The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-15
EDUCATE PEOPLE
FROM Il To 70
This is the Solution, Declared
Supt.- RagsdaIe.
WASAGREAT DAY
Resolutions Adopted by the State Conference
Of Suparintendents Provide for the APP
pointment of Deputy State Super
intendents.

The last day was the most fruitful of |
the three DAYS of the State Conference |
OF County School Superintendents.
Many valuable suggestions were made |
for changes in the school law by Supt. |
w. G. Clements. of Wake, and others.
splendid address on Rural Libraries |
by Supt w. H. Ragsdale, of Pitt, seemed |
to strike the key note of the whole situa-
tion, declaring that before anything of
consequence could be 9done, the people |
from the ages of 81 to 20, must be edu-
Gated. and that the rural library was
the only way in which this could be ac-
complished.
Important resolutions were adopted |
stating the greatest needs of the public |
schools. One section, which was offered
by Supt. j. c. Scarborough, of Hertford, |
provides for the appointment of Deputy
State Superintendents, to strengthen and
aid the work of the State superintendent.
At about 10:30 o'clock, Supt. Joyner
was compelled to be absent for about
ten minutes, and he called Supt. Scar
borough to take the chair. He did so
amidst considerable applause.
Supt. w Catlett, of New Hanover, then
gave his experience in County Teachers
Association, Teachers Libraries and
Courses of Study for Teachers. He said
he could not conceive of a county sup
erintendent without teachers meetings.
The superintendent must see to it that
the teachers are fulfilling their duties as
they should be fulfilled.
He said that he had started libraries
in his rural schools as soon as he be-
came superintendent At all his vista
tons he talked with the children on the
necessity and advantages of reading good
books, and the teachers caught the in
spiration at once. Now there is hardly
school in the county, white or colored
that has not at least a nucleus of a lib
rary. He preferred to have the children
brought up with the IDEA that they them
selves must provide their own Libraries,
rather than that any assistance should
come from the State.
On the subject of courses of study for
teachers, Supt. Catlett laid great stress
on the general reading that ought to be
done by all who teach.
The next topic for discussion was the
Employment of Teachers and Govern
ment of Schools" Supt. j. A. Butler, of
Jrcdell, led the discussion. He said he
was very glad that the old Fmethod of
employing teachers had been done away
with, that of the applicant going to the
members of the committee separately.
Now the application must be made before
the committee in executive session.
Supt. Butler suggested that it would
be a better plan for the application to
be made first to the county superin-
tendent, or that the committee ask the
superintendent to make recommended
tions. In any event the superintendent
should have something to do with the
placing of the teacher in the school for
which he is best fitted and where he
is most needed. The superintendent
should not have arbitrary power in the
matter. The speaker laid stress upon
the Importance of school government,
saying he thought the first week ought
to be devoted to getting the school under
proper control.
Supt. Peele, of Martin, agreed with
Supt Buffers idea in regard to employ
ing teachers, but he said the great diff
Guilty in his county was the scarcity OF
good teachers They had to accept
almost any one they could get.
Supt. Harris, of Stokes, said that his
county was also short of teachers. He
was of the opinion that the law should
De so modified that teachers be employ
ed by the Board of Education. under the
aoVlce OF the county superintendent; for
III many cases the committeeman were
not lamlilar with the adaptability of
teachers TO certain schools. In this way
prdctlcally all possibility of favoritism
would be done away with. They had ac-
tually Deen compelled, he said in his
county, to pass rue that no teacher be
HmnI0VQd nXxrY
out the consent of the superintendent
Supt. Scarborough suggested that the
County Board of Education. after CON
sultation with the county superintendent
and school committeeman. should enon1o,,
the teachers.
Rural Libraries. their Use Renef+s
and Extension" was the next topic. It
was discussed by Supt w H. RagsdaIe
of Pitt. He stated in the beginning that
he was in hearty sympathy with local
tax, good school houses, and with every
thing that had been suggested; 'but you
might have all those things, and yet fail
to obtain that for which you strive
There are two essentials for school
absolute essentials, you may have
school without a book; without a house
But YOU must have a teacher and you
must have pupil"
He said that the hardest thing he had
to contend with was the education of
This phase he had not heard discussed
the people from q to 20 years of age.
yet in the conference. But we can
never get local taxation until something
is done to educate these grown folks,
who do the voting
Il this connection, he said that the use