The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-11-05

WOrK. SOOn aI66F 6Q6 duJouEALhOA0
of the last Legislature, which Legts-
lature, as we all know, wisely passed
the Rural Library Law, all of the
| teachers in Durham county met in
| the city Of Durham to consider what
WAS in it for them and their schools.
Tho su0eriutendent explained the
law to them and asked if any of the
seachers wished suoh a library. In
less than one hour the money for
eight libraries (the highest number
possible for any 4 county, had
been raised and was in the hands of
the Superintendent. Then the other
twenty seven white schools began to
feel that if a library vas suoh a good
thing it ought to go around, and the
teachers began to bestir themselves
in this behalf. But the State had
made provision for only eight schools
for each county, and what was to be
done? Why, Col. Julian s. Carr,
ever generous to friend and foe, and
whose life is written deeper in things
educational OF "a public kind, than
any living Carolinian, stepped for
ward and said: 81 will be as the
State to your schools" So that to-
day the following townships enjoy
the privileges of public libraries, to-
wit:
Durham township has eleven pub
lie libraries.
Mangum township has three pub
lilo libraries.
Oak Grove township has four pub
iio libraries.
Patterson township has four pub
lie libraries.
Cedar Fork township has one pub
lie library.
Not a township in the county of
Durham is without a library, and be-
fore the year 1901 has passed, I am
told that every white and many COL
ored schools in the county will have
public libraries. The whole story
would not be told without stating
that when a county teacher comes
down our streets with list in hand
and asks each of US TO give as we
may feel able, she never goes away
empty handed, though the gift may
be small. This is what we call COM
munitY power in Durham,
ask leave TO append a statement
which contains a list of books pur-
chased by each library. These books
are now actually upon the library
ahelves and they are exciting great
enthusiasm not only among the chill
dren, but among the parents.
I6 is necessary that I shall add to
what | have said of Durham county
that there is no politics in our pub
lie schools, and that the school funds
are not wasted in litigation, and that
every copper is used for the purpose
intended, and that regardless of
friend or foe the best man or woman
is selected so do the work required?
If there be a worthy but aged, infirm
or worn out man Of letters, or man
of Esculapius, Or q weary disciple of
Thetis, or even q man of God, we do
not foist him upon the public school
system. It is considered unwise,
not to say illegal, to divert the school
funds to such a channel. If charity
is needed it can come and does come
in other ways.
Do you wonder, therefore, that
with such economy and wise man
agement, it has come about that
Durham county has ffty-One excel
ent school buildings for white and
colored children, and sixty-One teach
ers that of these schools twenty-five
have patent desks and good black
boards; that eight of the teachers
are graduates of colleges and nearly
all are graduates of high schools
that three-fourths Of the white
schools have annual commandments
whose exercises, of a very creditsble
character, T largely attended and
that in this county, with it's average
length of school term of nearly eight
months, it's average per capita of
SO 20 TO each child, and it's average
salary per month TO each white
teacher Of $35? Do you wonder that
in this county public school educa-
ton is a living, vital foroe-a part of
our life, our hope and our strong de.
Tense?
THE GREAT LACK OF FUNDS.
Thus I have tried to show how