The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-04
CATAWbA IN THE VAN
School Board Redistricting
the Whole County.
Consolidation is the Slogan and the People
Undsmayed by Hard Year, Will
Give Literally.

To the Editor: Some time ago wrote
an article for your paper relative to the
small districts, especially in Catawba
county. "a 80
/ urged in that article a new start, or
a redistricting of the entire county. 1t
affords me great pleasure to announce
to the public that Catawba county has
County Board of Education with some
backbone and courage to do their duty.
This Board is redistricting the entire
county, and is laying off districts and
locating houses as should have been
done 10 or 90 years ago. In short this
Board is planning for the good of the
children of the entire county.
The County Superintendent and one
member of the Board of Education are
canvassing the entire county, meeting
the people and reasoning and explaining
to them face to face their plan and pur-
pose, showing them that they, the Coun-
ty Board, have nothing in their plans
and purposes except that which means
the greatest good to the greatest number
of children.
This plan, although it means some ex-
pense, is far better than to sit down at
the court house and do the work If
this radical change were made at the
court house it might have the appear
ance of being done in an arbitrary man
ner, or as men having authority and
wanting to simply show this authority.
The people of North Carolina are a
reasonable people, and when they a~e
shown in a reasonable way what is their
duty, and see what it is, then and not
until then we may be sure that they
will act.
OF course this RoaId is meeting with
some opposition, but when our people
once fully understand what the plan is
and what the results will be in the fu-
turc. then they will join heartily in the
work.
There will be needed in this county
between four and five thousand dollars
for building of school houses. In some
of the places where new buildings are
to be erected. the people can and will
raise 500 the County Board will give
800, and if the Southern Board of Edu-
cation can be induced to give 800 this
$500 will give us good comfortable
houses.
The people of Catawba county, that
is the farmers of this county. are hav-
ing hard time at present
There was more destruction of land
by washing rains this last year than at
any time within the memory of some of
our eldest people.
Many consider that we will not have
more than one-fourth of a crop of wheat
and yet these people are willing TO
struggle for the cause of public educa-
ton and so into their almost empty
purses to help build some of these school
houses.
If any other County Board Of Educa-
ton has taken their entire county in
hand to redstrict and locate the schools
of the entire county we do not know
of it. "a .sag
Some have been planning for years
with view to getting the whole county
in shape. but we do not know of one
where the Board has undertaken the re-
districting of the whole county at once;
we therefore call on any County Board
that has done so to speak out. if not we
claim the honor of being the first in
CataWba
1t is very gratifying to the writer to
see going into effect that which he toiled
and labored for during the very first
year Of his official life in the public
school work.
We had some men on County Boards
ten and twelve years ago who saw what
ought to be done as to making fewer dis
tricts, but in those days the County
Boards had no authority or power to do
anything of Importance.
1t is little amusing to hear certain
people talking of making small districts
into larger ones and so on since there
is public sentiment demanding this.
However, let the good work go on; it
matters not who talks loudest or who as
sumes the responsibility for bringing
Sccd things to come to pass for the pub
lie schools. Just so the good things
come to pass for the children of this
great State. Then and not until then
will | be content to remain quiet and
not speak or write more about public
schools.
This is written with the desire that
some other county boards may follow the
example of the board in Catawba county.
Very truly,
c. H. MEBANE.
EX-Supt. Public Instruction.