The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-12
WHAT THE ASSEMBLY
DID FOR EDUCATION
The Significance of the
500, G0C Appropriation.
FOR PURLlC SCHOOLS
HOW HIGHER AND CHARITABLE
SCHOOLS WERE CARED FOR.
MACHINERY OF THE NEW SCHOOL LAW
important Duties imposed on Towcship Trus-
tees. The County Board Of School
Directors the Apex of the
Pyramid.

intelligence.
The premium was not so high as folks
who know little or nothing of conditions
in the State would have liked that il
should be; it was higher than was desir.
cd by those III the State who would
have conditions remain always the
same, at whatever cost.
1t is the first time in the history of the
State that any attempt has been made
To give formal recognition to trained in
telhgence through legislative enactment.
to distinguish between the intelligent man
and the ignorant in making up the
States roster of citizens. Other States.
some of them. did this long since; North
Carolina has, as usual, been a somewhat
tardy follower
But there has not only been leg
islative recognition of the fact that
men. may be- of such different degrees of
intelligence as to make some tit and
some unfit 10 exercise the right Of
suffrage. but it may be- said that the
General Assembly of 1880 inaugurated
what is to be a new educational poll
cy. 1t fixed a standard of citizenship
and set about helping the citizens of to-
morrow to reach it.
1efe is tne standards:
Every person presenting himself for
registration shall be able to read and
write any section of the constitution in
the English language
1t is true that the succeeding section
of the Constitutional Amendment modi-
fies this declaration but it is an impor-
tant departure none the less.
And this is how the State is to helm
nf
Guirements of the new citizenship:
The General Assembly of North Caro-
lima do enact:
Section !. That the sum of one hum
bred thousand dollars be- and the same
is hereby appropriated annually. from
the State Treasury for the benefit of the
public schools.
Section ,. That this money shall be
distributed to the respective counties
of the State per capita as to school
population on the first Monday in Jan
nary of each year. using the school cen
Sus of the previous scholastic year as Il
basis of appoftionment.
Section 3. That the Superintendent of
Public Instruction shall issue warrants
upon the Auditor for the amount due
each county under section . of this act:
said warrants TO be drawn in favor of
the County Treasurer of each county.
to be credited to the general public
school fund of the county"
1t is true that 100000 is not great
deal for the State of North Carolina
only trifie over Il $1,000 for each
county-but its significance is not TO be
measured by the amount. That it was
not doubled was only because the State
did not have 100000 to spare at this
A.. lla
as intelligence fructifes the States
waste places, the new policy of prog
ress VIII ind larger means provided to
give 1t wider beneiicence. Those who
have tried to spur the languid interest
OF our people into a movement potent
for better schools will best
weigh this additional si0O 600.
Such will sea in it not mere Is %
cents additional school money for each
of the 100000 school children of the
State, but the awakening of people.
that consciously shirks no duty. to a
duty too long deferred Mahomct has
waited long for the mountain to come
to him: ut last he has started n little
way toward the mountain
In the matter of appropriations &c
higher institutions. only urgent needs
have been met. Indeed North Carolina
is very well off in the way of colleges.
With the possible exception of Virginia
there is no Southern State that ranks
her in this particular. There are some
that make larger appropriations to high
or institutions but none having colleges
whose imprimatur means more. There
are institutions in North Carolina
State and otherwise, whose trade mark
is good brand to carry. 1t was the
recognition Of this, that prevented the
General Assembly from making any in.
crease in the annual appropriations t.
States colleges except to those institt
lions devoted to the care of the deaf an,
dumb and the blind. The appropria
tions to State colleges for the whit,
race are:
State Normal COLLEGE, extra. s. 5000
State University. annual $3.50. S25.00l
State University, extra ..S 1.50t
A. and NJ. College annual -. $4,000
a. and NJ. College, loan ...S 2,50t
Total for this year ... $4,000
Neither of these special appropriations
is for support. The $4,000 extra given
to the Stata Normal and Industrial
College will be used to build much
needed gymnasium and library; the 81
800 allowed the State University is to
put IN water works and sewerage
system; the $500 in the Agricultural
and Mechanical College budget is a loan
TO be repaid from the regular appr0piia-
ton 60 that institution
lhe appropriations made to tie State
charitable schools are ae follow
State School for the Deaf and
Dumb, at Merganton annual. so. ooo
Special ......... T.0oo
School for the Deaf and Dumb
and the Blind, at Ral,igh, an
nual ......,............ $50, 500
Special, $4,000