The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-14
THE SnATH SUPERB NTENDENT
ON IMPORTANT SCHOOL
TOPICS.
To the Friends Of Public Education:

10 the FRIENDS OF f'uDnc EuucatlOn:
| wish to explain one or two important
changes in the school law as enacted by
the last General Assembly of North Car
DINA.
First: The township is to be the unit of
our public school system. The public
schools in the township are under the
control and management of the five
school committeeman. These men have
large discretion as to establishing schools
in their townships. AS a matter of fact
under the old law in many instances
there are three nuts, not school houses,
each receiving about S75 per year. I'm
der the new law it is possible to have in
stead of the three cabins ONE GOOD
SCHOOL HOUSE, near the centre of
the territory covered by the three cabins
and have $225. for this school. Instead
of having three So teachers, we may
have one good $50 man or woman that
may do more for the school children in
four months than under the old system
was done in two or three years.
Who would not rather send his chill
dren two or even three miles to Il school
that is a school than to have poor school
ON the corner Of his farm? / am aware
that some are very much opposed to the
township system on account of school
houses being near them, and on account
of work or money spent on some of
these houses. | hope those persons will
take a liberal view of these matters, lay
aside personal preference and join in
hearty cooperation for the greatest good
to the greatest number. When we unite
the small schools into one good strong
school with one energetic live teacher.
m n wv n
have public schools of such force and
character that will be felt in our State.
Second: The election to be held Tues
| day after the second Monday in August,
| is worthy of your careful consideration.
This election is to be held in every town
ship. The county commissioners at their
June meeting are to give notice Of this
election in every county in North Caro-
lima. 'fiat.t "~
Any township that votes to tax itself
| $500 for public schools will receive $500
| from the State, Board of Education. Or
if this amount is raised by private sub
scription for a township, the same
amount may be received from the State
Board of Education. Friends, do not
become alarmed when you hear the word
| IAN. | am aware that our country peo-
pie do have-a hard time to pay their
| taxes, but consider how little would be
| the tax of each one in a township: in or
der to sraise $500 and then have this
supplemented by the State with $500.
| making $1,000 in addition to what school
fund you now have. Suppose where we
| now have twelve schools in township
we make only eight strong schools,
| each one would receive from the $1,000
$3.50; add this $3.50 to your regular school
fund; if we can put three of the $50
schools together, then we would have $3.50
] plus $225, which is $475 for each school.
Now. my friends, do not say that all
this looks very well on paper, but it can
| not be done in our State
| tell you it can be done; and when
we have S475 for our public schools in our
State, then will we have a right to de-
| mand professional teachers in our public
| schools.
What right have we to talk about pro-
| fessional teachers in our public schools
with only $75 or 500 year to pay
| such teachers.
Third: l would like to remove, il posi-
| Bile, the idea that some of our people
have in regard to teachers salaries. l
| have heard school committeeman compare
| the time of a school teacher with that
VI llle NOou-CuoppeT, the u1IcHeT anu uue
ordinary labOrer. / have not aught to
say against any man who does this sort
| of work; it is honorable and right, but
what l want to call your attention to
| is that a mans education is his invest
ment. Let us see what an ordinary ed
ucation costs. In time it costs six years:
two year preparatory, and four years in
college. We will say the cost of the pre-
paratory education is $500, of the college
four years at $3.50 each, making cost
Of $1,000.
The six years time spent i'm school
would be worth at least 5000. Thus we
see the total cost of an ordinary educa-
ton, in time and money, is about 81 900.
These figures mean strict economy ON the
part of the student. The interest on this
education is 80 cents per day at 6 per
cent. interest. Now what farmer, or
what business man would invest 81 900
and compare his income with the % cent
wood chopper, or the ordinary laborer
who has invested neither time nor money?
G.. III. MEBANE,
Supt. of Public Instruction.