The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-27

he white schools. The teachers are
LII colored, but they are efficient and
interested in their work.
Only teachers are employed who have
been repaired to stand the regular
county examination for a first grade
The teacher are earnest
i'm their work and are giving most ef-
ficien. service. |
The public school system of Will |
mington embraces eight schools, as fol-
lows: the Tileston High School, on Ann
street, between Fourth and Fifth
streets; the Union Graded School. on
Fourth and Ann streets; the Union
Annex, on Fifth and Ann streets; h
Hemenday Graded School. on Fifth
street, between Chestnut and walnut
streets; the Hemenway Annex on
Fourth street, near Harnett street; the
williston Graded School (eolored), on
Seventh street, between Ann and Nun
streets; the Peabody Graded School,
(coIored), on Fifth street, between
Red Cross and Campbell streets; the
Peabody Annex. on Fifth street, be-
tween Harnett and Bladen streets.
During the session Of the city schools
just closed, there has been an enroll
ment OF about 1900 pupils, divided
about equally between the races. The
average attendance has been z, 500, but
the average per centage of attendance
has been % per cen in favor of the
whites.
We are sure it will be gratifying to
the citizens of Wilmington to know that
the schools of the city are on such a
satisfactory basis. They are carefully
looked after and fOstered with great
earnestness. Many of the teachers have
had long experience, and some of them
have been connected with the schools
for nearly twenty years. notably, Mrs.
M. L.McLeod, principal Of the Hem
enway school. and Miss Nellie Cook,
principal of the Union school. These
two ladies are conceded to be among
the best teachers in the state. In the
employment of the teachers, the va
rious school committees invariably
give preference to home talent, all things
being equal but whenever the neces-
sity demands they employ teachers of
ability and experience wherever found.
The pay of the teachers ia
vorably with the salaries paid instruc-
tors in the largest cities of the south,
n our teachers receive even larger
salaries than in the majority of places
The new board of education is one
upon which the county can be con-
graduated, and it is a guarantee that
the public schools of the county and
city will be faithfully looked after and
the educational interests fostered at
capable hands. 1t consists of Mr.. B.
G.. Worth as chairman and Messrs. T.
D.. Meares and Giles w. W~estbrook.
LIE ScIOOl committees at present
consist of the following: District No.
flames F. Post, Jr., chairman, E.
Borden, Games b.. Dudley, colored,
whose resignation is in hand).; District
No. 2.-James H.. C~hadbourn, chair
man, Samuel NorthrOp and John G..
Norwood, colored.
We understand that at an early late
the board of education will elect a
county superintendent of education
and that the school committees in the
{ city will 500 settle the matter of
electing- a superintendent Of city
schools.
In the absence of a city superintend-
ent, we would do injustice to Mr.. JAS.
F. Post, Jr., chairman of school district
No. 1, and Mr.. James H. Chadbourn,
chairman of district No. 2, did we not
acknowledge the great interest they
have taken in the schools and the as
siduous, unselfish, and successful su-
pervisiOn they have given them. Mr..
Post has had charge in district No. 1
and Mr.. Chadbourn in district No. 2,
while both have Jointly supervised the
high school. They AVE given their
personal attention to the schools daily
and very often have opened the schools
themselves. Both gentlemen have been
thoroughly in love with the work, and
this community owes them a debt Of
lasting gratitude. Without
ton and with only public spirit and
interest in the cause Of education, they
have done their work we'll and nObly.
Some of the committees have served
more than a quarter Of a century,, and
in giving their services to the cause
their only aim has been to conserve
the interests Of the children, promote
the cause of education, and lay the
foundation for good citizenship among
the masses and pave the way to en-
l~ightened n happy homes.
At a recent conference Of the school
committees and the county board of
education, it was determined that
nothing would be considered in the
management of the schools but the de-
sire to do everything possible for the
cause of education and especially. to
put the schools of Wilmington on a
higher plane of efficiency and useful
ness.
For the good work the committees
teachers and the board have so ably
and satisfactorily done, The Messen-
ger offers them this mention as a
| Christmas present.