The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-07
PROGRESS Of GRADED SCHOOLS
Twenty Public Schools With Terms Of Eight
to Ten Months Let Others Follow:

We take pleasure III SlNlnS space be
low TO condensed reports of the public
schools of twenty North Carolina cities
and towns. With scarcely more than
one or two exceptions, these schools are
supported by a special tax on property
and poll to supplement the public school
fund. The people in each of these towns
have thus the advantage of free pub
lie school open for eight or ten months
every year.
superintendent C. II. Mebane has
just issued a circular letter to the may
ors of other towns i'll the State urging
that steps be taken to supplement their
public school tax. This can easily be
done without any additional legislation,
in accordance with section IS of the
school law, if a few friends Of public
rolling.
Our list of towns with special tax for
schools is not complete. In fact the
movement has gained such Roadway that
we are unable to keep up with it, We
shall be glad if the authorities of these
schools not represented here will send
in reports for publication.
We hope to be able to report not less
than fifty such schools in North Caro-
lima at the beginning of the next new
year.
ALBEMARLE.
The schools are supported by revenue
approximating $4,000. this fund being
derived from the county tax, from a
special tax of SO 1-3 cents on 500 of
municipal property and capitation tax
of one dollar.
A new brick structure to cost about
$1,000 is being built for the school from
the proceeds of bonds. and. when com
pleted, will be excellently equipped. Pend
ing the completion of this building the
school, divided into sections. is conduct
ed in various rented quarters.
In the school for white children there
are nine grades with four teachers and
a superintendent. The enrolment. num-
bering 175 at present does not yet indi-
cate the size of the school. as it will be
much larger when the school moves intol
its permanent quarters.
The school for colored children has
one teacher and an enrolment of forty
pupils.
ASHEVILLE.
The Asheville schools have 81 regular
teachers and one special teacher of NM
sic. There are four brick Buildings
and one frame. Last spring the city
.l,-
tax from 20 to so cents on property and
from go to 90 cents ON poll BY this in
crease the schools will be extended rs |
rapidly as possible.
CHARLOTTE.
Four rooms were added to the white
school during the summer. Work has |
begun on new building for white chill |
dren. This house will contain eighteen
recitation rooms and win accommodate I
one thousand children. 1t will cost S34.
600.
The enrolment in the white school is |
now 1859 and in the colored school 900
These figures will be largely increased |
after the holidays.
CONCORD
The Concord Graded Schools have had
am unusually prosperous year under the
management of Superintendent &. :.
Coler.
A new charter has been secured. new
course of study adopted, and a printed
code Of rules and regulations have been
formulated and put into effect.
Pupils are graduated from the ninth
grade.
DURHAM.
The enrolment is between 500 and 900
Il oh a,
colored. A new brick building (Fuller
SCHOOL, was erected last summer at Il cost
of about S11, 900.
There are II regular teachers, ! man
nal training teacher and one supply I,
teacher in white schools. and 8 teachers
in the colored schools. Manual training
has been taught in the schools for the |
past ) years, under the supervision of
graduate of Pratt Institute. Manual
training begins practically i'll the first
grade and continues through the tenth
Paper cutting. drawing, whiting, me
chancal drawing. wood carving and shop
work are taught.
The pupils in the high school do brick
work, using all kinds of tools, saws,
planes chisels, etc.
A new building lin place of one burned
last winter) for colored people was erect
ed last summer.
Cooking and sewing are taught in the
colored school. These subjects We're in
troduced last September and are decided
~ the most popular features of the school.
Seventy pupils take cooking and about
100 sewing
They are given 112 hours practice per
day in classes of ! each. The cost of the
cooking department., outside of teachers
salary $500 per month average about
500 per month or 10 cents per pupil per
month.
Pupils are not allowed iii the kitchen
without white aprons. sleeves and caps
Economy and cleanliness are the two
things emphasized
FAYETTEVILLE.
This is one of the oldest graded schools
in the State. 1t was established in 1878. |
Within the last year the patronage has
been increased by about thirty-five per
cent. under the able supervision of Supt |
~ +. Hill.
Three grades have been added to the
course.
GOLDSBORO.
The Goldsboro schools report prosper |