The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-05
CONDITION OF SCHOOLS
supt Joyner's Strong Argument For
Consolidation of Districts.
RURAL SCHOOL PROBLEM THE GREATEST
Some of the Most Earnest and Practical Speeches
Made by Men Who Have Never Taught
But Feel interest in the
Mu.I
Work.
Especial to News and Observer

Especial to News and Observer
Greensboro, N. c., April 4-The Edu-
cational Conference here today has plain
ly impressed the fact that brighter
day is dawning for the public schools of
North Carolina. The participants in the
meeting show that they feel a deep in
terest in the subject that brought them
together and have entered with enthu-
slasm into the proceedings. Then, too
the meeting is unique in that it is not
composed solely of school teachers, as
has been the case with other educational
gatherings in North Carolina. Business
and professional men are here vieing
with the college presidents and profess
sors, the graded school superintendent
and teachers and the county superin-
tendents in their devotion to the com
mon cause.
The conference was opened at the
State Normal and Industrial College last
night with a conference between the Wis
tiers and the members of the association
recently formed at the college for the
purpose of improving the condition of the
public school houses of North Carolina
The president of the association Miss
Laura Kirby of Raleigh welcomed the
visitors in a few graceful remarks, in
which she expressed the hope that those
present would assist in making the assoc
citation of great benefit to the public
schools of the State
The object of the association was ex-
planned by Miss Annie Kizer, of Sails
bury, who stated that it was desired to
unite as many as possible of the women
citizens of North Carolina in a movement
b9t in, oil %o +ho
State. She asked the men present to
unite with the women in the effort to
make more attractive and respectable
the school houses in North Carolina.
The plan of work was briefly outlined
by Miss Carrie Sparger, of Mount Airy
She stated that it was the purpose Of
those at the head of the association to
divide the State into ten districts vice
president to have supervision of the work
in each district. The plan also includes
county associations and local associa-
tions in each district.
The Present Condition of Public School
Houses" was the subject of a very strik-
ing and interesting address by Prof. c.
l.. Coon. superintendent of the Salisbury
graded schools. He showed his tamil-
iarity with the Bible and quoted scrip
cation was a part of religion. He con-
tended that the work of building school
houses in North Carolina was as impOr-
tant as the work of building churches.
He argued that school houses should be
built as churches are built-by voluntary
contributions-and not with money de-
rived from school taxes.
AS a forceful example of the condition
hon Of
in North Carolina Prof. Coon told of a
school in Rowan county he recently visi-
ted. He said the population of the dis
trict was 153, and despite the fact that
number of these could neither read
nor write, there was a woeful lack of
sentiment for education in that commu-
nifty. This was shown by the dilapida-
ted little school house and the poor at
tendance, the average daily attendance
being 50 per cent of the 40 enrolled
pupils. There were 10 pupils in the dis
trict who were not enrolled, and several
of these could not read and write.
Prof J. NJ. Smith, of Elon College,
followed Mr.. Coon with few suggestions
as to how the condition of the school
houses might be improved.
In the general discussion that follow
following as the three most important
questions in connection with the public
school problem in North Carolina:
l. Improvement Of the school houses.
g Consolidation of school districts.
g. Increase of the public school fund
by local taxation.
Prof. Joyner asserted that the rural
school problem was today. the greatest
unsettled problem in North Carolina and
declared that upon its successful solu-
ton depended the future welfare of the
State.
An interesting feature of the meeting
was the questions asked by the students
OF the college. These related to the
public school law and its operation and
were answered by the State Superintend-
ent and the county superintendent pres
ent.
Among those present at the conference
are:
c. w. Massey, J. w. Umstead and Rev.
Jno. G. Troy, Durham; A. e. Henderson,
Caswell Rev. J. A. Beaur, Person; C. Z.
Maddry. Orange; w. S Long, S. NJ Smith,
J. O. Atkinson and F. H. Curtis, Ala
nance e. p Ellington, Rockingham;
w. o. Cox Forsyth; w. b. Harris and
Prof. Bonderout. Stokes; J. H. Allen,
Surry; c. C. Wright. Wilkes; J. A. But
Ter. Ireden; j. D. Hodges, Davie; P. L.
Ledford and Prof. Henry, Davidson; J.
NJ. Way. Randolph; r. G. Kizer and c.
L. Coon Rowan; c. NJ. Mcintosh, Moore;
J. l. Griffin, Chatham; H. A. Martin.
Yadkin; Henry Louis Smith, Davidson
College; J. B. Carlyle. Wake Forest Col
Iege. Edwin Minis. Trinity College; G. T.
Winston. A. and NJ. College; F. ?. Ven
able. University eof North Carolina; j.
Allen Holt Oak Ridge; w. T. Whitsett,
Whitsett Institute; c. II. Mebane. Ca
ta wba College; w. H. Raglan, High Point;
w H. Rankin, Brown Summit; w {.
Tucker, Pleasant Garden; President
Hobbs. Gulford College; Superintendent
TomlinsOn, Winston; superintendent
Matheson. Durham; Prof. NJ. G. S. Noble,
of the University; Prof. Lindsay Hills