The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-19

dress of DR.. Chas. d. McIver who
report the president called for the ad-
spoke for thirty minutes on the need
of more tax DR.. McIver begun by stat
ing that twenty-five cities in North
Carolina have adopted the public school
system: and that they are established
by bond issues and then maintained by
local taxes. Then he reasoned that the
State could do as much for her free
school syst I'm. First issue bonds in
order to establish the schools. equip
them for service, then maintain them
by public taxation. Several years ago
the State issued bonds to the extent
of $4,000, 900 to build up the railroad in
lustry, and that the chief source of the
public school money is from the taxa
ton of these roads 1t is better to is
sue bonds for education than for street
paving, or eCr railroads, or for public
buildings.
The second part of his address was
pertaining to the supervision OF these
schools. That is an impossibility for
the State superintendent TO supervise
all the schools, or even a part, under
the present rlanag ement DR.. MeIver
advocated the idea of dividing the ell
vocational interest of the States accord
ing TO the Congressional districts, and
let the State superintendent appoint a
supervisor for each district-with q Suf-
ficient salary. Let him see what is be-
ing done. Let him advocate the idea
of local taxation until the people are
not afraid Of bond issues for educa-
tional purposes. One great trouble to-
day is the unequal distribution of small
school houses, where sometimes not
more than five Or ten children attend.
The trouble is not in the desire to stay
away, but IN the location and poor
equipment of the school buildings. Let
these supervisors have an oversight
for these and arrange them to the
county's needs: for DR.. McIver said: it
is better 20 Lave the assistance of one
strong man than ten weak ones.
After the address a discussion was led
by Prof. Nope, to emphasize the idea
of issuing beads first.
The next n order was a report of
the Wilmington school, by Supt. Blair.
There has been, he says, a decrease
in the coloreG population, owing to To-
cal causes. but corresponding INCREASE
in the white schools There are in all
3 600 children IN the Wilmington schools.
Supt. Blair spoke largely concerning
the industrial education of the negro
that has recently been introduced, and
the report and exhibit of their work
has been so gratifying that competent
instructor mas been employed, and it
is the purpose to do more of this work
for the future Drawing has also been
introduced, ard it is the purpose to in
crease the number of hours of this fea-
ture.
Following the report was the paper
of Supt. Matherson, of Durham; on In
dustrial Training. He said in part that
it is not the intention to equip the stu
dent for any particular profession, but
to give him d formal education, creating
order and neatness, make him practical.
Drawing was especially recommended
because it gives the child wider COM
prehension. Drawing begins in the
first grade ard continues through the
tenth grade, including water coloring
and crayon work.
The next is manual training for boys.
They are required to worksin the shops,
beginning in the fifth grade. and they !
are required TO learn the use of tools.
The girls were at first required to take
a part of this manual training. but they
are now instead required to cook and
to sew-the town furnishing all mate
rial and utensils. In the colored school
Supt. Mathoson said that the colored
girls have their graduating dresses and
wore them on commencement days
At the close of this report Supt.
Matheson moved that a committee be
appointed TO invite Judge Conner and
Senator Mcintyre to visit the associa-
ton tomorrow. Then the association
to meet again at $50.