Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-24
HOW EDUCATION BOARD WIZ.
IMPROVE RURAL SCHOOLS

IMPROVE RURAL SCHOOLS
A new and important movement in be-
half of the rural public schools of North
Carolina was set on foot at a conference
between leading educators and business
men last week. The conference was held
in Greensboro, under the auspices Of the
state association for the improvement OF
the public schools, assisted by the south
ern education board. Among those pres
ent were the governor of the state, the
state superintendent of public instruc-
ton, presidents and professors of the
leading state and UNCONVENTIONAL collie
ges, and a number of city and county SUI
perintendents of schools Every phase OF
the educational life of the state was rep
resented. The prime object of the con-
ference was the advancement OF the gen.
eral educational life of the commonwealth
and the keynote of all the discussions was
the Improvement of the rural public
schools as the best means OF accomplish
ing this end. The quickened interest in
education during the past few years has
resulted in giving the towns and cities
greatly improved school facilities. but
the new life has not touched the rural
districts, except in rare instances. The
result is that, while the schools of the
towns and cities have advanced steadily,
the rural communities have stood still,
or gone backward. While special taxes
have been levied for school purposes in
the centers of population, the meager
sums apportioned among the sparsely set
tied country districts have been INSULT
Client to meet the demands of the people.
This has resulted in an influx of popula-
ton from the country to the towns, caus-
ing some apprehension as to the future
welfare and stability of the rural dis
tricts.
Believing the time had come when the
help the weaker, a number of leaders in
education called the Greensboro confer
ence for the purpose of devising ways and
means of improving the school facilities
of the rural districts. Several practical
movements were inaugurated which will
mean much for the cause of universal
education in this state and throughout the
entire south. One of these is an organiza-
ton of women which has for it's object the
Improvement and identifying of rural
school houses and grounds. Another prac-
teal result was the formation of a society
for consolidating rural school districts,
building better school houses, and secur-
ing longer terms and more capable
teachers.
The women's organization was conceived
by the students of the North Carolina
State Normal and Industrial College for
women. a majority of whom are from the
ruraI districts and know from experience
the wretched condition of the buildings
and the unfavorable surroundings OF most
of the country free schools" The mis-
sion of this society is TO agitate and cre-
ate sentiment for better things, and the
fact that the organization already has
members in every county in the state au-
gurs we'll for the movement.
These women believe IT is impossible for
the people to take the proper interest in
education so long as their schools are con-
dI Cted in small and uncontfO' table huts,
surrounded by uncouth and untidy
grounds.
when the women have created a senti-
ment in any community for better school
houses and grounds the other organization
will undertake the task of supplying the
demand. At the Greensboro conference a
local organization was formed for Gull
ford county and more than $4,000 was sub
scribed by the people Of Greensboro for
building school houses and improving
schools in the rural districts of the county.
This amount was duplicated by the gen.
eral education board through its secretary
and executive officer, Rev. DR.. Wallace
Buttrick, who was present. None of this
fund is to be applied to any school until
after the people of the community have
voted upon themselves a special tax for
education thus encouraging the principle
of self-help. The money is available for
stance in the south of a general subscrip-
ton to be used for public education out
side the community in which IL was raised.
Other towns and cities in North Carolina
will probably follow Greensboro's exam
pie
No event in the recent educational life
of the state has attracted more attention
or aroused more enthusiasm than the work
of this conference. Leading educators pre-
dict that the movement here set on foot
will result in great good to the cause Of
universal education throughout the entire
south and prove the beginning of Wig
orous educational. campaign. The senti-
ment of the meeting may be judged by the
fact that Governor Aycocks declaration
that the time for talking was over and the
time for practical work was at hand If
the south is to Danish illiteracy from it's
borders, was more loudly applauded than
any other utterance of the conference.
The Greensboro conference was stgnih-
cant not only because of the prominence
of the participants and the enthusiasm Of
the meeting, but especially because this
is the first appropriation of the General
Education Board since 1t opened its offices
in New York. The board has at its dis
posal between one and two million dollars
to aid in southern educational develop
ment and it's action is supposed to indi-
cate one direction in which a large part
of the money will be appropriated. Liberal
help to those determined to help them
selves is clearly indicated as the policy of
the board.
w. H. Baldwin, Jr.. is president and
George Foster Peabody treasurer of the
General Education Board. It's other mem
bers are DR.. ]. L. NJ. Curry, Albert Shaw,
Morris K. Jessup. Frederick T. Gates,
President Gilman, Robert c. Ogden and
Walter H. Page.
North Carolinians are grateful for the
generous action Of the board. All classes
of citizens are hopeful that the policy in
augurated will do much 10 stimulate the
already marked activity everywhere mani
fest in the state to secure an effective sys-
tenn of public schools in the rural dis
tricts.
Greensboro, n. c.
A AIAIIIAI HnMEERE EOR