The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-05-27
MOVE FORWARD.

Willie it is not pleasing to be
brought face to face with facts of an
uncomplimentary nature, sometimes
such contact results in benefit by re-
| vealing the true status of affairs. by
bestowing the gift of seeing ourselves
as others see us, so to speak, and by
thus awakening, a purpose to i'm
prove disagreeable and untoward
condition.
1t is most earnestly to be desired
that this latter effect may be reached
through the appalling and humiliat-
ing statistics that are now being EN-
phasized in reference to the illiteracy
in North Carolina; this State, as
pointed out by DIR. MeIver, being at
the very bottom, if only white popu-
Iation is considered, and not far from
the same point if all colors are
counted.
These are disagreeable truths and
are not calculated to stimulate State
pride, and would be simply degrad
ing if there was no remedy and we
may say will reflect discredit upon
US if we fail to apply the remedy,
when we know the deplorable condi-
ton and also know what will work
Improvement.
We cannot afford to continue to
occupy this low place in the scale of
illtteracy. We cannot efford it from
the standpoint of intelligence, nor
from the standpoint OF material in
terests We are glad to believe that
large number of our people are
getting their eyes open to these facts
and are sowing and will continue to
to SOW seeds that will bring forth a
harvest that will dispel in large
measure the present state of barren
ness.
Sometimes great benefit is derived
from comparisons. Let us see how
North Carolina and her sister State
of Virginia compare as to what each
is doing in respect to public educa-
ton. These figures we get from a
recent issue of the Richmond Dis
patch, which uses them not to dis
parage North Carolina, but as an
argument in a controversy that
North Cardinals Stete government
is more economically administered
than Virginia's. To what is termed
higher education, Virginia appropri-
ates $250,OO0 per annum; North
Carolina, 49,, 1000 AS to public
schools, the term in Virginia aver
aged 119 days in 1896; in North
Carolina, 81 days; or a difference in
the length of school terms of about
so per cent in favor of Virginia. The
Dispatch does US the credit to say
that North Carolina is now re
doubling her exertions in behalf OF
public education and has lately in
creased the school tax"
The eyes of the outside world are
upon Us and are expecting to see
great Improvement in educational
matters ia the near future. We must
not disappoint them, we must not be
untrue to our best interests, by fail
ing to make a great forward move
nent along this line. The opportun-
ity to 90 this is within our reach and
it should be utilized. County boards
of education are to be chosen in
every county in June and elections
ere to be held in every township in
August upon the question of a sup
Elementary local tax for the public
school fund of each township. Both
of these matters are of very great
importance and should receive the
earnest consideration and the hearty
co operation, as far as possible, OF
every friend of public edIeation-of
every friend of the people and of the
States best interests.
Later, we will discuss the August
election and try TO make plain the
provisions of the bill authorizing the
election.