Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1851-03-26
COMMON SCHOOLS.

which is manfesting itself in relation to Com
mon Schools. Our system. imperfect best, and as
all new systems must be, has had to struggle for
years against prejudice, nattenon and neglect; and
at times, so dreary was the prospect, and so very
little the apparent good it was producing, that many
of our warmest philanhropists were forced to doubt
as to its ultimate success But the seed was in
the soil, and was germinating-the 'bread' - had
been "cast upon the waters" to be "gahered
after many days." A people cannot be educated in
day, or in a year. Any system, no matter how
wise and benefcent in its general principles, must
have time to fix its roots and spread them abroad !;
and the people live always, the next genera,ion
the next, the next, under the Providence of God
may be blessed with the shading branches and re-
feshing fruits cf the vigorous tree.
We have right to speak of Common Schools, for
we "graduated" at an I" old-fieId School, " and
learned in these Schools all were taught The
advantages held out to the children of the people at
these Schools, are incalcuable Here they taught
to read write, and cypher; in other words, the key
of knowledge is given to the children of both sexes,
while the boys prepared to make themselves in
telligent and useful citizens TO strike down all the
Common Schools and all the I" od-6eld Schools in
North Carolina, leaving only the Academies and the
Colleges, would be like striking the from the
heavens. Darkness, civil. Social and POLITICAL would
at once come upon US, like that which fell upon ths
Egyptians. Only in these Academies and Colleges
would it be day, it in the tents of the Israeli
ites while all the would be involved in s. horr
bic darkness" But took up pen with no
view Of writing essay on the importance of Com
Scho olodu in f,vo fodu
are, trust, unnecessary at this time and among
free people. Details and facts the things 10 be
considered and applied. All of US agree as 20 the
importance of public instruction and it only remains
for to strengthen and improve the system, to
render productive of the greatest good to the great
est number.
We find the following account Of an emphatcally
"good move =" in the last Elizabeth City Old North
State:
"A Coon Move. The County Court of Pasquo-
tank. desirous OF bringing the blessings of good
Education to the door of every citizen of the Coun
,v. and satisfied that the Common School system
could ouIy be made effective by raising amount
bv ,axa,ion sufficient keep the schools in opera
,ion durno ten months of the year, and to employ
good teachers for them, at the late March term levied
tax which will give to every District of the Coun-
ty $500. This is greater sum than any County OF
for the good sense and patriotism of peoples for
the Magistrates only led to this act by their
own sense of its Importance, but they were urged to
it, in very many instances, by the large tax paying
citizens OF the County. w hope 80 good an exatn-
ME will be promptly followed by every County in
ahe State if it should be, ten years would remove
every blot of ignorance from our escutcheon; the
good Old North State," directed in its councils by
an educated constituency, would take prominent po-
son among her sisters of the Con nftderacy. INTEL
horH
and inexhaus,ibe sources OF wealth would speedily
be developed her now barren, because exhaustble
fields. would be renovated and improved her mines
of coal and iron would speedily be worked her IA
cities would be greatly improved; her statistics of
crime and pauperism would exhibit manifest i'm
pmvement; her population would rapidly increase; ;
her barns would be filled with plenty, and her chill
dren would become prosperous and happy. Such are
a few of the blessings which we confidently believe
wonld result from liberal spirit, manifested among
tho neonle of the several counties OF the Stale.
While the good work has thus been commenced,
and the hall Of improvement been put in motion,
much remains to be done to produce good results
from the action of the nagistracy OF this County.
Ii behooyes the Board of Supernendsnts to establish
uniform series of textbooks to be used In all the
schools: to appoint competent men, as committeeman
of the sew ;a Districts, to advise and counsel with
them as to their duties and responsibilities. The
EXAMINING committee should be careful TO give GER
tihca,es to none but those whom, after careful ex-
animation they shall find competent and apt to teach
and the several committeeman should give employ
mest no man. even after he has passed an examl-
er. Another duty not less important devolves upon
the committeeman, and that is to see that all the
school houses are put in order and rendered neat and
comfortable. And here we would suggest the pro-
Prie,y 10 them of purchasing for each school se.
1ies Of outue maps, Of having black boards. and
other indispensable requisits Of school room made
and placed in every school. .....
Let these suggestions be carried out, and in less
than two years from this date, there wilt not be