The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-04


or institute for each race. to be under
the control of the Board OF Education.
The Summer Institute for white teachers
was established at the University. Also
a school for colored teachers at Fayettc-
Vile. These held their first sessions re-
spectively in the year 1877. No one can
measure the beneficial results TO the
white teachers of the State and to the
cause of education of the Summer Normal
Institute four weeks terms, held for
twelve years at the University. Out of
this grew the Chair of Pedagogy in the
University and the summer schools, in
charge of 4his chair now held every
summer to the great benefit of the many
teachers who attend. Out of these sum-
mer institutes grew the Teachers As
sembly, which has been such a potent
factor in working out the educational
problem in North Carolina.
The Normal School at Fayetteville for
negro teachers has done its work faith
fully and we'll for twenty-five years, it's
first session having opened in 1877.
The Legislature of 1881 provided for
the establishment, by the State Board of
Education, of four additional normal
schools for each race. These were estab-
lished by the board-the whites at Eliza
beth City, Wilson. Newton and Frank
lin: the negro schools at New Bern,
Plymouth, Franklinton and Salisbury.
These all did much needed work and
those for negroes are still doing their
work and have reached and trained more
negro teachers for good work in the pub
lie schools than could have been reached
by one college, such as many of the
race demanded
The number of these negro schools has
been increased since then until now
there is no excuse for half preparation
on the part of any negro school teacher
in the State.
The Cullowhee High School, white, was
made a training school for white teach
ers by the Legislature of 1893, and has
since then done a larger work than it
could have done before the State gave
it an appropriation for this work.
The Legislature of 1881, by the passage
of the bill which became the school law of
1881, drawn by the writer for the Educa-
| ton Committees at that session, provid
ed for a large increase in school taxes,
for county superintendent and better
local supervision of schools; for a gem
/ eral system of county institutes for the
Improvement of teachers, requiring
/
and teachers to attend them. The studies
to be taught in the public schools were
prescribed and a standard for the ex-
animation of teachers was fixed; uni
form series of text books was prescribed
under the law by the State Board of
Education and prices of books to the
people reduced one-third. The teachers
were thus enabled to grade the pupils
and have more time for systematic in
struction to classes. Under this law
long strides forward were made by
teachers and pupils.
The great hindrance after the passage
of the law OF 1881 was the small appro-
priation to public schools. The great
| hindrance now to better work and more
rapid progress is the small amount of
money available as compared with the
magnitude of the work
This writer for twelve years stood at
the head of the system. He gave to it
his best thought, and all his powers of
! body, mind and heart. Through winters
cold and summers heat; in sickness and
in health through dust and mud encour-
agement and encouragement, he faltered
not nor hesitated in his advocacy of
better schools for all the children and
more money for their betterment. He
! did as much public speaking for public
| schools in North Carolina as any man
has ever done. With what effect let
others say He can only vouch for his
purpose and only purpose-the better
ment of the educational condition of all
people. Major S. NJ Finger, of Catawbas
followed me for eight years. We have
had no better executive officer than was
Major Finger and no man more devoted
to the cause for which he stood The
institute work took wider range under
his administration and out of it grew
the present State Normal and Indus
trial College for Women' at Greensboro
He was faithful sower of the seed
which will in the future bring forth an
abundant harvest to the good of our
State
The writer followed him for four
years and pursued the general plan both
of us had followed through the sixteen
years preceding.
My work and his work in the office OF
State superintendent have passed into
history and will be judged by the fruits
which shall ripen from the twenty years
of seed sowing which we did. In closing
venture the statement that the
Present Educational Revival" IN North
Carolina would have been impossible but
for Scarborough's twelve years work
and Fingers eight.
JOHN G. SCARBOROUGH.
President Chowan Baptist Female Insti-
tute.
i Murfreesboro n. G.. May so, 1902.