The news & observer., 1901-02-22
A NEW SCHOOL LAW
It is Now Being Prepared by
the Committee.
Prof Joyner Explains the Recommendations o
Teachers Assembly in Regard to
Public Schools,

night TO consider the recommendations
of the Teachers Assembly in regard to
changes in the present school law.
These changes, some twenty-five i'll
number, were explained by Prof. j. Y.
Joyncr. the State Normal and Indus
trial College at Greensboro. who was
chairman of the committee appointed to
prepare and present them to the Legis-
laturc. A number OF other prominent
educators We're present and took part in
the discussions. Among these were State
superintendent Toon, Dr. Chas. D. Nc
Iver, president of the State Normal Col
lege. and several superintendents of city
schools.
The committee making these recon-
mendatious is composed OF Prof j. y.
Joyner, OF the Department of English
in the State Normal and Industrial Col
lege. chairman; Charles l.. Coon, superin-
tendent of The graded schools Of Sails
bury. secretary; J.. l.. Hobbs. president
of Guilford College; j. c. Horner, prin-
cipal OF Horner School, Oxford; J. A..
Butler, County Superintendent of Edu-
cation in Iredell county: J. I. Foust
superintendent of the Goldsboro Graded
Schools: G. II. Mcbane. President of the
Catawba College. and ex-State Superin-
teudent of Public Instruction; w. II.
Ragsdale. Principal of Grecnville Acad-
emy, and ]. T. Alderman. superintendent
of the Henderson Graded Schools.
Though the committee was in session
until after II o'clock. no action was taken
on any of the recommendations. the OBJ
ject Of the meeting being simply TO hear
them read and discussed They Will be
passed upon at future meetings Of the
committee. which is now preparing d
State. school law.
The committee has outlined plan
which is believed to be perfectly prac-
ticable and which it is believed will
absolutely insure more efficient public
schools in North Carolina. In outlin-
ing the plan. Prof. Joyner said the COM
mttee had three things in view: First.
increasing the efficiency Of the teachers;
second. increasing the efficiency of c0un-
ty superintendents and county supervis-
ion; third. increasing the efficiency of
State supervision.
AS the present law stands, the public
school system of North Carolina is in a
chaotic state: there is lack of co-opera-
tion on every hand. II is believed that
tho plan outlined above will restore order
and Great a good working system by
bringing the different forces in touch with
one another. and making them, in
sense, dependent upon one another.
To raise the standard of the teaching
force. and to guard against incompetent
and inexperienced teachers. tho commit
tee makes the following recommends
tions:
That the township trustees employ no
teacher until they shall have conferred
with the county superintendent relative
to the fitness Of the teacher proposed TO
be employed
That no teacher under IS years of age
be employed in any public school, a
person under this age being prohibited
from drawing pay for teaching public
school.
The committee also recommends that
the teachers be required. at The end of
the school term to file an accurate
record of the promotion. advancement
and classification of every scholar at
tending the school the county supern-
tendent being prohibited from signing q
voucher for the teachers last months
In regard to the county government Of
schools. the committee recommends that
every member OF the board OF township
trustees be expected to visit the schools
in his township at least once during
the term.
The county superintendent to be re-
CURED to give all his time to the duties
of his office. the county board of edu-
hi
as much as per cent Of the funds used
in the actual running expenses of the
schools under his supervision. To in
sure competency in this Office, ii is
suggested that no person be elected couD-
ty superintendent who Is not practical
teacher, or who has not had at least
two years experience in teaching, no
one TO exercise the duties of the office
who does not hold a diploma from some
reputable college. or who does not hold
a first grade teachers certificate, or who
does not hold a certificate of fitness is
sued by the state Superintendent Of Pub
lie instruction. The superintendent is
to hold his office for term Of two years,
and is 10 be required to call the teach
ers together in q teachers meeting at
least once a month. The superintendent
is to be prohibited from signing the
voucher for the last months salary OF
any teacher who fails TO attend one of
these meetings, unless proYidcntially him
dored.
1t is also recommended that the law
be so changed as to provide for a num-
Der of State supervisors of education,
who are TO be elected by the State Board
of Education for four years. to receive
an annual salary of 1900 and not more
than $500 for expenses, to be paid QUE
of the general school fund.
These supervisors are to have geu'
eral supervision of the county superin-
tendents and their work, and are to hold
conferences teachers meetings. etc.