The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-16
MILL SCHOOL
WesIeyChapeI Graded School
to Solve Problem:
A Successful Country School. Only so Many
School Houses as we Can Have
Efficient Schools"

| Efficient Schools.
Monroe, n c., Feb. 1.-THE Wesley
Chapel Graded School at Prices Mill,
in this county, is long step forward in
the educational progress which is char
| ac:erizing North Carolina at the present
time The greatest, most difficult and
most important question now before the
people is this problem of education; and
the most difficult phase of the problem
| is the education of children who live in
| the country. This phase the school at
| Prices Mill has been established to
solve,
| The Wesley Chapel Graded School is
| in typical country district. The pupils
! live from one-third of a mile to a mile
and half distant from the school house.
The roads are about like the average
country roads though a special road
tax was voted as fitting introductory
10 the special school tax. There are
about one hundred white children of
school age in the district. and seventy of
them are enrolled in the school All the
children in the district who should be
in school, are in school The remaining
thirty includes those who are already
working at some occupation, or who are
too far advanced for the graded school
work. And these seventy pupils are
not only enrolled, but they go to school
and go regularly. Even, during the re-
cent bad. weather all were present ex-
cept those who were kept away by
flooded streams. These statements are
made to controyert the usual arguments
made against the idea of rural graded
schools. Wesley Chapel Graded School
is decided success and the following
paragraph will show why it has succeed
ed and how any other country school
may succeed.
For many years there had been no
school in the community about Price s.
Mill The only chance the children had
was to go TO the common schools two or
three miles away. In the early months
of last year. certain of the best and
most progressive citizens became inter-
ested and determined to establish first
class school. These few men have had
the burden TO bear but they have done
their work Well However great the ul-
innate success of the school may be, the
fact will remain that it would never
| have been established but for the work
of j N Price, II. l.. Price, r. II. HOWE
and f.. NJ. Moore. a charter was Sc
cured and an election for a special tax
was held The tax voted was $3.50 on
the poll and 80 cents on the 800 valua
ton of property. To realize what this
meant to the voters, it need only be
mentioned that a special road tax had
already been levied and this was an un
usually hard year for the farmers.
These four men, with the assistance of
some others, then began work on the
building. The plan was prepared by an
architect, and the building contains five
/, large rooms, is conveniently arranged,
well lighted and attractive. The people
| of the community have expended thou
sand dollars in the work and have had
some help from outside sources. Though
the rooms are not well furnished, the
people can do no more now, on account
of the poor crops of the past season
With a wise foresight, the trustees
realized that if they were to have
! first class school, they would require
| first class teachers. Incidentally they
knew a first class teacher requires
| first class salary. Prof. Bruce Craven,
, of Trinity, and Mrs. Craven were elect
cd principal and assistant At the time
of his election Prof. Craven was at the
head of a prosperous high school, but
he resigned that position to accept this.
He is aeyoung man of strong personality
and great resources and believes in the
strenuous life. Though he attended col
lege but q short time, he has by self
application attained a thorough educa-
ton and 9th he and Mrs. Craven are
progressive and practical teachers, doing
q great work. Though young man, the
principal has had several years expert
ence and is well equipped for the task.
He knows how to get the pupils inter
ested in their studies and the school Is
model of good order and close applica-
ton to duty. His school stands for the
spirit of growth.
The future success of Wesley Chapel
Graded School is assured Governor
Aycock. in his self sacrificing zeal for
education. has graciously consented to
deliver the commencement address the
9TH day of May, and that day the school
will endeayor to convince all doubters
that the old idea of "a school house on
every hill top has been weighed in the
balances and found wanting. and the
progressive idea is the one in which
Prof. Craven believes, and ito have only
so many school houses as we can have
efficient schools"