The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-09
NORTH CAROLINA AND EDUCA
TION.
Baskerville CitiZen.)

Some weeks ago Capt. s. A. Ashe, OF
Raleigh. polished a thoughtful article on
the problem of how to provide for the
decrease of illiteracy in North Carolina
He went at the root of the disease III
this paragraph:
1.-The children remain illiterate because
there is no influence in their homes to
make them attend school and learn. Ii
is because there is no ambition at home
for the future of the children; no hope of
improving their condition in life; no in
centive to equip them for rising to a
higher level"
These are things we resent having
strangers say of us. but Capt. Ashe Is
not stranger: he is a North Carolininan.
and knows whereof he speaks. Capt.
Ashe adds:
AS we are going on, there will never
be any change in this matter of illiteracy
We may send millions of dollars an
nually We may pour out money Law
ishly We may extend the school term
to four months-even to six months.
We may multiply our school houses and
provide better teachers-but there will
still be a large per cent. of the children.
both white and colored. who will grow
ND in ignorance The stain on our
State will continue. The black blot will
remain on the Educational Atlas; and
the desolate homes of these abject peo-
pie will become more desolate, and they
will fall to a lower level in comparison
with the people of other States. A change
is needed. And now is the time to make
it."
If the eqipment named was provided
and a compulsory school law added we
think the problem would be at least half
solved by the time the next generation
came on the scene; but, as the Char
lotte Observer says. there is objection to
compulsory school law, though not so
much now as formerly Nevertheless,
it arouses antagonism. How then shall
the iIliterate be reached? What shall be
the incentive to induce them to regard
a common school education as some
thing to be sought for as pearl of great
price? Capt. Ashes plan is:
Suppose there should be a constitu-
tional amendment that no person COM
ing of age after January /, 1901, shall
be allowed to vote unless he can read
and write; would not that supply the in
centive? Would any boy come of age
after that date without knowing how
to read and write? / think not There
would be an end of illiteracy among tn.
new growth; for if the boys went to
school, the girls would, too"
Let us look at this a little. The re-
oUirement would not necessarily call fol
school attendance at all. Neither would
it make necessary more than the baresr
requirements in the two branches, read
ing and writing. We cannot agree with
Capt. 'Ashe. either, that If the boys went
to school the girls would too. A people
SC careless of education as not volunta-
rily to acknowledge its benefits, strive
for its advantages, and send both boys
ard girls to school would not send either
under Capt. Ashes plan; but the boys
might attend ON their own account. In
thinly settled section. would not the
few boys therein make a shift to learn to
write and read enough to just meet the
requirement, without the establishing of
any school whatever there?
Nevertheless, the requirement is a good
one. on general principles. Every voter
ought to be able at least to read and
write. Add to Capt Ashes plan a com
pulsory school law, mild in its form, and
the problem would be in a fair way OF
solution. We ought at least to keep UP
the agitation 1t is the great issue in
North Carolina to-day, outranking in
Importance all others.