The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1890-12-31
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
An Ex.Successful Teacher Gives His
Views and Makes Some Suggestions.


Especial Cor. STATE CHRoN1CLE.l
LIBERTY, N. c., Dec. 29.-Much has
been said about our public schools, in
newspapers and otherwise. Many wise
and timely suggestions have been made,
and many foolish ones also. Having
spent dozen years in the schools of the
State e-common and academic this
writer feels that he might say some
things which would probably assist in
solving the greatest and most important
problem that will come before the COM
ing General Assembly for consideration.
1t Is evident that we must have better
schools, and that they must be of longer
duration. True it is that there are a
few selfish cranks who denounce our
whole free school system And 1t is
equally true that we lack great deal
even in the management of our schools
under the present system. But | shall
not discuss this part OF the subject, for
l feel sure tha representatives of the
people will give US a much better one
Here are some suggestions TO meet the
demands that are heard every
where: First, we must have more
money. How are we to get it2 Here
is a plan to get it: Double
the present rate Of taxation for schools.
The people can ray it, and they are anx-
ious to do it. Then levy special tax
Oh incomes to go entirely to the school
fund. Next place reasonable tax on
dogs to be applied to educational pur-
poses. This would give US about two
and one-fourth times our present school
| fund-perhaps more.
Second. Our schools are too large
How shall we diminish the number of
pupils per teacher? Here is a plan
Instead of allowing the school age tc
range from six years to twenty one years
make it from eight years to eighteen
years.
The majority of our schools are crowd
ed with pupils. No teacher can proper
ly teach fifty pupils taken promiscuous
| ly from neighborhoOd. Take out the
six year old babies and the twenty year
Id men and women. and you will so re
duce the number that those who 40 atten,
can be benefited. As rule, no chile
under eight years Of age has any busi
ness in school. II the State sends a bo,
to school until he is eighteen years old
be can then finish his education, if d
wishes to. Do you see the point?
Third. We need, and if our school
make progress, we must have a differ
ent class of men for County Superir
tendents, and to get them we must pa
good salaries. When we go to select
superintendent we first find man VII
will accept the position for the sma
pay there is in it. We must take ma
who has some other way of making
living-usually a lawyer or ministe
who knows nothing in the world abor
what it takes to make good schot
teacher.
We must change this. We must hay
men who are themselves practical, e.
perienced teachers, and then we mus
pay them so they can give their tim
entirely to the work.
: Some of these things will no doul
provoke criticism, and it will be sa
, they are not practicable, &c Well, the
may be better plans II so, will n
some one give them to the public2 l a
ready to defend and make plain ever
; one of these suggestions. Who will gi'
: US his views? Let US discuss this matte
, for on it hangs the destiny Of our chill
} ren and the future prosperity Of Of
State.
5 7. III. ROBERTSON.
: For Reading Clerk of House OF Re
r resentatiyes.