The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-04-03
Attendance at Schools.
LAWS STRONG ARM MAY HAVE TO Be
EXTENDED
To Secure the Blessings OF Education
to the Chlldren-poor Attendance on
Schools Calls for Attentlon-Former
Superintendent Of Public Education
Mebane Writes on the Subject.
Raleigh News and Observer.

Raleigh News and Observer.
To THE EDIToR:-I netice a refer
ence in your paper of last Sunday to
the twsnty-three districts in Catawba
county that will have less than . four
months school. The words quoted
from the Newton Enterprise: There
are twenty-thrse districts that will
have less than four months school, on
account Of the small number OF
scholars. None of them could get
any help from the extra appropria-
tion because they could not come up
to the requirements Of the law in the
number OF scholars"
l suppose from the comment you
make upon the words taken from the
Enterprise that You suppose the at
tendance, or rather the want Of at
tendance, 10 the trouble with the
twenty-thrse districts.
The attendance is poor enough in
these special districts, and, in fact, is
distressingly poor in the entire coun.
ty OF Catawba, but the special trouble
in the said twenty-thres districts is
small area OF territory which con-
tains in each case fewer pupils than
65, IS the law requires.
Two of the greatest obstacles in
the way of progress in the public
schools are: First, the poor attend
ance; second. the great number of
small districts in most OF the counties
OF the State.
Instead of combining and making
small near districts strong and effec-
tive, the County Boards of Education
in many counties have increased tho
number OF districts, dividing and
sub-dividing the territory. thus max
ing fewer pupils to each school and at
the same time shortening the school
term.
In this way the term of the schools
has not increased in proportion to
the amount Of increase in the school
fund.
During the year 1887 Catawba
county had &C school districts for
white children, and during the year
1899, or twelve years later. the county
had 79 schools, or an increase OF
thirteen schools. Why this increase?
Did not the 66 schools cover The same
tsrritorv' Has tho county been en-
larged? 1t has not. But some one
may say population has increased
and therefore on this account the
number of districts must be in
creased. Not so, the increase OF pop
ulation would make it necessary to
increase the seating capacity of each
house, or some Of the houses, but not
necessary to increase the number OF
houses.
What is the remedy for tho small
districts and the increase OF the num-
bsr of districts?
The first remedy is to have men on
the county Boards OF Education who
have backbone and the courage to do
their whole duty.
Tho second remedy is to have .
man in the full sense OF the word for
County superintendent.
Let these four men stand shoulder
to shoulder in the work. They, OF
course, must know first OF all what is
the right thing to do, and do it.
What is the special remedy for the
said twsnty-three small districts in
Catawba county? | use this county
as an illustration, which will meet the
case in many other counties.
Catawba county needs to be entire
ly redistricted. The 80 schools
should be cut down to about so. The
number may not be quite this small.
The County Board here has been
talking Of doing this but it has not
yet begun.
Let the territory be divided up so
as to have no weak schools, or practi-
cally none. then we will have basis
to build upon.
What. shall we at this late day 90
to rearranging the schools Of the
entire county? Most assuretily this
is the wise thing to do, rather than to
60 on in the harum scarum sort Of
way as we have too long, too long for
the good OF the children.
One word. Mr.. Editor, in regard TO
compulsory education. | will not
discuss the question now, but simply
say that the very idea is against my
very nature. but | have been driven
to believe. after seeing what | have
seen, that large per cent. OF the
white children will never know the
blessings that come with intelligence
unless the strong arm OF the law in
some degree comes to the rescue.
In Catawba, which is as good and
even better than some others, not
even one-half OF the children have
been in regular attendance this year.
Some OF those children do as they
please aud do not wish 10 20 to
school, and others would be glad to
60 il their parents would let them.
OIt.would take more than power OF
attraction to pull some Of the worth
less fathers off the goods boxes and
loafing corners and make them 90 to
work and let their children go to