The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-06-18
THE GOOD WORK FOR THE FREE SCHOOLS
HAS ONLY BEGUN,

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of the cause of the free schools who
are disposed to spend the balance of
their energy in shouting over what
has been done for the free schools.
To them we come to speak a sober
word. The work has only begun.
It is true that the party in power
is pledged to a four months free
school term throughout the State :;
but it is true that the Constitution,
that is, all people and all parties,
have been pledged to precisely the
same for a generation. This proves
nothing save that pledges are not al
ways to be depended upon. It is
true that, unless schools are kept
within the reach of the children of
North Carolina so thoroughly that
in seven years our large percentage
of white illiteracy shall be utterly
removed so far as children now
twelve years old and less are cOn-
cerned, the party OF the Amendment
will have to confront unanswerable
living witnesses Of it's bad faith.
But the task is a mighty one, and it
requires no Solomon to see that the
mere appropriation of 800, 900 extra
or of any amount of money, will not
suffice. 1t is true that no one now
dares to oppose the call of the free
schools for help but every member
of the General Assembly knows that
although they have been forced into
silence, the opponents of the fire
schools T numerous and they neg
lect no opportunity to strike them a
blow.
1t is true that 500, 900 has been
appropriated in addition to the funds
derived from the general tax it is
true that the new law is the best law
our free schools have ever had it is
true that books will be cheaper it
is true, too, that 800, 900 has been
placed in the hands of the State
Board to strengthen weak districts.
But, we may as we'll all become
aware that large sums of money rep
resent opportunity to squander as
we'll as to wisely spend, and that
laws alone can do little. Money
does not make the world go. 1t re-
quires sense as we'll. Now is the
time to husband the funds of the
free schools, and to spend their
money just as if they had only half
what they have. Truth is, they
have less than half what they need.
Now is the time to work for the free
schools as if they had not a friend.
Unless a strong sentiment is kept
going for the free sch OILS, a tide of
opposition will set in in the next
General Assembly. Unless the pres
ent opportunity to better the condi-
ton Of the schools is enthusiastically
appreciated, it will be argued very
quickly that the people do not care.
And justly, too, since the State Leg
islature has done it's part and the
matter is now with the people. There
is work to be done at home. We
must, to an extent, educate the
mothers and fathers CT the children
as we'll as the children.
Let Us here indicate some respects
in which the schools may be i'm.
proved
% We may free them from poll
tics and the spoilsmen. Public sen,
timent must demand this as public
policy requires it
90 The supervision of the schools
may be- more intelligent, more fire.
quent and more exacting. Not only
county supervisors, but local com
mitteemen may have a great part in
the new era in North Carolina by
taking personal interest in the
schools.
g The teachers may improve. For
n thing, the free schools mus
come to be somewhat more than
places for the employment of kins.
people or favorites of committeeman
They ought also to become, now that
they may pay more, somewhat more
than Il source of supplementary in
come to Il fellow who lives the bal
ance Of the year on odd jobs. There
are good teachers. President Vann
says hi likeness Of the q rddess of
Liberty is in the form of a woman
who never Saw a college, but who is
teaching III some free school away
off in the back woods This is we'll
but teachers ought to attend teach
ers Institutes, associations, ETC., and
rod hn,l-.