The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1900-04-16
DURHAM'S DIAMONDS
White Graded Schools the Peer of
ANY in the State,
ARE GREAT AS EDUCATORS
A Succinct Sketch Of Their Formation,
Growth and Present High
Development.

urOWtn anu Tresthi nlSn
Development.
Durhsm's Public Schools are justly the
pride Of her citizens. Their history has
been one Of such steady aud rapid deVel.
Opmeut tbst they stand today among the
first schools OF their kind ia the South
The assembly Of 1881 passei the act
which first provided for the existence Of
system Of graded .on"ols 10 Durham,
nut he provisions II the &C, aid not meet
with tue uusnimO IS apprUVai; and as a
result there was opposition which i'm
paired the usefulness If the schools for
same time, and at one time even thre at.
ened their existence. The act OF 1887,
under which the system is at present
operated, met the objections to the pre-
Vious acts, and marked the beginning of
the general popularity to which they
have since attained.
No city Of the South has been so for
tunate as Durham in having the best
heart and brain Of the city enlisted in
the cause Of It's schools Since their in
ception the schools have been overlooked
BY committees constituted OF men OF the
wisest and widest business ability; and II
is not saying too much to declare that the
best business men Of Duiham-whicb
means some of the most eminent business
men Of the ns:ion-have ever been 3 unit
ir working for the good Of the schools.
TIER time aud money have been spent
unreservedly to further the interests Of
the schools, aud It Is to that, the wise
committee men who have governed the
schools, that their great success Is due.
Mr.. Z. W. Kennedy Was the first super
intendent. He served the schools faith.
fully and efficiently for twelve years.
His administration covered the most
critical period Of the schools life, and
bis wise conduct Of the institution did
much towards fitting Il for its present
usefulness.
Mr Clinton W. Toms succeeded Mr..
Kennedy 10 September, 1893. Mr.. Toms
administration marked an epoch IN the
history Of the schools. They we're thor
oughly reofganIEed. The curriculum vas
broadened until II comprised al the fea
lures Of curriculum Of the hest public
schools 81 the North. Modern methods
Of organization, discipline and insIrue.
ton were introduced aud carefully en-
ployed throughout the schools.
Mr. Toms resigned 10 May, 1897. and
was succeeded by ~. W. ". Flowers,
under whose superintendcncy the schools
continued to grow In influence and eff
cheney. Mr.. Flowers resigned at the Close
Of the last school year, aud was succeeded
BY Mr. J. A. Ma,heson.
The school bad 90 increased 10 nun.
bers that the Morehead Building had for
some time been inadequate 10 accommo-
date the pupils. Another building had
become necessity. To meet such .
demand, the trustees, during the past
summer, erected the building on CIeye.
land street Il vas opened for use on
October 18th.
The school, nov occupy three build
ings: The Fuller Building, on Cleveland
street; the MOrehesd Building. on Dandy
sfeeii we Nbitted building, on Ramsey
street
At tie Fuller School the pupils CON
pIe'e & course Of study covering six
grades Of one years work each. They
are then transferred to the Morehead
Building for the High School course. The
MOrebest School has the same sIK years
preparstory course as the Fuller School. /
and 10 addition, the four years course Of
the High School.
Through the first six years each grade
has lie oSn teacher, but the High School