The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-24
TUESDAY ....... January "A, 1890
THE EDUCATORS HERE-FHEY
GIVE GOOD ADVICE.


There has seldom been gathering in
Raleigh that was more in,po t;tps than
the hearing before the joint committee
on Education in the House last night.
Many of the leading educators in the
State We're present. rs were many legis-
lators. There were present also num-
Der of county supervisors. as well as
city and cedntry school teachers, and
public spirited citizens deeply interested
in the Educational welfare of the State
They made many suggestions; there
were different views advanced, but in
the main there was agreement upon
The discussion was upon a high plain
directed to finding the best way to make
the public schools more effective. To
that end several excellent suggestions
were made looking to lettering the pub
lie school law. After hearing the dis
cussion, the sum of the recommends
l. Large latitude should be given to
the Board of Education in each county.
2. The very best men should be
chosen as members of the board, super
yisors and committeeman, and public
sentiment should be built up strong
enough to compel this character of men
to serve.
3. Fewer public school districts, and
a concentration of money and brains in
fewer schools. For ten years there has
been an undue multiplication of schools,
the result being that all are weakened.
4. The necessity of some provision of
law whereby the State school fund can
be increased by local taxation by town
ships desiring to vote this increase upon
themselves. The best way to do this is
to defer such voting until after 1900
when the mass of ignorant voters win
be eliminated
5. Such division of the school fund
avoiding any per capita distribution. as
length, but leaving to each county or
township the same powers as to expendi-
ture granted to graded school trustees
III the towns and cities.
q. Giving the entire financial and
supervisory control of schools to white
men, leaving, however, to the negro
committeeman such control eyer the
schools for his race as is wisest and best.
e. Requiring a certain minimum of at
tendance in schools-20 was the number
suggested by Rev. John Z. White. 1t
came out that in some instances teach
ers had kept their schools open with
only seven children, drawing full pay.
There was some suggestion that teach
er's salary should be graded in proper
tion to the average attendance.
z. The necessity Of four months
school term Under the present law
with the present funds some counties
have q four months school ternl-nota-
bly, Edgecombe and Durham. Edge
connie has all along had four months
school term, and last year it had a term
Of 1876 days, the largest enjoyed by any
county in the State. How has Edge
cornbe accomplished this? First, it has
had in the person of Prof. Wilkerson,
long county superintendent, capable
man whose views have been respected.
He has prevented the multiplication of
school districts, and secured such diyi-
sion of the fund as has given to each
race the term required by law. What
wise management has done in Edge
combe can be done in most of the other
counties in the State.
s. The Fusion school officials in NEST
Of the counties have given too much
thought to politics, and there is need OF
radical change in the administration
OF the public schools. This is. as neces
sary-even more so-than sweeping
change in the school law.
We regret that space does not per
nit full report of the admirable
speeches or the practical and thoughtful
educators who have given the commit
tee the benefit Of their matured opin,
ions. We feel sure that the joint com
mittee on Education, composed of the