Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-03-16
Criminal Diapers,
For the Spirit Of the Age.
Our Common Schools.

Mr.. EDuoR read with pleasure the
piece which appeared in your last issue, con
ccruing our Public Schools, written by my
friend aud fellow lahorer at Old Trap. 1t
does not apply TO that district or commu-
nity alone lar from it. In large por-
ton Of the neghborhoods with which we
have the pleasure Of being acquainted, the
people appear almost perfectly unconcern-
ed about schools. Strange as it may APP
pear in this enlightened day, numbers of
our citizens seem to place no estimate what
ever upon the advantages of an education.
Talk with them about sending their chill
drcn to school, and wc are sometimes told
that they have thus far made living
without an education, and their children
are no better than they are. Shameful
answer While others will let the most
frivolous excuse keep their children from
school, and let them lounge about or trot
through the ueighborhood and make mis-
chief, or visit groceries, swear, drink liquor
and learn to believe themselves men ere
they know their name in print if they were
TO see it.
We would ask such parents if they dc
not love their children We cannot think
they do, Judging from their conduct toward:
them. 1t ought to be supposed that nc
person or persons who have grownup among
us within the last fifteen or twenty years
could be found destitute Of the glorious anC
iucstimable privilege of knowing how tC
read {; yet it is the case; and numbers 0
our young men, whose privileges foran ed
ucati6n have been great, when compared
with that of others and in other places
scarcely can read. Our schools whel
opened, often have to be closed in a shor
time Tor Gne waat ui att,s,.,!,.','-; s-r3 Tsho'
continued, you are soon told by som
would.be lawyer and neighborhood govern
or, shat the money Is gone, nothing du
and the school must stop; or, 1t is tn
wrong time Of the year for a school and
must stop. The consequence is, those VIII
would educate their children have not tn
opportunity, not being able to send the'
oil where there are regular schools; oil
free schools being of short duration; an
10 many PLACES YOU would come as ne'
finding "a gold mine as getting mp a prlva
school that would pay man who Is cap
BILE Of dischargng his duty as teacher,
You speak truly. my friend, when "
name tour things which we need thu
we need FIVE; and the 5th is, to rub O
and begin anew. Aud on commenci
again, give us the first thing, a charm
who will try TO know what bcIongsto HI
how much money he receives, how mu
he paws to different Districts annually, a
then tell us how much is due each Dstrl
Can or does our chairman do these thin!
We know he does not, aud we believe
majority of our chairmen no sooner
ceiye the money than they invest it sol
way TO their own advantage, and when
draft is presented to them, we are told WI
out asking the No. of the District or
amining il, "thcre is no money due"
IDLY, give Us a General Superintend'
who feels some interest in the schools a
believes it to be his duty to earn his mi
cy before he gets it, and we believe (
schools would improve. Does our pres
d General Superintendent think he disch
res his duty simply by visiting two or tn
counties in the State, and writing to
people through some paper or papers
prospects Of our school! We think I
and feel satisfied that his influence has n
or been felt in this aud many other parts
the State. Tvo-thirds OF our citizens,
think, do not know that We have one.
Now We think MS salary sufficient
justify him Ia visiting and delivering
ture in every county IN the State ut i
once IN two years; aud We feel sure :
visits would he attended, with succes
VIII he or some ous else do it! We,
our friend at Old Trap, hope some
will come with the eloqucnce OF 81
and let bis voice be heard in tones OF
der, ia Camden aud Curritack COMMIT
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