The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-02-18
FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF couuDn,
SCHOOLS.

Another meeting, hardly less not.
worthy than the Good Roads Gov
gross. was held in Raleigh last weaL
It was a conference of the mo..
prominent educators of our STAT
representing nearly aH-our best
known schools, as is shown bv In.
list of names appended to the 3D.
dress with which we conclude tbi,
article. The meeting was largeIv
attended, and characterized by thu
same spirit of determination that
marks the appeal that was issued
We believe that the organization q,
this Central Campaign Committae
for the Promotion of Public Eduoa.
ton in North Carolina is to do
great work for our State. A fund NJ
1000 to defray it's expenses ba,
been secured. It's executive commit
tee consists of Gov. Aycock. Gen
Toon and DIR. McIver. The interest,"
felt by press and pulpit in the oause
of public education is to be gusde5
systematically, in the hope of secur.
ing practical results.
Our space being limited this week
we shall not say more at this time
The address speaks for itself, and /,
as follows:
A RINGING ADDRESS ON COMMON SCHOOL,,
PROBLEMS.
Profoundly convinced of the pro.
pbetic wisdom of the declaration NJ
the fathers, made at Halifaxin 1776
that "Religion, morality, and knovl.
edge being necessary to good govern.
ment, schools and the means of edu.
cation shall forever be encouraged :"
and oognizant of the full meaning Of
that recent constitutional enactment
which debars from she privilege of
the suffrage, after 1908, all persons
who cannot read and write and re.
lying OF the patriotism and foresight
of North CarOlinians to deal with
great question which vitality COZ
Germs the material and social vel
fare of themselves and their poster.
ity, we, in an educational conference
assembled in the city of Raleigh,
this February 10, 1902, are moved to
make the following declaration of
educational, facts and principles:
1. To-day, more fully than at any
other time in our past history, do
North Carolinians recognize the
overshadow1ng necessity oI. Universal
education in the solution of those
problems which a free government
must solve in perpetuating its OK.
istence.
2. No free government has ever
found any adequate means of uni.
versal education, except free public
schools, open to all, supported by the
taxes of ali it's citizens, where every
child regardless of condition in life
circumstances of fortune, may
receive that opportunity for training
into social service which the oOnst.
buttons of this and other great StateG
and the age demand.
3. We realize that our State has
reached the constitutional limit Of
taxation for the rural schools, that
she has made extra appropriations to
lengthen the term Of these schools
to 80 days in the year. We realize,
that the four months term nov
provided is inadequate, for the res,
son that more than IA, 900, 900 chill
dren of school age in the United
outside of North Carolina are
now provided an average of 145 days
of school out of every 365 that the
of these children are PAID
an average salary of $48 per month;
the teachers of the children Of
North Carolina are paid hardly 80
per month, thus securing for all the
children of our sister States more
efficient training for the duties OF
life. And we further realize that
for every man, woman and child Of
it's population, the country at large
Ls spending 50 SO for the education Of
it's children, while North Carolina IS
spending barely 81 cents; that the
country at large is spending on al
average of $50 30 for every pupil en-
in it's public schools, while
Carolina is spending only 8
1r 81, the smallest amount expended
BY any State in the Union; that tho
average amount spent for the eduoa'
lion, of every child of school age IN