The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1894-08-16
STATE EDUCATIoN.
Facts and Figures That Make Plain
the Whole Matter.


l. There are about 10000 white
children of school age in North Care
lima. OF these not more than 30, 900,
being less than one tenth, go to
private schools, leaving 335, 900, or
nine-tenths, dependent upon State
schools. Nine white children out of
ten in North Carolina, if educated at
all. must be educated by State aid.
2. The money that supports the
common schools is derived from the
following sources the poll tax, fines,
forfeitures and penalties, the liquor
tax and a school tax of Is cents on
every 500 of listed property. The
school fund is used exclusively for the
common schools, nor can it be used
legally for other purposes.
3. For the annual support of COM
mon schools in North Carolina is re-
quired about $761 900. The daily
cost of the schools is about $12, 900.
1t takes $4S 900 for four days.
4. For the annual support of
higher education for the whites in
North Carolina is required $44, 900,
as follows:
The University, $4,000
Agricultural and Mechani-
cal College, 10000
Normal and Industrial
School, 1880
Cullowhee Normal School. 1900
Total, $44, 900
This is the annual appropriation
for maintenance, and does not in
clude repairs.
This money comes, not from the
common school fund, but from the
general fund. 1t could not be added
to the common school fund, unless
by special act of the Legislature
Even if it were so added, and the
State institutions for higher educa-
ton were destroyed, not four days
would be added to the length of the
common school term.
5. The $44,OO annually appro-
priated for the support of higher
education comes from. the general
fund in the treasury, but does not
include poll tax money, which is ap-
propriated to other purposes by the
Constitution. No man in the State
contributes anything to support
higher education, if he pays only poll
tax. All that he pays goes to COM
mon schools and to support the poor.
The property in the State is listed
at $3.50, 10000 A tax of IL cents
on the 800 will yield $45, 900 being
81 900 more than is annually appro-
priated to higher white educa ton in
North Carolina. Therefore tax pay
ers contribute as follows to support
higher education:
A man who pays only poll tax con-
tributes nothing. A man who is
listed at 500 pays less than X
cents. A man who is listed at 81 900
pays less than 17h cents. A man
who is listed at $4,000 pays less
than S7h cents.
Nine tenths of the tax payers in
North Carolina being listed at less
than 81 900 pay less than liz cents
to support the University, the Agri-
cultural and Mechanical College, the
and Industrial School and
the Cullowhee school. Instead of
higher education being supported by
a tax on the many for the benefit of
the few. it is a tax on the few for the
benefit of the many. Besides, the
poor boys at the higher institutions
are the ones that get the benefit of
loans, and labor for
self support.
6. In one of the largest and best |
counties in North Carolina there are
) ,529 tax payers; and they contri
butte as follows to support higher |
,ducation only 546 pay as much as
lie, only II pay more than size,
while 766 pay nothing at all.
z. Higher education in North Car |
,lina costs the masses of the people |
nothing, and cost very
ew tax payers over 171ac. 1t is the |
cheapest thing in the State and yet
he most valuable
The objection that not all attend |
he higher schools and therefore that
hey do not benefit all, applies
qually to the lower schools, for two
birds of the children of school age
n North Carolina do not attend the
'ublic schools. The objection is
atal to any system.
8. What North Carolina spends
Or higher education may best be
cen by comparison with the
mounts spent by other States. The
HS OlCc dIO nibucu NY UHt 1
tate uperintendents, and do not
nclude appropriations for repairs,
uildings, etc. They represent the
nnual appropriations for main
snance: North Carolina, $44 900;
outh Carolina, $1O7 900; Virginia,
$4,000; Georgia, $61, 900; West
irginia, 100000; Connecticut,
$4,000; Vermont, $4,000; Rhode
,land, $4,000; Pennsylvania,
New York, $500, 900;
hio, $123, 900; Michigan, $351 900;
5000, 900; Illinois, $154,-
90; Colorado, $250.000; Nebraska,
] SO, 900; South Dakota, $4,000.
The list is not complete as every ,
tate in the Union might be added.
8. 1t thus appears from facts and
cures t1) that North Carolina ,
lould do more and not less for edu-
ltion; (2) that the masses of the .
eople will get neither. lower nor
gher education without State aid; :
3 that the burden of supporting
CHER education in North Car DINA,
SITS upon very few taxpayers and
Ut heavily upon them; ~ that ]
lose who are making the biggest
IS about this burden are not help I
e to bear it. x. 9
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