The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-06-16

part:
''fhe teachers have been making pub
he sentiment for education all these
years, though the progress seems slow
indeed. with what it should have been.
Our taxes for public schools have
been increased from 100 thousand dol
lars in 1869 until in 1893 we spent 931
thousand dollars for public schools.
THE splendid city schools with their
special taxes are the result Of the teach
ers and influence more than of any 9th
err class Of men.
1.-THE business men took hold and
made the cause go, but the teachers had
to show the business men that it was
business to do so.
Il rejoice over the fact that the teach
ers of North Carolina have more infiu
ence today than ever before in our his
tory.
..Our teachers realize their own
strength and influence more today than
ever before
IF the business man has Influence. il
the practitioner of medicine, If the law
yer. if the minister Of the gospel and
all the other professions have power and
influence then OF course the men and
women who mould and fashion the char
acter and lives OF all of these from child
hood must necessarily have power and
influence.
"The State was | may say forced to
establish n college for it's women as well
as for It's men. This was brought about
by the teachers of the State.
although we passed through one Of
the hottest political campaigns of our
States history last year. and although
there was the most intense bitter spirit
and feelings, engendered by the leaders
in politics. and although we had trans
fer of party power, still MS soon as the
conflict was over and the representatives
We're assembled to enact laws pertain
ing to public education. we find that
the teachers were given Il respectful
hearing and at no time in our past his
tory has the influence Of the teachers
and educators been more directly seen
and felt than it was at the last General
Assembly.
THE intelligence of the gentlemen
had something to do with the greatness
of this influence. but | wish to declare
that public sentiment behind the men
had more to do with their action than
any other ONE thing.
Thank God the time has come in
North Carolina when the teachers can
and viii be heard. even in the halls of
legislation.
How has this come to pass?
1T has come as the result of the con-
tinuous hammering Mt the public mind
and the slow. but gradual increase Of
public sentiment for education created
in large measure by our teachers
Il appreciate what has been done to
increase the public sentiment for etiu-
cation by whomsoever the work is or
may he done, but l wish especially to
appreciate what the press. both religious
and secular have done for education
The silent voice of the newspaper,
both religious and secular. reaches the
innermost circles of our homes as never
before in the past. and | rejoice that
the men behind the editorial guns have
aimed at and shot some tremendous
blows against the bulwarks of ignorance
and ii these men continue 10 point their
guns in the right direction the walls of
ignorance will be very much damaged
at an early period
Now coming directly to the subject
assigned me as to what teachers may
do to make school laws successful.
Il will say the first thing for our
teachers to do is to know themselves
what our school laws are
Il have been much surprised to see
how little the average teacher knows
of our laws pertaining especially to pub
he schools.
The teacher in every community
should be the best informed man or wo-
man on the School Legislation enacted
by each General Assembly, not except
ing even the lawyers whose special bust
ness it is to know the law.
Our legislation does not by any
means please in every respect the teach
er. but we have right to expect that
our teachers shall understand it and at
least be ready to make the best OF
whatever law may I've enacted for edu-
cation in his or her community.
when we hear the politician paving
the air and wailing over the dark days
of '6S, yet amidst all of that darkness
and political gloom the true teacher am.
friend of public education appreciated
and appreciate today what was ATTEMPT
w WIN II ~ WHY dlttulllltu ny tttlftI-
baggers.
Yes in those gloomy days the consti-
tutlonal convention sought to engraft
in our midst the township system of local
taxation. and who will dare gain-say
that had this idea been left In our or
ganlc law. today instead OF being in
the rear ground of intelligence, we
would he the foremost State in the
South in educational progress.
But alas. alas. the Indignation of
our people caused them to sweep away
the good with the bad and all these
years we find that our people have been
waiting. yes peacefully waiting for the
public schools to be made what they
should be by a general States taxation.
The great bulk of our people are
still waiting, and will continue to wait
until this doctrine of local tax is in
stiled into their minds and hearts.
I'm the future, you will hear much
of the woes of fusion rule in North Car
olina, while there is much to condemn,
yet the true teacher not only of today,
but of the future will appreciate what
was attempted for education.
During the last General Assembly we