The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-15

ROYAL BAKING row
ties should be satisfied with six from the
State. and then, if they want more, they
should provide them for themselves.
Continuing, Supt Clements said 'I
do hold that North Carolina needs a
mild compulsory school law" CAP
plause.) If the law has a right to say:
you shall pay the school tax" it ought
to have the power to say also: 'You
shall send your son to school,"
1t has been argued that if you have
attractive schools. no compulsory law
is needed. But look at the splendid
school system in Raleigh, five school
houses, splendid superintendent and
teachers, and yet statistics show that in
the rural districts of Wake county 63
per cent of whites and 66!H per cent. of
colored attend the, schools, while in
Raleigh, only 1914 per cent. of whites
and AZ 23 per cent. colored, are en-
rolled.
1thadbeen stated that the people were
moving from the country into the cities
in order to take advantage of the better
schools. But the speaker gave it as his
opinion that this movement was being
made by a large number of parents so
as to place their children in the cotton
mills and other factories.
This statement was applauded.
Supt. Clements concluded with an elo-
quent plea for a mild compulsory school
law.
DR.. Buttrick, who was compelled to
leave in the afternoon, expressed his
thanks for the conference. and for the
coming so far of many of the superin-
tendents This he did very gracefully
and with deep feeling
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Yesterday afternoon President McIver.
of the State Normal and Industrial Col
lege, spoke on the Womans Association
for the Betterment of Public School
Houses in North Carolina. There were
something like twenty-five county organi-
cations, with total of about 1000 men,
bers. The expenses of the organization
had so far been borne by the Southern
Education Board.
Dr. McIver bespoke activity in the cam
paigning work among the schools. He
said there was fund ready in the
hands of the executive committee of the
body of educators that had met here
last February, and that the expenses OF
any man would be paid to go into the
work of canvassing who was heart-whoIe
on the subjects of consolidation. local
taxation, and universal education.
superintendent Joyner was compelled
to leave the chair in order to get some
dinner, and he called ex-State Superin
tendent c. II. Mebane to take his place
Prof. Claxton spoke briefly of the plans
OF the Summer School at Knoxville. Three
weeks would be devoted to a conference
of county superintendent, at which sew
eral State superintendent would be pres
ent who had done something in their own
work and who would tell of it,
Prof. Carlyle suggested that the Com
mittee on Resolutions recommended that
every county superintendent and teacher
be required to subscribe to the South
Atlantic Educational Journal.
The discussion on the changes in the
school law was again taken up, anu
Superintendent Clements continued his
remarks of the morning He said Re
considered the per diem method of COM
pensating the superintendent positive
reflection on them.
Superintendent Venable suggested .
factory law in place of a compulsory
school law; that is, prohibit the factories
from employing children of school age
superintendent Sharpe, of Alexander,
said he would be the last man to say
that our children should be compelled TO
90 to school. He wanted everything else
tried before that He favored keeping
the children out of school until the age
of seven.
Superintendent Johnston, of Macon, said
that as far as his county was concerned,
he wanted compulsory education. This
year the people were going to petition
the Legislature to call for a election III
Macon on this subject.
superintendent Rankin, of CASTOR, said
be wanted to speak a word for the little
children in the cotton mills. He believed
the only salvation of these children was
TO get them into the schools. According
ly he favored the compulsory school law,
rather than the labor law. Let them go
to school part of the year and work for
bread the other part
Superintendent Cochrano. of Mecklen-
burg, spoke for the compulsory school
law, to make those boys go to school
whose parents allow them to go rabbit
hunting instead. He said Mecklenburg
would be here with a petition, too
Superintendent Ledford, of Davidson,
opposed the compulsory law. He favor
ed persuasion rather than compulsion
The poor children need missionary work
They feel that they have been neglected
The time is not ripe for this law yet
Superintendent Clements suggested that
there should be a provision in the law