The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-01-08
responder
THE EDUCATIONAL PROBLEM.

God in the highest ana on edfIn
peace and good will to men, the
mind of your humble servant revert
ed to the labors of the past year, and
its joys, sorrows and disappOint-
ments. We have seen the season of
the most intense political strife that
has been witnessed in two decades,
and partisan spirit has for a time
dominated the land. We have seen
some advance made in the cause of
education, and we have heard the
oft repeated pledge of the politicians
that the school interests shall be i'm
proved. !
We still, however, see a standard
of morality and education required
of the teacher, as we'll as arduous
labors to which his pay is not com
mensurate. Still, the standard is
not what it should be, and God speed
the day, (Which is likely to dawn IN
North Carolina about the fifth en-
tury of the millennium when these
things shall be adjusted.
am struck with d peculiar cOndi-
ton of affairs in one of the townships
in this, Cleveland, comfy. 1t will
be remembered, that two years ago
the teachers of this townsip drew
contracts which were mutually
signed by the five committeeman
representing the interests of said
township and their teachers, to teach
the schools, beginning not earlier
than November 18th, 1895, and closing
not later than March 18th, 1899.
Later, an INSCRIPTIONS product of
Charlotte, known to profane history
as Bill Mckinley, came with seven
dollar globes that he offered for
twenty-seyen ninety cent maps
that he sold for five dollars, and
slated paper black-boards that were
sold every where else for one dollar
per square yard, and tor which he
asked the modest price of one dollar
per foot. The superintendent of
common schools had been in Office
but twelve years and had helped
maAe the PopUIist School Law, bat
plead the baby act ana wrote To com
mitteemen asking, yea, ~entreatiu-
them, to sign for these helps at -,
per school before it wuSever.ustinE-y
too .-te. OF coUrse his palms were
not unointed, but your correspond
ent Knows OF two school-commlttee
men, both Justices of the peace, who
received checks for S53 each as a
consideration for signing.
These claims yer sold to ii banker
that put up the plea Of Inocenr pur-
cha-er.
These things are calculated to
make everybody want to teach
school. By an overwhelming vote
the people have said at the ballot
box that Intelligence shall WELD the
the ballot, and by such hiGeous cor
ruption and skull duggery they say
to every thief who helps raid the
treasury wen done, good and
faithful servant, enter into the con
fdence of your fellow citizens, and
behold the rewards Of political pre-
ferment.'
Teachers are supposed to feed like
Epnriam, on wind, ana IKE the chill
dren of Israel on their Journey from
Egyptian bondage to the land of
milk and honey, their garments wax
not old.
l. 1t any wonder that the best
talent deserts the calling in disgust
when schools are dominated by cor
rupt political rings, and by an IN
tollerent priesthood?
l admire a patriot, but detest d
politician, and adore d c~onsecrated
minister but abhOr a priest, This
applies to no special denomination
fight popular education and try to
promote their little narrow ~sectarian
views at the expense of the broad
liberal education that inspires true
patriotism and true Christianity.
The politicians of all parties have
done much to retard the onward
march of education IN this State.
When the benefcent school law OF
81 was enacted and IL provision that
all you voted and paid would be
duplicated by the State, every two
by-four politician tore his hair and
howlcd. While every reputable
church and secular paper advocated
this tax, certain trimmers and time
erver shook their flowing names in