The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-06
PUBLIC COMMON SCHOOLS AND
THE EDITORS.

| on Thursday last i'm regard to the need
| for better public common schools. 1t
would he very encoura ging if every news
| paper in the State would take up this
/ question and keep it before the people
| until tie incoming Assembly either gave
| us four months schools or adjourned
| without ii. IT would be difficult to name
| any honest citizen whose business, and
| social interest would not be benefited by
| better popular education, but of all peo-
| pie the editors would be especially help
ed by it.
| 1t may be matter of more or less diff
/ ticulty to convince a farmer that his
| work will be done better by intelligent
| labor, or a mill owner that his operatives
| will turn out better products by being
| educated; but it ought not to be the task
/ of a moment to show an editor that he
will be vastly better off in a business way
| by reason Of an increase in the intelli-
| gence of his community. An educated
| man demands literature. One Of his first
needs is a newspaper. 1t is either q
very pedantic or q very ignorant man
who does not read newspaper Now If
| we extend the popular intelligence does it
| not follow that we extend the number
| Of newspaper readers? Would it be too
much to say that to give lis nine months
schools would more than double the sub
scription list Of every paper in the State
| in less than ten years? In merely bust
| ness way, then, this question is of most
vital interest to every man connected
with newspaper work, from the editor
in-chief OF the city daily to the colored
man who turns the hand press in the of
fee of the country weekly
Not only would this reform increase
subscription lists, but it would give us
better newspapers. / have no desire to
speak harshly of the North Carolina
press. From q short period Of labor in
connection with it / have learned it's diff
iculties and its limitations. The unin-
spring surroundings of the county Of
flee, the continued burden Of trying to
make the advertising pay what subscrip-
tons will not pay, the unTespOnsive at
titude, in many cases OF the public to-
wards good work when ii is done-all
these things burden our journalism. I
know it. | have sympathy for the edi-
tors. Still we must know that our press
is not a strong one There are many
country weeklies and some town dailies
that are worth little.
The reason for this is not far to seek.
There is nothing, except a politician, that
more exactly reflects the condition OF
public thought than newspaper. There
are, it is true, few men in journalism
OF exceptional ability, and these become
leaders Of opinion. OF them we are ac-
customed to say that they make public
opinion. OF this class was at one time
w. w. Holden, who is said to have de-
clared that he could skill and make
alive" There will always be some .edi-
tors like these, but they will be few.
They hold and will always hold, excep-
tional places. The mass Of newspapers
are edited by men whose attachments are
but little ahead of the standard which
their respective communities have set
for themselves. The thought demand on
them fixes the thought supply they fur
nish. This is q perfectly natural law
and for nine-tenths Of the papers will
always be found operative. An increase
in popular intelligence would consequent
II, demand better papers. 1t would make
some men better editors or it would in
time cast them into their own waste
baskets, and more competent men would
take their places. Both better incomes
and better journalism would grow from
better schools.
Now, it seems, is the best time for the
press to take up this matter. A great
religious denomination has most pa
triotically thrown itself into the struggle
for better schools. In this they are do
ing the work Of the Master How can
one vanquish sin so surely as by cutting
off his right hand, which is ignorance?
To win the fight for the schools is a task
of philanthropy. Nothing but the love of
Christ will be able to prompt a man or a
set Of men to take it up and carry it
through. Is it too much to urge that the
press as we'll as every enlightened factor
of our society rally to the aid Of those
who have begun this work as well. Can
we not have a move all together?
One word more. An adequate school
system is going to cost some money.
Iengthening the term of four months
would be an excellent thing and to ae-
complish it just now may be all that it
is wise to ask Of the people; but a four
months term is not the end. A great
State can never be built on that amount
of popular mental training. North Caro-
lima will not be q great State until she
has eight or nine months schools. This
must come The sooner we realize it the
better 1t means the raising Of money,
and the money will be raised. The people
are always willing to pay for the things
they want Convince them that schools
are the wisest things to have and they
will have them. Nine months schools
would not be very great burden after
all. There are now III schools in
North Carolina 1910 would run each of
these schools for nine months. That
would require 81 ,936,170 for the whole
State The population of the Stae may
now be safely estimated at about 1,900,-
900. One dollar expended for each inhab-
liant would solve the problem. We GER
tainly would be very narrow as people
If we should be unwilling to raise that
amount for what we are ready to agree
On as the greatest need. Here is the op.
r,o,.t,,nitrr fnr. the nrnsa to do rnaI con-