The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-07-24
CAMPAIGN FOR EDUCATION.
The Fight for Better Schools and Bet
ter School Facilities.

Firm the office Of the Superinteud-
ent Of Public Instruction in Raleigh
the following circular is sent out
under the auspices of the Executive
Committee Charles b. Aycock, James
Y. Joyner. Charles ID. McIver) OF 1.-The
Central Campaign Committee for the
Promotion OF Public Education in
North Carolina" appointed at the Ed
ucation Conference held in Raleigh
Feb. 18th The circular is self-ex-
planatory and is as follows:
A campaign for education is on in
earnest. This is to be fought for bet
ter scoools and better school facili-
tiles. TO accomplish this an educa-
tional campaign will be made in every
county where there seems to be an
opportunity to improve the present
conditions. Walter II. Page says
truly that there is enough native IN
telligencs going to waste in North
Carolina for lack of training to gov
ern the entire world. There must be
a cause for this. If a persons sur
roundings and associates determine
his character and intelligence, then
the individuals surroundings should
be studied and improved. 1t is
recognized fact that child's associ-
ates must he elevated If that child's
training is to remain permanent.
This is the work the Central Cam
paign Committee for the Purpose of
Improving the Public Schools has un-
dertaken to accomplish
THE EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM.
The following resolution was unan-
imously adopted by this Committee
in Raleigh, February 18th; it was re-
affirmed at Greensboro, April 3, also
at Charlotte, May 2, and at Moore
head City by the Teachers Assembly,
June 10:
BE ii therefore reSo,oed, That it is
the sense Of this conference that an
active and vigorous campaign should
be at once inaugurated in every
county for the accomplishment of
the following ends, to-wit:
Il. The consolidation OF small dis
tricts wherever possible.
y. The erection of adequate and
comfortable school houses
3. The lenglhening Of the pub
lie school term by local taxation"
A FOURTH OF THE SCHOOLS ARE RUN
CONTRARY TO LAW.
The reports from the different
County Superintendent show that
about one-fourth of the school dis
: tricts contain less than sixty-Gve
children of school age. In other
words about twelve districts for ever,
J county (when a general average i:
made) are illegal. The schools rur
about three months in the year, anC
the State superintendent is callet
upon for funds to increase them to E
5 four months school.
WHAT CAN BE DONE BY CONsOLIDA
Take three districts that contain
t Just siXty-iive children each. Tn,
4, appropriation would be about 800 fo
] each; just about enough to run three
$ months with one good teacher. Thi
: teacher would have an attendance o
' about thirty-tive children, and sh'
e would have to teach every subicc
from the aiphabet to the highest Eng
. lisn branches. Now take these tire
g districts and combine them into on
$ and employ two teachers, one for th
: primary grades and the other for tn
= higher grades. There would b.
e money enough to run the consoli
r dated school four and half months
G and the work could be done infinitel
= better.
n THE DIFFERENT COUNTIES ARE RECOC
MIXING THIS FACT.
This consolidation of small dis
. tricts is such great economy i
: school management that county a
y ter county is readily combining thei
schools. In every instance it is don
by the people and not by educations
boards. The Rockingham Board {
Education has invited the patrons {
the schools all over the county TO b
present and consider this one uues
ton at the next general meeting
Two schools have already been cor
A soldated recently by the vote of tn
people. At Providence, Randolp
" county men left their ripe whea
4 uncut to attend the educational rail-
/ and hear this sub ect discussed. On
: farmer expressed the situation whe
II he said: Nearly every man hel
le represents an uncut wheatfield, bu
e we value educational advantages a
this time more than the saving
P wheat. We are deeply in earnest o
IL the question" Over 100 school con
- mittesmen alone, in Wilson count,
- attended the educational conferent
June y, to consider this question
&c The women Of Hickory have taken u
~ this matter and are arousing dee
and lasting interest in this question
q THE EFFECT OF CONSOLIDATION.
IN Our County Superintendent say
N The residents of the school distric
Is which have been consolidated won
as raise strong protest if any atteml
i'll were made to 60 back to the o
ne small school system. Pupils fro
" every part of the district enjoy
10 long school term. The mingling
,e the pupils has had a deepening ar
broadening influence upon the
in minds, and there have come in
IN these districts highly educated teac
m ers, whose influence has been (
ut greater than ever came from the CO
III tracted district, the dilapidat
s. school building. and the short ter
u of service
OF ----------
re Health is fully restored by L