returned to their labors, they could be assured that the great public, and enlightened people of the state, would encourage and support them in the cause of elevation, morals, virtue, intelligence and wealth. His address was well received, and he retired amid rounds of applause.

A paper. "Should the State of Texas Provide a System of Compulsory Education ?" was read by J. D. Davis, of Richmond. It took strong grounds in favor of such a system of education. The reading of this paper caused much discussion. L. C. Anderson opposed compulsory education. He thought such ideas on education were communistic, and contrary to the theory of American government, and would, if such an education was sanctioned by law, take away from parents the duty and right of parents to educate their own children as they saw fit. Miss Hall, of Corsicana. spoke in favor of the thoughts advanced in the paper. W. II. Strickland, of Waco, favored compulsory education. He illustrated the results of the system in Germany.

" Che La Morte, " from II Trovatore. was rendered by Miss Alice Dunn and J. E. Edwards, of Galveston, and Mrs. M. E. Moore, of Waco. "The Inequality of Intellects, " was presented by I. B. Scott, of Marshall. W. W. Jones, of Belton, opened the discussion, and was followed by several others.

Paper, "Primary Work, "R. H. Harbert, of Houston, was passed on account of the gentleman's absence.

Quite an exhibit of school work was to be seen in various parts of the hall, that reflected credit upon the schools from which it came.

At 2:30 the convention adjourned to meet again at the hall for the purpose of taking a street-car ride around the city.

THIRD DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

I. B. Scott announced that it was desired to have a complete roster of the association, each member to give name in full. place of residence, place of birth, age. time of arrival in Texas, and where educated. and to this end members were requested to furnish data during the day.

Professor Stanberry, superintendent of the City Public Schools of Dallas, by invitation, addressed the association

COLORED TEACHERS' STATE ASSOCIATION.

231

At the conclusion of the address, the program for the day was entered upon. N. A. Banks read an excellent paper on High School Work, which was discussed by Messrs, Anderson, Patterson, Jones, Miss I. B. Evans, Albert. Holloway, Scott and Harlee. The regular order of business was. suspended for five minutes to allow I. Sparks, of Greenville, to offer a resolution empowering the chair to appoint a committee of three to prepare a memorial, in the shape of a resolution, to the Legislature, relative to a change in the present school law as to the tenure of office of school officers and teachers.

The chair appointed on this committee, Messrs. Sparks, Davis and Miss G. A. Green.

Miss Alice Dunn, of Galveston, by request, favored the convention with a vocal solo. F. J. Webb, jr., of Austin, reviewed the progress of school work in Texas, and this paper furnished a vast amount of data and statistical information. Miss I. B. Evans entertained the convention with a vocal solo, and her sweet mezzo-soprano voice displayed culture and training. A paper on Physical Culture, was read by A. J. Moore, of Waco. Mr. Criner, of Orange, was to have opened the discussion, but being absent, Mr. H. T. Kealing read a paper from him on the subject. A resolution was offered by I. B. Scott, that the association declare its appreciation of all the state has done in behalf of the education of the colored race, and that nothing would ever emanate from them calculated to create discord between the races. This was unanimously adopted. The Committee on Temperance reported in favor of the association committing itself to the cause of temperance, and pledging itself to favor all measures in behalf of temperance. After some discussion the report with an amendment was adopted. The committee on resolutions reported favorably on Mr. Wilkinson's resolution recommending the adoption by the state of a system of compulsory education. The discussion of the report of the committee on tenure of office of teachers and school officials, was postponed until the next annual session. Suitable resolutions thanking the citizens of Dallas for generous treatment, and the press for courtesies shown, were read and adopted. Reports of secretary and treasurer were read and adopted. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:

F. H. Mabson, president, Galveston.

Miss I. B. Evans, first vice president, Prairie View.

Miss Fannie H. Hall, second vice president, Corsicana.

Mr. С. J. Waring, third vice president, Galveston.

Mr. A. J. Moore, secretary, Waco.

P. K. Spartlin, treasurer. Dallas.

The chair appointed Messrs. Anderson, Moore and Kealing as the committee to formulate a plan and select a course of reading for the reading circle, to report at the next session. After singing, the benediction was pronounced by Rev. J. H. Armstrong, and the convention adjourned to meet at Waco.

The citizens banquet given for the benefit of the teachers, was a grand affair, and was heartily enjoyed by all teachers. Much praise is due Messrs. Spratlin, Starks, Ray, Harlee and Wiley for their exertions in making their guests comfortable.