The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24
EDUCATIONAL
AWAKENING.

In order that your readers may know
something of our growth and progress in
the past as well as the present, | will
give some statistics taken from my last
Educational Report
In 1854 our receipts were $5S0,311.60.
In 1894 they were S717,O7929, and in
1898 our receipts 1886, 511.S5.
The number of children of school age,
6 to II years, in 1884 was 515,404.
Whites, 321 sol; colored, 193,S43.
The number of children of school age
in 1894 was whites 3S9,709, colored d.
1911: total, 601 300
The number of children OF school age
in 1898 was was whites, 415,262; col
ored, 213,21S; total, 62S, 4S0.
The value of school property reported
in 1898 was $930,214.
Number of school districts reported
in 1898 for whites 5,0S3 colored 2,404;
total, 1887.
We have $t45,250 Of bonds belonging
to the State school fund; In addition
to this .alrge tracts of public lands and
swamp lands in the eastern part of the
State belongs to the State Board of Ed
ucation, the proceeds Of which belong TO
the school fund.
Our general State tax is 1Sc on the
hundred dollar valuation or properly
and "a cents on the poll.
Most of our large and more progress
i've cities and towns have IA special local
tax. These special taxes vary from
1919 on property tone hundred dollar
valuation and 3T1a on poll upward, 121a
cents on property being the smallest
special tax.
We have at least twenty towns In
North Carolina, / think where they
have splendid graded schools from
to 10 months each year.
Local taxation has been of slow
growth with us, but it has come to
stay, and is now fixed principle in our
educational development and progress.
While we as a State have been slow,
very slow, to move along educational
lines, yet the present outlook is better
than at any time in our past history, in
my opinion.
Public sentiment has undergone a
wonderful change within the hast few
years. Business men and men of means
in our towns see now as they never
saw before that it is the part of wisdom
and good business also to support the
public schools.
For evidence and proof of public sem
timent growing for schools we need only
refer to May 1st, 1899 Washington
voted 20 cents ON property and GO cents
on polls, Newhern voted 1919 cents on
property and 371a cents on polls, Kin
ston also voted special taxes. Albemarle
voted an appropriation of $4,000 for
schools, Nit. Airy voted special tax for
schools, Mt. Olive did the same Hen
Jacksonville also. Asheyille voted to in
crease tax for schools. Durham and
Raleigh have voted bonds to increase
public school facilities.
Never within the history of our State
has there been such an onward move
to increase the special fund Tor schools
as during the present year
The last Legislature made it easy for
small towns TO vote special taxes for
schools. | quote here the law in part:
I'm every incorporated city or town of
not less than one thousand inhabitants,
In which there is not now levied spe-
clal tax for schools, upon petition sign
ed by one-third of the freenolders there
in, the board of aldermen or town COM
missioners of said city or town SHALL
at the date of the municipaI or general
election, next ensuing the presentation
of said petitions, order an election TO be
held to ascertain the will of the people
whether there shall be levied fin such
city or town special annual tax of not
more than 30 cents on the one hundred
dollars valuation of property and 90
cents on the poll to supplement- the pub
lie school fund in such city or town."
This affords most excellent oppor
tunity for our small towns to have
schools.
Let me illustrate; take a. town of one
thousand voting population. Let us sup
pose that the valuation or property IN
such town is 100000 three hundred
thousand dollars.)
The present school fund from this
property at Is cents on property and 81
cents on the poll IS, on property, $40,
on one hundred polls $40, making a
total school fund of 81, $50. Zone thous-
and and eighty dollars.)
Now suppose this same town votes
30 cents ON its property this will make
$500, and 80 cents on the polls will make
5000. thus making special fund of 81 800
to add to the 81 $50 making total school
fund of $3.50 for our town of 1000 vot-
ing population and property valuation of
luIte nuluTeu JDOuSdnu uOldfS.
Another evidence that popular educa-
ton is becoming more popular in North
Carolina is the fact that our last Legis-
lature voted an appropriation of one
hundred thousand dollars.
Two years ago the writer and others
tried to have the appropriation made,
but could not for two reasons, first. the
money did not seem to be available;
second, public sentiment did not demand
it,
This appropriation within itself does
not mean much as it viii only give about
IL cents per capita school population,
but the recognition it gives to the work
and cause of public education means a
great deal.
All honor to Speaker Conner who was
first to answer to the roll call in the
House of Representatives, and who de-
clared that it was one of the proudest
acts of his life to cast his vote for this
appropriation.
All honor to John b. Holsman, of Ire
dell county, who when men were rolling