North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-09-10
COMMON SCHOOLS.


Tho Wilmington Journal is publishing, over me
u,.,ure of Long Greek ~ series of able and IN
..s..,ino communications on the subject OF Commo"
schools This is subject of the first imPortance 20
onr neople. and we should be pleased to Jay 'nese
denominations before our readers. Will the wr'er,
Tho Edi,ors Of the Journal be kind enough to send
us the first five numbers
.Iono Crack" alludes to the act OF Assembly
80 making it the duty of the Literary Board
" oa,se to be published and printed, an abstract of
,s,v. i, force at the close of this General Assem-
LIZ IN the subject of Common Schools, with such
,.,ct;ons and forms as are calculated to ensure
nnrctuality and system, in the performance of the
enioined in the said acts'' This duty per-
es,med during Gov Manly's Administration. Long
O..ol ,, adds: "This Board contented itself with
1,.,eIv compiling the laws the subject, without
".o vord of comment recommendation. Now, as
.ho members of this Board the only persons
-.,,od with the system who obtain any thing like
met nav for their services, hold it be their duty
- move first in the matter.'' The act of 1S4S-'49
srred to the acts already in existence, and directed
bo Board to prepare such instructions and forms,
under these acts, as would secure punctuality and
system =" in the management of the Schools. The
~, looked merely to the duties of the officers-the
Committeeman and uperintendents-and provided
FIR instructions to them as to the proper mode of re-
csving and discussing the funds; at any rate, this
ss the construction given to it. 1t is doubted whether
!, was intended to clothe the Board with any new
mower in relation to the Schools; and il is certain that
the main if not the only duties of this Board, in
ecion with the system, is to manage, increase, and
Jisburse the funds. We believe the Literary Board
has been at all times deeply solicitous for the i'm
movement and success of our Common School sys-
tenn and in regard to the present Board say
with confidence, that the members would submit to
any labor and sacrifice of time to advance the
and improve the system, so far as they could do
within the sphere of their legitimate duties.
The act of 1949-'4S also empowers the several
County Courts to levy tax for the purpose of en-
Moving County Superintendent. Only one County,
we believe (Pasquotank,) has exercised this power.
This plan would doubt be productive of benefit if
generally adopted; but it would still leave the system
without general and responsible head. We must
hare Stale Superintendent-no business, no system
ofany sort can flourish without head to simplify,
Direct and control. We have examined the subject
for years and the look into it and think of
it the more deeply are we impressed with the neces-
sity of General Superintendent. Every other State
in which the system has been perfected, has Off
Ger of this kind, who keeps Office the seat of
government, devotes all his time to the work. and
ports stately to the Legislature the result of his Ia
bors and the condition of the Schools.
Every Republican State is much bound to educate
poor children parent is to provide his offspring
with food and clothing and no Republican State
neglect this duty without ayng itself with ignorance,
which is the immediate orerunner of anarchy and des
poism.
We take it for granted that the people Of North
Carolina determined to maintain their Common
Schools. They ought to- do so, and they will. Then
let them demand that their Legislature shall take the
proper steps to improve and perfect the system,
put it within the power of every poor boy and girl
in the State to acquire good and sound education.
We have talked long enough about this business and
We have passed and then repealed enough laws on
The subiect-let this changeful and in
efficient policy, and go to work in earnest. Let US
do something, and then stand to it; and the first thing
to be done, in humble judgment, is the appoint
ment of a General Superintendent.
We invite the attention of our brother Editors
throughout the State to this interesting subject, and
hope they will give their readers and the public the
benefit of their reflections and opinions in relation TO it.