The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-03-06
INCENTIVE
TO EDUCATION.
An illustration Derived From
The Egyptian Army

For many years the State Of North /
has labored under the charge Of
having a greater percentage Of illiterate
whites within her borders than any other
State. This reproach has been fastened
on our people. and everyone should wish
II removed.
Can something be done TO rectify this
condition of affairs among Us! II has
long been a favorite wish III North Caro-
lima 70 stamp o iiliteracy. Fol thar
purpose. the old free chools were esrab-
1ishetl. which every white child might
attelgd and gain the rudiments OF an ed
ucation. And since the War, every Leg
~islatUre has been moved by the purpose
Of stamping out iiliteracy, 70 favor pub
lie schools, and make constantly increas-
ing appropriations for them. Year after
year the number of schools has been IN
CREASED and the school fund has been
augmented by greater taxes. That the
ca'l>" of education has been advanced
admits Of no question; but still young
men and young women fall IN many
neiyhborhoods TO attend the schools and
remain in utter ignorance.
BUT now IA measure is proposed that II
carried ont will put education i'll North
Carolina ON Il different footing. First.
= 'AII utII al th't '@
bring every white boy to the schools
and stir them up to be apt pupils. Some
of them have not cared 70 learn IN the
failure has been AT home. The children
have been untaught in part because of
a lack Of sufficient incentive. But tins
new measure, this Constitutional Amend
ment. will supply the incentive.
Sometime ago we met with an incident
thar illustrates this. The army of Egypt
was 50 ignorant that the officers had TO
rely almost entirely on civilian clerks to
do all their writing. and these clerks
thus eNerted 4 great influence on army
matters. To remedy that the Khedive
ordered that no officer should be pro
| NOTED unless he could read and write:
| and that no furlough should be given
TO any one who could not read and
write. Immediately the army became a
camp Of instruction. and IN one year
there We're only 10 men in the whole
Egyptian army who could not read and
write.
| Such was the result of a powerful Stl-
mulus. The incentive provided by the
Constitutional Amendment will be equal
ty effacious on the children. They will
! all want to attend school and learn. The
| parents at home will not be able to keep
them from school, even if they should be
20 disposed.
And as the State will supply better
school facilities and make more liberal
| appropriations than ever. there will be
no lack of opportunity. If then the Con
| stitut.onal Amendment is adopted edu-
alton will be advanced by it more than
could be by any other means. 1t will
mean much to the cause of education
IN North Carolina: and it will in time
renOve from our State the stigma of
lliteracy that we all so greatly deplorc.
past: but in the future they will ali wish
@ emerge from the illiterate class. They
viii have Il stimuluS never before felt; a
motive for attending the school. and a
stimulus to learn and make the most
If their school facilities. For unless
hey can read and write boys becoming
# age after December. 1908 will not be
lble to vote.
We speak of the genera scope of the
Constitutional Amendment. for it does
lot &C into operation in this respect for
ome years yet. Blu the effects will be
It once felt upon its adoption. and the
Importance Of educating the children viii
be' Immediately brought home to parents
is never before.
And so it is plain that the Number OF
pupils in the schools will begin at once
30 increase: and there will be more
'choOlS and longer terms. The cause OF
Nducltlon Will take on 4 new lnte1eS1
md it will develop rapidly. The State
having prescribed this educational quail
icatiun for the voters. will be more il
luty bound than ever to provide school,
md school teachers for the pupils. There
: no other public expenditure tina
fields such 4 return to the State as tht
school fund. 1t is expended at home
t is evenly scattered throughout the
State. and every neiglrborhood has it,
hare and has its benefits. 1t educate,
he young and lifts them up to the leve
If highest citizenship. After the amend
nemt passes all will agree that ever,
loTlar possible shall be spent in proyid
ne education and in making the public
schools more beneficial to the children
The childrcn-Heaven help them. They
hall have all that we can give them.
1t is greatly to be deploreu that aEN
If them have grown up in ignorance
school facilities have been furnished. no
uch as will be offered hereafter: bnJ
till mtasurably adequate. The cause o!
greater strengthening of the public credit
9. 1t removes temptations from the lab
ring classes Of the colored race. AM
.enders industrious operations steady, re
!iable and serviceable, especially woul,
Ibis be true of critical seasons i'll farInln:
operations.
10. 1t brings peace TO the people, cspe
tally where the eNactions of petty negr
officials have harassed and annoyed com
munitieS with Write minoritieS; insure
tranquility for trade. decreases idleness
intrigue. corruption and drunkenness
and therefor. diminishes crime and tn
losses and evils it involves. and so it ad
antes the public welfare in j high de
gree.
JOHN S. CUNNINGHAM.
Feb. 9th, 1900.
Its unwise to judge Il ma by th'