The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-10-30
correspondence
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The paramount ISSUE D6IOF6 our
,7ral population today is, or ought
~ he. the question OF lettering the
educational facilities of our children.
Ucneed more schools, better schools,
and longer terms. Every farmer
should read carefully and then dis
crss seriously with his neighbors
and in his Sub. and County Alliances
the resolution on this subject adopted
nv thes19OO. State Alliance.
Nv only object in this writing is
m urge upon my rural brethren the
fact that they are falling we'll in the
rear in the march of progress, espe-
oiaIlv so in the matter of schools and
facilities of education and in the use
of them.
At this time our cities and most of
our towns of any size have their
wcII-organized, thoroughly equipped
and officered graded schools, with
every appliance modern science has
invented, with a corps of teachers
with salaries ranging from $500 to
$1,000 per year. Thus school is open
for nine months in the year. The
bows and girls of the rich and the
Door. the black and the white. are
generally prepared to enter our best
colleges when graduated from these
GRADED schools. Not so in our rural
districts.
The area of this State is $3.50
square miles, the white children in
5.OS3 school districts covering this
area. These districts, then, average
about 81 miles square. There are
as per 1898 repOrt) As, 262 white
children in the State, which makes
an average of 81 to each district.
There were schools taught in 4,227
IF these districts, leaving $50 with
out schools. The average price paid
the teachers of white children was
$23.S1 per month, or for the average
term 81 days, $S4.52%. Out of the
II children in the district we find an
average of only 81 on the school roll,
and at the close of the term the aver
age attendance stands less than % of
those enrolled, so that only % chill
drsn out of every 81 of our rural
population get even the II days of
public tuition.
Are not these figures proof of a
serious condition which stares US
" IL c--O Al -I--@
fault is it that these things are true?
This is "a picture of the average on
dition of our country white children.
What are we doing, or saying, or
even thinking about it? Have you,
my friend and brother, ever realized
what this means for your children,
your grandchildren and their chill
dren? Your district may be more
highly favored than the average. Is
it. Then some other district falls
below the level. Are you willing
that the condition shown by this re-
port should continue? Still this re-
port shows a slight improvement
over the past, and l trust the forth
coming report will show still further
advances. Let each one of US ask
himself seriously, What is my
duty?'' Let US ask our Maker to
inspire US with the knowledge, the
determination, the zeal, we need in
these times, that we may unfalter-
ingly perform the task before US.
No one knows how thankful [ am
that my children are permitted to
enjoy the privilege of the Raleigh
Graded Schools. I attended the
closing exercising of one of these
schools a year ago, and my heartrOse
up in my throat when my thoughts
ran back to my school boy days, and
my prayer went up for the poor brats
IN the country just as bright, just as
good, just as smart, as any of these
beautiful children, but deprived of
this great blessing.
Discuss this question with your
wife, with your children, with your
neighbors, with your brothers, with
your sisters wake them all up, and
make up your mind that there will
be, there shall be, a better school,
and u longer term in your district
thar ever before, and hat your chill
dren shall attend it every day from
the opening to the close and not %
days out of II. Remember your
children deserve this. You owe it to
them. PAY that thou Owest."
j. w. DENMARK.