The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-22
CHILDREN DON co
TO THE SCHOOLS
Supt. Moses Suggests Some
Legislation.
I'm HIS ANNUAL REPORT
The Splendid Work of the Suburban
Schools.
AN IMPROVEMENT IN SCHOLARSHIP
Mr.. Moses Recommends Consolidation OF The
CoIored Schools During the Summer
When the Attendance is
Very Small.

| board OF Aldermen his annual report
of the condition of the city schools,
for the scholastic year ending June,
| 1900. 1t is as follows:
During the year there were enrolled
in the white schools 1,511 pupils, and in
the colored schools 1,41S. total enroll
ment of 1929.
''The average daily attendance in the
white schools was ,001 and in the colorel
| school 844
| Compared with last year there was
| an increase in the enrolment of white
children of 10 per cent, and an increase
of colored children of 914 per cent.
THE increase in the average daily at
| tendance is marked and gratifying, being
| IS per cent greater than last year in. both
| the white and colored schools. This re-
markabe increase IS doubtless largely
| attributable to the improved condition of
| the sidewalks and to the establishment
| of the suburban schools. However, the
number of children in actual daily at
tendance compared with the number en-
rolled, is not so large as it should be.
This is especially true in the first school
year. In one white primary school room
| A per cent of the children enrolled failed
| to attend as many as sixty days during
| the entire year One-sixth of the whole
number attended less than twelve days.
| In one of the colored primary school
rooms; SO per cent. failed to attend as
many as sixty days, and one-fifth of the
whole number attended less than twelve
days.
h. ol.:J
| for a single day is less than half the
| scholastic population of the township n
Whatever may be said about the needs
| Of the State in general or of other cities,
| it seems plain that some legislation on
| the subject of school attendance is need
| ed here. I respectfully suggest that a
bill be submitted to the General Assem-
| bly, of 1901, authorizing the school com
| mittee of Raleigh township TO enforce,
| in it's discretion. the attendance of an
children. sound2in mind and body, be-
| tween the ages Of six and eleven inclusive
| for sixty days annually. l have reason to
| believe that those who more largely than
| any others employ children Gotten against
| their own wild would endorse such
measure and lend us their cheerful sup
port in enforcing it.
1T is simply a question of time when
| every community will demand, for it's
| own protection. that there shall be no
| illteracy in it's borders. In his last re
port, Hon. B. r Lacy, Labor Commission
| er, publishes one thousand replies from
| the farms. trades and factories to the
question: DO you favor Compulsory
| Education?' More than ree-fourths OF
| the answers are unequivocally in the
affirmative. It argues we'll for the future
| Of the State that those who favor mos;
| heartily such a measure are managers of
mills, among whom it gives me pleasure
| to note the name of an honored member
| of your committee | regret that | have
| not space to quote the opinions of the
| men who are doing so much for the ma
| terial upbuilding of the commonwealth.
and who are much better prepared than
| | am to speak on a subject which touches
| vitality the industrial life of this and
every other manufacturing community in
| the State.
1--WE have now reached the point in
| he development of our school system,
| where a large increase may be made ir
the numbers in our primary schools with
| out the expenditure of any large addi-
| eional sum Of money. 1t is entirely safe
| 20 say that several hundred more young
| children of each race, may be instructed
| by the same methods and with equally
good results by the increase to our eX
Dense account CT not more than one cent
| day for each additional child.
"In the suburban schools there were
| enrolled 149 pupils, three-fourths of whom
would have attended no other school
The attendance of the remainder
much more regular than it would other
wise have been. In the West Raleigh
school, forty-three pupils were enrolled
and the average daily attendance during
he last term, when attendance at schoo!
generally the lowest, was forty. ] de-
sire to thank the officers of the Pilot anf
Caraleigh mills for the interest they have
taken in our work
I'm some of the colored schools there
s, every spring a sudden decrease il
numbers. Some rooms which are crowd
| ID during the winter become almost de-
| populated before the close of the schoo
| ERIN. l recommend that authority bl
| given the superintendent to close a schoo
| and transfer the pupils who remain when
ever the attendance is not sufficient tt
| Justify the employment of the teacher.
"a decided improvement in scholarship
| IS noted, especially in the lower grades
This has been brought about in two ways
| /. The teacher has her work laid ou'
| definitely and in detail and is held
| strictly responsible fer results 2. No
| child is promoted to a higher grade until
| he has mastered the work of the lower
| grade. In other words, we have set ur
| standard for the protection of those
| who do their work we'll, and as a stimulus
| o all. Proper classification is the most
| important work of any school Improper
| classification results in slow progress ant
| Encouragement to the brighter members
If class and undue pressure upon thos
| who cannot do we'll the work assigned
i them.
Looking back over the work of the
schools for fifteen years, do not hesitate