The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1902-07-24
SUPERINTENDENT HARR1SON's
LETTER.
Eefield, N. c., July Is, 1902.

Eefeld, N. c., July Is, 1902.
MIR. EDITOR believing it to. be OF
interest to the people OF Halifax County,
particularly those who have children to
be educated in the public schools, 1t is
the request of the Board of Education
Of HALIFAX County that you publish the
following report. The question at issue
IN the school district mentioned in this
report was whether or not 1t would be
advisable for the. convenience OF some
Of the smaller children to have two
schools or one.
enfield, N. c., July 8, 1902.
70 tbs Hon. Board of Halifax Co.,
"Gentlemen AT your last regular
meeting you rdered me to Investigate
the condition of affairs at the Tabor
school and report to you at this meet
ing. I beg to submit herewith my re-
port:
Il unhesl:atingly recommend to the
Board that they have good school
house built at the old Tabor school,
and do all In their power to make this
a big school and good school as l be
Ilieye by so doing you Will serve the
hest interest of the children in the dis
trlct. I am free to admit that this
may, in some instances, particularly In
that O. Mr.. Jno. Patterson, wolk
hardship and if the Board can deyise
any means by which he may obtain some
, relief to get the benefit OF school Tor
bis little ones, l would heartily endorse
it. But in the main the children are
large enough to attend this school, even
though they have to walk little dis
: lance and I believe that the contact ot
D mind with r.ind in our schools stlmu-
: lates the children and arouses their
), dormant ambitions, makes them love
. to 20 to school, more prompt, make.
? them better scholars, aud in the end.
, makes them better citizens. In sub
, sanitation of this opinion l would
: point YOU TO the magnificent results OBJ
tanned along this line, in the Enfield
;. Graded School. 1t is my opinion that
throughout the county wherever it il
]. practical, we should consolidate district:
$ and make larger schools and be:tel
S schools, and supply them the bes
4 teachers obtainabie. In this way alone
can we ever hope to reach the CREATES
l. efficiency in our public schools. This
5 will give us more money to build larger
I and more comfortable houses, anc
i make them attractive as we'll as com
e Portable, and give us longer terms. Al
J. 1t is now, we have so many small oils
g tricts scattered throughout the county
d that it is almost impossible to gel
d enough children to attend the schools
l. to make the required average to rul
e the school tor the term, and casua
b glance over my books, which we closet
and balanced on June Both, will SHOW
Is balance to the credit of the majority
q of the districts in the county, sthu
q proving that our term might have BEEF
l longer If We could have gotten the chill
q dren to attend the school, and it look
Is like We are suffering from lack o
IS children rather than from a lack Q
10 money TO run the schools. This woul'
or not he the case if the schools were Tar
l ger and not so many OF them, aud 1t
es high time, in my opinion, that tn
d. good people of Halifax County shoui
n. wake rp to the cause OF education an
e not let some triflipg little obstacle kee
1g from sending their children TO schoo
d. I know many of them feel that the
CO must keep their children at home t
BY work, but it is mistaken idea to do e
There is practically but one period l
nj our lives when we are capable OF learl
te lug, and If our children are deprived
'er the privilege OF school during the
Is, young days, and grow up In compar
no tive ignorance, unable to fill any OF IL
40 positions of life except the hunt II
,aa they will have reason and good reast
it's to blame their parents for this neglec
ice for they have deprived them OF SOM
thing which money cannot buy al
~, which time, too late, can never give.
You will pardon me, gentlemen,
depressing little and making such
Ia lengthy report, bat rest assured + ha
-. the best interests of the children
ON Halifax Cuunty at heart in so doing
,na Respectfully submitted,
,ca "a. s. HARRISON, Co. sur
ely. e - - -
I'D sl|sst:'s alsgx 1leoE1
r