Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-09-14
COMMON SCHOOLS.

sketch of the former condition of Education in North
Carolina What is it nowp This is a question on
frult to answers and for the reason that although
Education has been matter of government concern
there has been effort made to Obtain dlnuSe IN
formation this subject 1t was difficult TO optan
accurate knowledge in regard to the general
of intelligence; and from ignorance OF our position
and prospects we almost ready to despair OF
cause which was accomplishing much good IN our
!. midst
What is the condition of the cause OF Euucatlonl III
North Carolina at this day?
am not prepared to answer this question as 19lly
and satisfactorily as hope to be in few months;
but it is a matter to which have, for years, gwen
some attention. and in regard to which can speak
with some degree of confidence.
About the time of the establishment of our system
of Common Schools there began general movement
among our people in favor of Colleges and Academies
Institutions of this kind, that were already IN exist
cnce but in rather languishing condition, very soon
manifested signs of increasing prosperity. Old at
tempts to found Academies were revived with more
success and new enterprises ofths sort set on
foot in all parts of the country Each year the
Seminaries already in existence would be more crowd
ed with pupils than during the year before and each
wear greater number of new. institutions would be
inaugurated than during the one preceding. Thus
we have advanced; and now, comparing our position
with that of few years past is almost incredible
what progress we have made Your Excellency has
twice canyassed the State with open eyeswhat have
you beheld?
We formerly had one male College, to-wit
eellent University now we have Wake Forest Col
lege, in Wake county, Davidson College, IN Meek
lenburg county Normal College in Randolph county,
Catawba College, in Catawba county, with the pros
pect of the establishment of Masonic College, in
Granville county We have all these rising into Wig
exstence and our good old University, instead
of being crippled by this competition is shining with
a Respondent light than ever before, and num-
bers taoice many students it did in its palmiest
days before the establishment of our system OF Com
mon Schools, and when it had not sing rival.
There is a yearly increase of numbers at all of
these institutions and, what is more the older Col
leges making themselves acceptable to the mass
es, W lille each endcavors to lay its founda-
tions deep in the popular heart. They all recognize
the doctrine that the good will of the common peo-
pes necessary to their prosperity and while their
position is the result of an increasing interest felt
by the masses in the cause of Education, they, IN
return, react upon the Common Schools and Acade-
mics of the country.
And how is it with the Academies Acade-
mes--in North Carolina? Who knows the number
of these? Who can tell how many new ones are
born into existence every season? There cannot be
less than eighty Classical Schools male) in this State
they will average one to the county, and IN many
counties there are more than one-in some as many
three Schools of this sort. Some are OF private
character but at nearly all good classical education
can be obtained. Since my term of office a number
ofnew institutions of this sort have been ngaugura-
ted, and successful Academies are situated IN
regions considered by many remote and ignorant.
Between these Academies and the Colleges there is
anintermediate class of Schools which may be term
ed High Schools, furnishing education nearly as
class several have recently come into successful eX
istence, and others on the way.
The progress in female education of the higher
kind has been still more remarkable; and instead of
the one High School at Salem we have it and eight
Other Colleges counting the Episcopal School at Ra-
leigh as one There are the two Colleges at Muir
freesborough, in Hartford county-one in flourish
ing condition, the other in state of rapid progress
the College in Oxford, Granville County, the Epis
copal School in Raleigh the College in Arson coun
ty, the one in Robson county, the one in Greens
borough Guiford county, and the one in Ashville,
Buncombe county, while there is still another on the
way in Iredell county. Great is this increase of
Colleges, it is still outdone in the growth and null
tplication of Female Academies and High Schools;
and still the old School at Salem like the University,
has been benefited by the competition, and is fuller
than it was, while in consequence of new appl
cations for admission its Principal has had to issue
circular notifying the public that the institution
is filed to its utmost capacity.
In all the towns villages, and thicky settled neigh
borhoods Female Academies have sprung up are
coming into existence; and singular and most
cheering feature of this progress in male and female
education of the higher kind is the fact that mGny
of the Schools hare been founded 6y the energies,
are ugder the control Of nGtice born and hOnae-edW
Gated ladies and gentlemen. In short, progress
in the multiplication of male and female Colleges
and Academies is without parallel in the history
of any State country and it is exaggeraton to
say that while population has increased but lit
tie in seventeen years, the number of male pupils
attending Classical Schools has been than
trebled since tie gear 1885, and that the number Of
girls rececing an education Of the higher Kind as at
least scren times and perhaps ten times great as 1T
Tcds at the period destg1adted,
CREASE BECOMES CONSIDERABLY GREATER EACH YEAR.
What is the cause of all this? / answer, without
hesitation, our system of Common Schools. Much
is due to the influence of religious societies. but in
former years religious societies made exertions in the
same direction without much success. While num-
Der of these societies have been undoubtedly stmu
lated by spirit of progress which seemed simulta-
neousy and almost suddenly to pervade all classes
and societies in our State it independent of par
tcular men or particular bodies and yet it was of
course not a mere Inspiration, but was under the
direction of Providence born of previous cause.
In the first place, the establishment of our
system of Common Schools did much to awaken
new spirit of Education in all classes 1t placed the
subject on higher and broader ground than it had
ever before occupied in North Carolina 1t gave to
it the dignity of fundamental political institution
among people where every man is part of the
government and takes an interest in it. The people
all viewed itin a new light; and Churches and be-
nevolent societies availing themselves of this
step, and of the feeling awakened by it. began gen.
erous competition to which could make itself
most acceptable by assisting most to help to achieve
that condition of things that universal intelligence
which was considered as inevitable, some day. from
the action of the State. Noby did they respond to
the call of that government pledged to the sanctty
of conscience; and glorious reward is before them
with the hope of political and religious freedom for
ages to come!
AgGin. Before the era of Common Schools in
North Carolina, large and somewhat influential
class OF people maintained their social position