Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-09-24
For the Spirit of the Age.
Educational Interests.

The progress of general education in North
Carolina for the last few years, every thing
considered, has been very remarkable and
almost without a parallel. According to the
census of 1910, there were then in the State
two Colleges, al Academies and Grammar
schools, and 632 primary schools of all
kinds. There were at school in Colleges 158
scholars, in academies 4,398, in primary
schools 1887, in all 10, 493 scholars.
About this time the common-school sys-
TEN went into operation, and now while the
population has increased but little, our Edu.
cational statistics are as follows we have
5 male colleges and one other in progress, 7
female colleges, and several others in pro-
gress at least 200 academies and Gram
mar schools and about 3 900 primary schools.
The University alone has now as many stu
dents as were attending in it and in the 9TH
er colleges in 1910; and there are attending
all the schools at least 100, 900 children =
This is an increase of six hundred per cent
since 1910. The common schools, living at
the foundation Of this vast system, and com
posing its most important part, nave under
gone a decided change for the better within
the last few years, and from causes now 81.
lently at work, and the i c~reasing power
given to the cause of Education by the in
cF6dSlnS pTOpUrtluI u tuuCdtcU peOpic, GuIS
forward progress will acquire a more rapid
movement every year.
The common schools are becoming more
and more eficient-the course of studies in
them is becoming more thorough, and the
standard Il of Teacher is being elevated, while
the public are learning more and more to
respect and appreciate this great system.
To these ends the writer has given his
) constant attention, and it has been his anx.
ious desire to operate by those means which
: would have the most pervading and perma
/ nent influence in contributing to the results
e The common-school system, from the very
: nature of things, had been imperfectly un
derstood it had lot received that respect t.
e which it was entitled, and there were doubt
;. and gloomy forebodings pervading the pub
lie mind.
Like the merits of the morning before tn
rising sun, these have been vanishing, as re
liable facts and statistics have shed thei
/ cheering light on the public mind. The vf
rious Educational institutions of the State
n from the University down, have learned t
appreciate the Importance ofcommons school
n and to cooperate for their advancement
: and the efforts of education and friends
Ii the cause have been more systematized an
. exerted with more certain hopes, and MOI
it tangible purposes. Altogether, the prospe,
g is extremely gratifying, and in this the VIZ
ter finds more than a sufficient reward fl
&c all the hours of anxiety, fear and perplexit
to through which he has passed.
May the friends Of Education, and tt
IN head and subordinate officers of the comma
ce schools, be ever thus found with hands al
he hearts together, knowing in each other, n
politicians Of different c%olors, but men al
re christians, citizens Of one country and Sc
or wants of one God; and may all professors al
is teachers of every rank ever recognise the
ie- mutual interests and dependence, and all t
ert colleges, academies and schools of the Sta
at be bound up in the public mind, as they a
ice in reality, as one indissoluble interest, a
pi- make common cause in behalf of one co
90. mon end-the glory Of God and the good
de the people! j.. G. G. K.