The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1853-09-21
coNMoN SCHOOLS.

SIR: In nv first letter 90 Won En-
eellency, gave = sketch of the forme
condition u Education in North caro-
lima. What is il nosf This Is cues
ton difficult TO answer, and for the res
son that. although Edneation has bcel
a matter Of government concern. Their
has been no effort made 70 obtain
diause information on ibis subject. l
was dlfficnlt 20 obtain accurate know
lrdge in regard 70 the general progress
at intelligrnee; and from ignorance Q
our position and prospects we we're al
most ready to despair Of cause whic
was accomplishing much good in on
midst.
What is the condition Of the caus
Of Education in North Carolina at thi
days
l am not prepared TO answer thi
question as fully and satisfactorily Al
hope 10 be in few months: but i d
matter 10 which | have. for years
given some attention, and in regard q
which ! can speak with some degree Of
confidence.
About the time Of the establishment
nf our system of Common Schools.
there began a general movement among
our people in favor Of Colleges and Aca-
denies. Institutions Of this kind, that
were already in existence. but in a ra-
iher langnishing condition. very soon
manifested signs Of increasing prospe.
rity. Old attempts TO found Aeade-
mics were revived with more success,
and new enterprises Of this sort were
set on foot in all parts Of the country.
Each year The Seminaries already in
existence Roald be more crowded with
pupils than during the year before. and
each wear a greater number OF new in
situations would be inaugurated than
during the one preceding. Thus we
have advanced and now, comparing
our position with that of few wears
East, il is almost incredible what prog
rcss we have made. Your Excellency
has twice canvassed the State. with open
eyes-what have you beheldf
We formerly had one male College,
to.wit: our excellent University now
we have Wake Forest College, in Wake
county. Davidson College. in Meek
Ienburg county, Normal College, in
Randolph county, Catawba College, in
fatawba county, with The prospect Of
the establishment Of a Masonic College,
in Granville county. We have all
these rising into vigorous existence !;
aud oar goud old University, instead Of
being crippled by this competition is
shining with more respondent light
than ever before. and numbers twice
as many students as il did in its PAL
miest DAYS before the establishment Of
eur system Of Common Schools, and
when il had not single rival.
There is yearly increase Of numbers
al all of these institutions; and what
is more. the older olleges are making
themselves acceptable to the masses,
while each new one endeavors 20 Law
its foundation deep in the popular heart,
They all recognize the doctrine tina,
the good will Of the common people il
necessary to their prosperity aud while
their position is the result Of an increas,
ing interest felt bv the masses in the
cause of Education, fiIev, in return, re-
act urmf the Common Schools and
Academies Of the country.
And how is it with the Academies
male Academies-in North Carolina !!
Who knows the number OF these. VINO
can tell how many new ones are born
into existence every season There
G1nnot be less than eighty Classical
Schools male in this State--they will
average one to county, and in MANY
counties there are mere than one--in
some as many as three Schools of this
sort. Some are of a private character,
but at nearly all good classical edu-
cation can be obtained. Since my term
ot office a number OF new institutions
81 this sort have been inaugurated, and
some successful Academies are situat-
ed in regions considered By many az
remote and ignnsant. Between these
Academies anti the Colleges, there is
AZ intermediate class of Schools which
may be termed High Schools, furnish,
ing an education nearly as good as that
attained at the Colleges; and of this
class several have recently come into
successful existence, and others are on
the wav.
The progress in female education of
the higher kind has been still more re-
and instead OF the one High
School at Salem, we have it and eight
other Colleges, counting the Episcopal
School at Raleigh as one. There are
the two Colleges 1t siurfreeshorough. /
in Hereford county--one in flourish.
ing condition., the other ia a state of
apid progress; tie College n Oxford,
iranyll!e county, the Episcopal School
n Raleigh. the College in anson coun-
", the one in Robson county, the one |
n GReensborough, Gnilford county, and /
Die one in a shevile. Buncombe county,
while thereNs still another on the way |
N Iredeli county. Great as is the in,
Sssase Of Colleges, it is< iIinnd1sa