The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-02-09
THR PUBLIC SCHOOL QUESTION.
RosEDALE FARM. N. @.

Carolina since the q in a position
10 Iep1slape as effectively upon this i'm
por5ant subject 6s the n now IN ses
sion. Being composed OF members or
n three dominant parties, neither OF
which having a controlling Influence
in the boCy, It IS TO be hoped that par
Eanlem cannot prove TO be the stumO
ling block IN the path OF legislative en-
actments, favorable to the retorms
tion of our so called sy stem OF public
nsrruction. In as much as the educR
tors of the State have presented their
views upon this all important subject,
it nay rot be amiss to let b YOU De
patrons have a hearing, because IL IS a
we'll established fact that reforms OF
great value to humanity emInste from
those who feel the need of retorma-
tions. A failure to recognize this fact
has resulted IN much Intellectual legis
lation in res ard to Public education.
1t is not that l would charge either
our State educators with insIncerity or
former Legislators with want of abll
ity TO handle this subject, but, as l
take ir. the mistake originates IN the
attempt to foster upon u people a
system which Is ill suited to the needs
of the ones they intend TO benefit. Be
u a sy stem of public instruction
NAV be operated with a certain de
gree of success in the Northern States
ia not a reason it will accomplish the
same result in our Southern States. In
our attempt to solve the problem OF
public education, we are met at the
Threshold of endeavor with cOndl
tions that have never existed, nor can
exist north of the Mason and Dixon
line. While partisanism should most
rightfuIly efface from our breast all
sectional snimoeities, yet that "ImaRI
nary wall" Can never be broken down,
80 as to make our social, religious ana
educational cusEom3 conform to thOGS
existing North of 1t. Happy will be
the day when the peopl6o1 both sides
of it resllzathis fact and concede 60
the Soutnern citizens Of this Republic
the right to solve these problems pecu
liar to their section in their own way
And when Southern Statesmen accept
the grave responsibility 1t imposes
upon them and endeavor faithfully TO
xecuU the sacred trust thus contided
in them. The trace question" must
n~ecessarially be considered As a pOGenr
factor in the adjustment Of any of our
social relations, and III public schools
form no exception to the general u'e.
The whites OF the South eCqliesced In
the division of their school funds with
the colored children OILY becsuse Of
the circumstances under which they
were placed after the negroes were
freed. And their repugnance TO an IA
crease of their Taxes IOr the extension
of the present sy stem is clearly demon
strated by the unanImIty 18th which
they refuse to vote an increase OF tax
alton whenever q proposition TO this
effect is submitted to them Although
authorized by a former Legislature TO
vote by counties for increase Of taxes
90 extend the school terms, only IN a
very few counties In the State have
the friends of the meRsur had the
temeriry TO have the question voaed
upon and their IF ,rE met with such a
rebuff that 1t is not likely to be re
peated. But by a change Of tactics,
there are some nov who hope by l. giS-
lative enactment to cOerce the people
into q measure they have so slgnaliy re
pudiated If successful In this at
temot, will it not intensity the feeling
of anCagonism which IS being engen
gendered between the eGUcatCTs OF the
State and the people of the country :
It is not by any to be inferred
that the division of school funds with
the colored race Is the only Gauss of op-
position 20 the present system, They
Judge ir by It's fruits, the Impressions
upon the characters of their CHILDREN
are never satisfactory, so much so thas
the parents, as a general thing, are in
different about the attendance of theIr
children. And l think IL IL a mistake
to assume that the p ain country peO
bet In this because If q want
Of appreciation Of educational facIli
for their children Such Ia not Urue of
the great majority Of them. They
~nay be i~ilIJerage, but are not lacking
In common sense, ana 1t would be a
stupid Olunder not &c credit them with
knowing a good thing when they zee
it. They hold That the defects Ia the
system are such that the parents don't
DatrOn1z a three months term AS they