The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-02-14
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
A Timely Article on the Subject.


lNIddlcUuTg School lIera LIT.
The Legislature now in session will
probably attempt to amend the
school law in order that the public
schools may be more beneficial to the
State. The public schools as now
conducted, cannot meet the demands
of the public in educating the masses.
The average school term IS about three
months during the year, and this very
often is taught by an incompetent
teacher We are OF the opinion, and
we have heard many others express
the same opinion, that unless the
school system can be 50 amended as
to give longer terms and pay better
salaries that will demand competent
teachers, the whole public school sys-
TEN ought to be abolished. We do
not mean to advocate the adjustment
of the public schools, for they can. be
made highly benenefcial to the youths
of the State, but our point IS this ; the
system as it now exists is Of little or
no benefit to the country, therefore it
should be improved at once. But
what is necessary to effect this needed
reform In the first place, we need
more school funds-more money is
essential. Some may claim that the
people are not willing to be taxed to
raise sufficient funds, which to some
extent may be true and this objec-
ton may justly be advanced as long
as the schools are in such disrepute
among the people, that only IS per
cent of the children attend the public
schools, and the schools are conduct
ed as they now are.
There was expended last year for
public schools SI2o for each one of
school age. This is barely enough to
pay one months tuition in an ordi-
nary school. The result is that our
schools result in bat little good and
unless the people are convinced that
the money will be expended with bet
ter results. they may object to being
taxed. But after excellent schools
with comfortable and Commodious
buildings, supplant the present free
school of three months, the people
will not object to supporting them.
The State is able to educate her
children without any Federal aid.
The Blair Bill is not the remedy. Why
does Mr. Blair want to give the
South, as he claims, SO much money
for her schools? If he is SO philan-
thropic, why does he not offer to give
the money to be distributed under the
laws of the State, and not under Fed
eral supervisors? "7mr0 Dances
1t H0na fryc. s." As we said, the
State is able to support its own schools
and it must support. them. The tax
must be baII whether indirectly into
the Federal treasury to be controlled by
Federal authority, or directly into the
State treasury, to be controlled by
State authority.
1t is estimated that the sum of S.,
100000 is expended every year in the
State for intoxicating liquors, and we
expended for public schools last year
100000 Probably if the people
were more heavily taxed for schools,
the wiskey bill might be reduced
The school fund ought to be at least
100000 for next year, and every
year let it be increased till the schools
can run for SIX months, and then not
allow any district to share in the pub
lie school fund, unless the school be
continued for SIX months during each
wear. This could be effected in five
years. and then we would feel proud
of our educational system.
If the constitution does not allow
sufficient tax to be assessed, let it be
amended, and then by the aid of the
experienced educators, let the legisls
ture devise some efficient plan for con-
Quoting our public schools.