The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-12
REVOLUTION
IN EDUCATION
This is What we Need, and
President Mclver Hopes
This Appropriation, Which
is but the Beginning of
Greater Things, VIII Con-
tribute to I hat End.

tribute to That End.
To the Editor: In response to your
request for some observations upon the
recent action of the General Assembly
making an Appropriation of 100000 di-
rect from the treasury to the public
schools of the State. | wish, first of
the Legislature saw its way clear t,
make this appropriation. When | had
! opportunity among legislators / advo-
Gated the appropriation, because | believ-
ed it to be the best forward step posi-
bic to us at this time. This is Il III
rect contribution to public education from
the property of the State, since, by the
, Constitution, no poll tax ever reaches
the State Treasury. If the school tax
I had been increased from Is cents to
30 cents on each 800 worth of prop
erty, the effect, so far as the total in
crease in public school revenue is CON
cerned, would have been about the same.
The property of the State is assessed at
about $250,000000. and so, every cent
of increase in the tax on 800 raises
about $4,000 of revenue. But the
/ 100000 direct from the State Treas
| ury is better for the people Of small
means than if it had been raised by an
increase in the school tax to - cents,
because by the former plan, the strong
and wealthy communities of the State
help the weaker communities. Thus
Asheville, Charlotte Winston. Durham.
Raleigh. Goldsboro, Wilmington and
other cities will contribute to the State
Treasury more of the 100000 than
they will receive in return, whereas Il
populous community with small proper
| ty assessment will receive more than it
contributes. The 100000 may not in
crease the average length of the school
term more than eight days. But this
increase, and the constant agitation
| everywhere for local taxation to secure
additional school facilities, together
with the discussion of the constitu-
tonal amendment. emphasizing the ne
cessity for intelligent citizenship. will
! prove to be great educational stimu
| lus in North Carolina.
The day will soon come when the
State will increase this appropriation of
100000, to 100000. Some States not
much Weather than ours now appfo-
pirate that much from the State Treas
ury to their public schools. and all of
th>m have more local taxation than we
| have for public education. States ike
| Pennsylvania secure Il State school fund
| running into the millions by Il tax on
| corporations.
| \ good school system would do more
| to bring the right kind of immigration
(, to North Carolina than any Bureau of
| Immigration could do. Moreover no
! Bureau of Immigration can induce large
Numbers of desirable citizGns to settle
in any State which does not have Il
good school system.
| However. the best effect of the action
! of the Legislature will be the general
imprs ssion produced by a special apprO-
/ priation of 100000 for public eduCa-
ton This increase will make the total
! amount for public schools next year
nearly a million dollars. This amount
will be still further increased. and after
awhile public education. because of the
large amount Of money invested in it,
will assume a new dignity in the minds
of some men who heretofore have tax
Ell no interest i'll it for its own sake.
! When the sentiment becomes universal
that the education of all the people is
really desirable. and that the State
owes it to itself to see that a good pub
lie school is within the reach Of every
child, and that public education pays,
even when considered only from tle
! financial point of view, we will then bear
less grumbling about the public school
| tax; we will see better school houses
and more children in them: above all
we will see more real teachers working
in North Cardinals educational vine
yard; and we will have Boards of Edu
cation and committeeman managing the
| public schools who have more sense
/ than to believe that they are practicing
the best economy when they place the
States future citizenship in the hands
of such trainers as they can employ at
lower prices than are paid to cotton
pickers and tobacco-stemm2rs.
| Educati onally we need revolution.
and | hope this new form of State aid
to the lower public schools may con
! tribute something to this revolution.
/ While i do not expect it to bring about
an educational millennium, yet TO a
! man who. while conducting private
school, cast his first vote for the estab-
lishment of public schools i'll his comma
| nifty and practically for the abolition of
his own school, and who has given the
greater part of his thought and energy
since reaching manhood's estate TO the
cause of educating all the people OF
North Carolina, it is no ordinary pleas
ure to see the new interest manifested
III public education from all quarters.
| From the days of Calvin III. Wiley
| ~vzuuuvvv-~rr~v-