The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-10-24

l1iGlV z sos .n3 I6Ool1 dlu On On u
Cause tnsn % De1ra i'd Mo Ed1caa;o..,
AuolIe, reason why ynIng men
leave North Carolina is because our
public school system IS ponr / think
| hear some brother editor remark
"Why, how is that 2" don't see the
| connection.' | will answer MIN in
! this way ~ Es
l. The more you -ducate a people
the more intelligent they become.
2. The more intelligent the more
prosperous.
3. The mere prosperou, The more
conte::ted to stay at home.
Is that satisfactory logic? Ii so,
we will proceed. Our school system
is poor because we DO not pay enough
salary to procure the best teachers and
because our school term is too short.
L am finging no slUr on the teach
ers when | ssk you if it is reasonable
to think that an average salary OF
only S25.6S per month can secure the
best talent.
| honor the school-teachers of Nor.h
Carolina. They are doing a noble
work. and | believe the fire of pa
triotism is burning as brightly ON the
heart altar of many poor North Car
olina teacher, doing his quiet duty, as
it ever burned within the breast of "a
jackson or a Lee when the thunders
of thousand guns made the heavens
sounding beard, and whcn the
gleam Of an army of flashing swords
made it glorious privilege To battle
for our family shrines.
AS | have said, they are doing
| grandly, but they need hel p, and they
are looking to the editors OF this
| State. We need more training for
our teachers, and then we need money
| enough to pay them a reasonable sal
airy for five months term, at least
The teachers training schools and
system of county institutes, e7tablish-
ed by our last Legislature, is a step in
the right direction. | know of no men
who are better prepared or more anx
ious to do real service 10 our teach
ers than Edwin A. Alderman and
Chas. D. McIver. Their heertsf are
in their work, and | expect lasting
good as a result. Let us hold up
their hands aud ask the Legislature to
| give them funds anc assistants, as
their wants may require.
Then let US ask that The school
teachers be paid better salaliesIand
allowed longer terms. DO you know
what North Carolina is doing for her
children? / doubt not that many oi
you will be surprised when l tell you
that she Is giving each child ;airiy-
nine cents arO1th of edr.d;ion per year
"This is much less per capita than is
expended by any one of the thirty
eight States, excepi South Carollaa
and only about half as much as Ar
kansas aud less than half as much a:
Virginia" From Superintendent
4 Fingers report.
From Major Fingers last report
learn that if all school funds i'll a the
States were raised from tax on prop
erty the rate would be lower in Nortf
Carolina than III any of the States ex
cept Georgia, Alabama and South
Carolina. Our average school term i
ooiy sixty three days. My friends; sh;
is pititul showing aud it is in you
power to change it. We need To edu
cate our people A. child has as muc'
right to education as it ha. 10 air an'
food, and am in favor nf educatiD.
the children, even ii our taxes ar
doubled. and / believe if The newspa
pers Of the State would put the mat
ter squarely before the people the
would be of the same opinion.
1 have dwelt ON our public schoc
system because it is the basis of a.
material advancement. Show me
country Of wonderful resources iphat
tied by an ignorant people and | wi
show youa country OF poverty, froI
which its most progressive are force
/! to move. On the other hand. sho'
me country whose people are we
educated and will show ycu a cnuntr
: OF mills and fact ries, blooming field
and contented people. Education an
progress are cause and effect. On
follows the other as surely as the shac
ows follow the sunbeam. We have
our own country many striking illu'
tratiens oT this fact To point the
out would be tedious. so We will lat
one cAdfhPic "a -oiSiSu CouuIiy a
ter seven years war p ussia was nro
trate and her industries crushed.
this dilemma the King SUNNI med h
wise men and asked their advise.
was determined ths., in or.ier 10 he
i. develop the re SOUR. es Ut lueir coun,
= every child si.,uid receive a good {
ucalion. A splendid system OF pu
! | lie schools WAS. put ID operation. b
fore long The effect VAS seen Pr,
nd sio Became ,lie lead.r ,,ffaii Europs
nations /. gave her t,siteiiaIs pr,
10 perity audit made her u great ceul
40 If fItersLurt-, scieace, art as.d i'hiea
ply.
Right alopg his FEE aud 20 |
point our ~i>e Supe, iDiendent Ut p,
lie Instruction writes: sss'
1--WE In Nostti Clroina boa,t of. +,
natural r. :. urces and have put .,
[S selves in the race With our sister Sta
tor, material prosperity, and We :,
saying to the world that here is
rs hest place to make invesIments
capital and the best place to live.
. invite capital aud skilled laborers
{ come among US. Let ns not for
the lessons 70 be learned from Prui