The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-04

fall, to run the school for eight months
with eight teachers.
| In 1899 the victory was EASY. Almost
every leading citizen of the town Joined
! forces under Mr.. Small in the third at
tempt of the people to improve their
schools A large majority of the regis
| tered vote was cast for schools, with
Practically no opposition. The enthusiast
| Tic support of the Junior Order of Uni
ted American Mechanics was effective in
organizing the friends of the measure and
polling the large vote. This body after
wards presented large flag and several
handsome Bibles to the schools Mr.
Small was elected chairman of the new
board and Mr.. Harry Howell again elect
ed superintendent of the schools Two
rooms were added to the McNair build
ing and two to the colored school build
ing. Two additional white teachers were
employed and one additional colored
teacher. Since then, two rooms have
been added to the Academy building and
one to the colored building and an
other white teacher has been employed
Altogether, there are now eleven white
teachers and five colored. There have
been three principals of the white schools.
B. Ward, and Frank T. Willis. Miss
Elizabeth Madison is principal at the
Academy building. Louis R. Randolph
has been principal of the colored school
for several years. The enrolment last
year was 947 out of a school population
of 1.4S6, with an average daily attend
ance Of 634. The course embraces ten
years and prepares the graduates for COL
lege After next year, it is hoped that
another grade will be added. In the past
three years, there have been twenty full
graduates OF Them six are attending
higher institutions of learning and five
more will go next year. 1t is probable
that the entire graduating class of 1902
VIII attend college, During the past
year, instruction in music and drawing
has been added to the course, and in
struction in domestic and industrial arts
will be added as soon as the revenues
are sufficient.
The following is the composition of the
School Board: Hon. ]. H. Small chair
man; Mr.. Stephen C. Bragaw, vice-chair-
Congress); Mr.. w. j. CrumpIer, secretary;
Mr.. w G. Madison, Mr.. S. R. Fowle, Mr..
W. B. Morton and Mr.. E. K Willis. They
are all strong, progressive, patriotic cit
liens whose ambition is build up as good
system of schools as any community has.
Without fear or favor. they have tried to
secure the best teachers and have then
upheld them in the discharge of their
duty. 1t is largely due to such cordial.
faithful support that the superintendent
and teachers are able to do as good
work in many respects as schools with
greater age, resources and other favor
able conditions The board recognize that
the schools have not sufficient revenues
and they have announced that next year
they will ask the people to increase them.
But the greatest difficulty is in the mat
ter of buildings. Of the three sites in
use. only one, the colored school prop
erty, is owned by the board and the
are all inadequate and unwor-
thy. Chairman Small stated in his last
annual report that the next Legislature
will be asked to pass an act submitting
TO the people of the town the question
of issuing bonds in proper amount for the
purpose of contributing the needed build
ings. When these additional improve
ments are made. the public schools Of
Washington will rank in every respect
among the best in the State.