The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08

have gone out TO become leaders and up-
lifting forces among our people.
There are numerous den0minational
colleges for the colored race supported
by Northern philanthropy. The leading
institutions of this sort are Shaw Uni
versity at Raleigh, Biddle University at
Charlotte, and Livingstone College at
Salisbury.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDU-
CATION.
The principal factors of primary and
secondary education in the State are ~
The private schools and academies, and
(2) The public schools.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND ACADE-
MES.
Five hundred private schools and
academies in North Carolina were re-
ported to the State Superintendent Of
Public Instruction in 1900. In my opin-
ion, the number of such schools is large
ly in excess of the number reported.
Many of these schools are Of a high or
der we'll equipped, with q large enroll
ment ard are doing excellent work. Some
of them like the Bingham School and
the Horner School have been establish
ed for generations and have reputation
extending far beyond the limits of the
State. Others like Oak Ridge, Whit
sett Institute, Buie's Creek Academy
and many more having been long estab-
lished and enjoy a wide reputation and a
large patronage. Several of the leading
denominations have established high
schools and academies, under the direc-
ton of their UNCONVENTIONAL organiza-
tions and movements are now on foot for
the establishment Of many other denomi-
national high schools and academies of
this sort In the past, many of our pub
lie school teachers have been largely de-
pendent upon these high schools and
academies for their preparation to teach.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
There are two classes of public
schools, the city schools and the rural
schools All of the cities and larger
towns of the State, and MANY of the
smaller towns have excellent public
schools, open to all children of school
age for eight or ten months in the year.
All the larger towns and cities have
graded and high schools, supported by
local taxation. l have heard
many, who are competent judges
observing the city schools CT other
States, express the opinion that those
of North Carolina would compare favor
ably with those of any State in the coun-
try. From my own knowledge of the
work of these schools and of the char
acter of the men at the head of them,
and of the teachers employed IN them, /
halt hot fny stDfn
can offer better educational advantages
in their public graded and high schools.
The number of such schools has increas-
ed rapidly in North Carolina within the
last ten or fifteen years until today
scarcely single large town in the State
is without a good system of graded
schools. The smaller towns are rapidly
following the example of the larger
towns. Within the past twelve months.
about thirty communities in North Caro-
lima, most of them containing small
towns, have voted local tax upon them
selves for the establishment and support
of good system Of public schools. With
the growing educational sentiment of the
State, the day is not far distant when
every town and village within our Dor
ders will have fairly good system Of
public schools, supported by local taxa
ton.
RURAL SCHOOLS.
l regret that 1 can not truthfully speak
so enceuragingly of the educational adj
vantages of the rural schools. On ae-
count of the sparsity of the population
and the small taxable value of the prop
erty in many of the agricultural rural
communities of the State, these schools
are, in the main, poorly equipped and
sadly inadequate to- the educational needs
of the country people. There is, how
ever, brighter day dawning for them.
The people in the towns and cities lave
largely settled their educational prob
lem by local taxation and consolidation
Of districts. Some OF the stronger rural
comm unities have followed their exam
pie within the past twelve months.
Others are agitating the question now
and are going to follow their example
within the next few months. There has
been wonderful growth in the educa-
ticnal sentiment of The State within the
past few years. Nothing more clearly
indicates this than the increase of the
State tax for public schools from 1915 to
Is cents within the past few years. the
est & blishment by State aid of 32J rural
scfool libraries, and the direct appro-
priation by the Legislature of 100000 to
the public schools of the State, 100000
of which was appropriated for the spe-
cific purpose of securing an increase Of
the school term to four months in weak
districts. A great educational campaign
led by brilliant and wise young Gov
error, whose highest ambition is to go
down in history as the Educational Gov
eIlor of North Carolina, has been in
ausurated. All the leading educational
forces of the State have heartily united
in Waging war against ignorance within
our borders. The Southern Education
Board is lending it's influence and sub
stantial financial aid to this educational
campaign The public press is heartily
cooperating. A series of educational
rallies and conferences of County Super
intendents has already been arranged,
strenuous, and we trust successful, eff
forts will be made within the next few
months to induce all rural communities
in North Carolina. where the conditions
-