The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-25
STRONG CAMPAIGN
FOR EDUCATION.
There is Need to Arouse In
terestinPubIic Education
MUST REACH THE PARENTS
1t Can Only be Done by Series of
School House Meetings.
HYDE DOUN1Y PLAN A GOOD MODEL
If the People Of Every County Will Adopt it,
There Can be an Educational Revival
Of Great Good Carried on in
North Carolina.
MUST REACH THE PARENTS
1t Can Only be Done by Series of
School House Meetings.
HYDE BOUNTY PLAN A GOOD MODEL

To the Editor: Owing to the fact that
the notice of the canvass soon to be COM
menced in Hyde county in the interest
of public schools has received some at
tention from the press and has caused
a number of inquiries as to lis scope
and purposes, it may not he amiss to
attempt to give a general outline of
what is intended to be accomplished
and how we expect to go about it.
The idea was suggested from the,
writer's having observed the campaign
conducted by Mr.. Small and others dur
ing the winter of 1899 in the interest OF
the graded school in Washington, N. c.
Congratulating Mr.. Small on his Sue
cess / exacted from him a promise that
whenever he could conveniently do SO
he was to help along similar lines like
work in Hyde county.
Right here it is perhaps we'll to note
the interest always excited by press
notices of anything pertaining to educa.
tional work. The writer recalls that
about twelve years ago he was the COR
respondent of press agency, and had
occasion to write up rather elaborate
account of house breaking at Chapel
Hill. All the details were given and
suppose the article would have filled a
half column of one of the present
dailies. On my way from the scene of
the robbery happened to overhear DIR.
Battle say, there We're as many as three,
thousand young men in the State whose
parents We're financially able to give
them University education. / put this
in also, and great was my surprise at
finding the whole of my account of the
robbery blue pencilled'' as merely local
news and the item quoting DR.. Battle
published in all the State papers. That
interest is today intensified and one
of the inquiries which this letter is in
tended to answer comes to the county
superintendent of public instruction of
Hyde county from Georgia.
The county board of education in this
county has for some time been of the
opinion that the more intelligent and
responsible citizenship Of the county
should be aroused to the necessity of
taking more lively interest in the
public schools, the board having ex-
perienced great difficulty in inducing
competent men of influence and pro-
gressive ideas along other lines to accept
positions on school committees and car
ry out the spirit of the school law with
zeal and tact. Again, there has been a
notable indifference on the part of the
patrons of the schools to the progress
of the system. an Indifference mani.
tested in neglect to send the children
to the schools and disposition to line
up on one or the other side of all quar-
relS arising out of a failure to agree
among the committees in the employ
ment of teachers and the general man.
agement of the schools. This state OF
affairs received the attention of thu.
board, and attcl discussion the conclu-
son was reacht d that SEE s OF lee
lures delivered at the district school
houses, with the object of arous'ng both
children and parents to the Importance
OF more harmonious administration
of the schools and more liberal patron
age would accomplish more good thar,
the teachers Institutes required by tbs
School Law Of 1899. Our county super
intendent was instructed to CORRESPOND
with State superintendent Mebane and
to ascertain if the funds authorized to
be appropriated to the Institutes could
not be used to pay the expenses of a
live educator who would deliver series
of lectures at every school house in
Hyde county with the purpose above
outlined. Mr.. Mebane advised that it
could not be done. but promised that,
II numerous engagements did not pre-.
vent, to come himself and help out
along the line suggested. While il.
sympathy as we believe, with the idea,
Mr.. Mebane was prevented. The Rev.
X. b. John was next invited to take up
the work for us, but pressure OF en-.
gagements made before the invitation
prevented his complying. Mr.. Small
was then reminded of his promise and
cheerfully agreed to help in the work.
and the engagements of which the
press gave notice We're made.
Ihe writer has long been of the
opinion that campaign such as that
which will soon be inaugurated in HYDE
county, tour and course of lectures
or addresses delivered within the reach
and hearing of not only the men ana
women. but of the children themselves
would arouse greater and more last
ing interest than the learned efforts an.
nually delivered at conventions, insti.
tutes and assemblies This idea has
been pressed home by watching the re-
suits OF other similar movements. A
StTlkIHS ILLUSTRATION was the political
campaign of 1900. When the nominees
of the State convention made the grand
tour of the State, visiting only the large
towns. the movement dragged along
without the life and buoyancy that
gave promise of success, but when thu,
township and village meetings were in
auguarted. what change! An interest
was aroused, an enthusiasm excited that
was as irresistible as an avalanche. Re.
forms do not begin at the top and travel
downward, but always receive then
impetus from fireside, pulpit and local
discussion. One gets the impression at
commandments of higher institutions
conventions, Institutes and assemblies
that the interest in educational matters
Is widespread and permeates every To-
calitv in the land but investigation in
remote country places will always show
that the influences that flow from such