The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-05-01
PROTEST..


things in a few articles in The Pro
GREssIv1 FARMER. AS a citizen of
North Carolina / protest against the
injustice done our sons and daughters
in the name of the public school system
of North Carolina. I wish to talk with
you fathers, you who fought and you
who returned to desolated homes and
devastated farms when you babe adieu
to your comrades at AppomattoK. l
know you are patriotic citizens. l
know you are loving, God-fearing
fathers. It is no fault of yours that
Henry and Johnnie must work the live
long summer, and frequently, the win
ter besides. 1t is the stern fat of ne
cessity. I take of my hat to you, ye
noble Carolina fathers. Then should
not the SONS and daughters of devoted
sires enjoy the meagre holiday months
in the way most conducive to their
present and future advantage ard hap
pinessl What should the children do
during the holiday monthsl Every
RU44O4 HULL NAO4SAOO W OA44 4SNCA G4
swers, Ego to school, go to school,"
Now that is the question-that is the
subject. Hear Maj. s, M. Finger,
former State Superintendent of Public
Instruction: Special attention is
called to the fact that thirteen weeks
of annual school term is not enough
and is not up to the required mimi
mum of sixteen weeks" The State,
of our nativity, by her negli-
glenoe, is doing your sons and
daughters an injustice. She is dwarf
ing their intellects and blighting their
future usefulness as citizens and hap
piness as individuals.
Friend Prince, I have been with you
in your home. I have enjoyed your
wholesouled hospitality. Ihave taught
your children in the quiet little school
house on the hill. Nature did well by
your sons and daughters. Their gifts
both as to mind and form were superb
Neighbor JohnSon's Kate and James
were dull. Mr.. johnson owned some
property. He did his duty. He sent
James to Davidson and Kate to Peace
Institute. Both graduated. Now,
despite former dulness, both are the
pride of their parents and an honor to
their State. But what of friend
Princes children, Jennie and HenryH
What is their position and conditionl
Friend, you did your duty. Your in
to send Jennie and Henry to
college or any good school and the
negligence in supplying ade-
quate public school facilities has
doomed the minds of two of the most
promiSing scholars of the district
school and the idols of two fond, doting
parents to intellectual atrophy and
and their lives to the thralldom
of slow, dragging drudgery. What
they have beenl What might
Jennie have bsOnl Her form of beauty
and symmetry might have been
adorned with IN intellect polished and
as fascinating a. her person. She might
have been an honor to her talents, to
her parents, to her State and to her
father. These two children are social
'hewers of wood and drawers of
water" IL this picture o~verdrawnl
Not q whit. Friend, you have seen
such children, You geo them and
multitudes Of them now every day
here in North Carolina. 0. We
destitute ones, 1 Sympathizes with you.
Friends of means, we send our own
children to school. Our patriotism,
our humanity, u religion WOO us to
think of u neighbor's children. See
your legislator and zee that he does
something instead of talking. Make
him legislate in the interest of the full
Development of the Golconda of North
talents and minds. It will
pay. Hear Maj Finger: "If they (the
people, vote taxes for schools, that fact
means better schools and consequently
more safety to property and person as !