The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-15

| of school out OF every 36J: that tho
teachers or these children are paid an
average salary of S4S per month, while
the teachers Of the children of Nort
Carolina are paid hardly s25 per month
thus securing for all the children OF our
sister States more efficient training for
the duties of life. And we further real
ize that. for every man, woman and
child Of its population, the country at
large is spending $3.50 for the education
Of It's children, While North Carolina Is
spending barely 81 cents: that the country
at large is spending on an average OF
$20.29 for every pupil enrolled in its
public schools while North Carolina is
spending only 50 or 81, the smallest
amount expended by any State in the
Union: that the average amount spent
for the education OF every child of school
age In the United States is approximately
$3.50, while North Carolina is spending
s1.7S.
These facfs should arouse our pride and
our patriotism, and lead us TO inquire
whether the future viii hold this gener.
alton responsible for the perpetuation Of
conditions that have resulted in the null
tiplicity OF small school districts, in
ferior school houses, poorly paid teachers.
and necessarily poor teaching; that have
resulted in twenty white illiteratcs out
of every 100 white population over ten
years of age, in generally poor and poorly
paid supervision OF the expenditure of our
meagre school funds and Of the teaching
done in our schools; ana, finally, in that
educational Indifference which is the chief
cause of the small average daily attend
ance Of $3.50 pupils out of every 100 en-
rolled in our present public schools.
We believe the future will hold US re-
sronsible fer the perpetuation Of these
unfavorable conditions, and, therefore,
we conceive ii to be The patriotic, moral,
and religious duty of this generation OF
North Carolinians TO set about in earn
est 10 find the means by which all our
children can receive that education which
Will give them equal opportunities with
the children OF other sections of our COM
mon country.
4. Viewing cur educational problems
and conditions In the light of educa tiOnal
history and experience, we declare 1t 10
be our firm conviction that the next step
forward for North Carolina in education
Is to provide more money for her coun-
try public schools, making possible the
consolidation OF small school districts.
the professional teacher. and skilled su-
pervision of the expenditure of all school
funds and OF the teaching done in the
schools,
The history of the adoption of the prin-
cple of local self help by our 50 graded
school towns and cities must surely be
an inspiration and an example to every
village and rural community in North
Carolina. Those towns and cities have
adopted the only means at hand for the
adequate education of their children. IL
adopting this principle, local taxation,
they secured: first, adequate school
funds; second competent supervision;
third. skilled teachers. Lacking any one
OF this educational trinity no community
has ever yet succeeded In establishing
the means Of complete education for its
children.
These IS towns and cities within our
terders have followed the lead OF other
sections Of the United States IN adopting
first the means of education, local taxa
ton The fact that 81 per cent of the total
school fund of this Union is now raised
by local taxes, while North Carolina
raises only ii per cent of her funds by
that means. and Tags behind all her sis
ter States in every phase of public edu-
cation has both its lesson and It's warn
ing.
s. Remembering that in the last year
nearly thirty communities in North Car
olina, some of them distinctly rural, have
adopted the principle CT local taxation
tor schools, We think this time most aus
plcious to urge a general movement OF
all our educational forces in that direc-
tfon, and therefore, we appeal TO al
North Carolinians, men and wo-
men, who love their State, and especially
that part OF their State which is worth
more than all It's timber, lands mines,
and manufacturing plants, to band them
selves together under the leadership OF
our educational Governor" and the State
Superintendent Of Public Instruction,
aided by the Southern Education Board,
to carry forward the work OF local taxa