The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-23
LIFE CERTIFICATES GRANTED.
Public Schools and DenominatiOnal
Schools Must not be Combined.

Public Schools and Denominations
Schools Must not be Combined.
The following persons passed the eX
animation for Life Certificates: Diplo
mas will be issued to them by the State
Board of Examiners.
G.. Y. Jeryis. Madison county.
o. T.. Sans. Buncombe county.
L. F. Mendenhall, Randolph county.
j. y. Brady Buncombe county.
Mrs. y. w. Z. Gardner. Vance county
The Superintendent of Public lnstruc
ton says four applicants failed to pass
and there are three whose papers have
not vet been passed upon by the board
Those who failed did so more on ac-
count of poor spelling and bad English
than on account of lack of knowledge OF
the subjects.
The Superintendent gives the follow
inc warning to teachers: "See that your
pupils can spell well, and express i'll
simple English what knowledge they
have of n subject 1t is Il lamentablc
fact that in large part of educational
work today, we find too much haste to
get away from the English branches and
primary studies in general. The very
foundation for an education is thus not
we'll laid and the structure of course will
be shaky.
1--WE find parents very much concerned
in regard to how and when their child
rem shall finish their education,
but very little concerned as to how and
where they shall begin. The most
artistic painter may put the most beau
tiful finish on house. but unless the
coat of filing and the first coat of paint
ing is we'll done. then the beautiful fin
ish will soon scale off and prove fail
IRE. So in our finishing the education
of our boys and girls. Unless the ground
work is well done the college finishing
will prove a failure when tested by the
stern realities of life"
Replying to numerous enquiries re-
Gently in regard to combining the public
schools with the denominational schools,
Superintendent Mebane writes county
supervisors as follows:
Il think it best for the committee al
ways to provide public school lot and
building. The spirit of all our laws
seems TO be against combining church
and State in any way. When the public
school is combined with a denominl ton
al one, the best interest of the public
school can rarely, if ever be secured.
We cannot have the support of all the
people when the pubnc school is united
with the church school.
1.-The public schools are for all the
people, supported by all the people. and
must serve all the people in enlighten
mcnt without any regard to denOmina-
ti0ns or churches. The law provides
for combining public schools with private.
but I do not think that this. in any
sense, means UNCONVENTIONAL or church
schools Therefore my instruction to
you. as county supervisor, is that You do
not combine public schools with demon
national schools
II am aware that these church schools
have well-prepared teachers but notwith-
standing this, the primary object for
which they are employed is TO benefit the
church that sends them out, and in every
community we find some parents who
will not send their children because the
school is under other church influence
than their own. Let MS not have any
hindrance in the way of united support
in the schools. which must have the
support of all our people if they are ever
what they should be-"