The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-04
WHAT ONE SUPERINTENDENT DID.
Added the of Buncombe
Getting the Money hat

section 5: "Also the clear proceeds of
all penalties and forfeitures, and OF all
fines collected in the several counties for
any breach of the penal or military
laws of the State shall belong to
and remain in the several counties and
shall be faithfully appropriated for es-
tablishing and maintaining free public
schools in the several counties of the
State"
Investigation, at once undertaken, de-
veloped that the charter of the city gave
these to be used for the city expenses
and. knowing the Constitution to be the
highest law. l at once had demand on
the city, drawn up and served upon the
proper office, to turn over these fines in
the future to the schools, and to give
an accounting for those collected in the
past and used. and turned them over into
the school treasury. Failing to do this
suit was soon after brought and it's re-
suits are widely and protitably known in
many counties of the State. This suit
was brought for $685. 900 for collections
of the past, the city enjoined for the
future not only, not to use, but to turn
over to the Battery Park Bank as re-
ceiver, all penalties, forfeitures and
fines collected. All points made were
decided in our favor by the Superior
Court. On appeal this was sustained by
the Supreme Court and a full decision
in all of the merits of the case given in
; favor of the schools. A mandamus for
settlement is now quietly awaiting it's
turn on an over crowded docket, but all
fines are being steadily paid into the
bank and we are biding our time know
ing that our money will come where it
belongs.
Under the system above described of
carefully looking after whatever should
come to the schools, the school resources
| have been increased, terms of schools
heightened. interest in education large
| ly and actively aroused. For three years
the school system of the county has
been placed upon a basis that has largely
| increased attendance. The summer
schools are giving education to over 1900
children under ten years, against under
| 500 of the same age in 1S98-'99.
| In 1900 'O1 we had 26 fully graded
| schools for nine months term. In
1901'0 We have had 81 fully graded
schools for seven months and the en-
suing school year, commencing June End
every school in the county will be
| graded, some up to ten grades, with q
seven months term.
| In this article there is no boasting or
need for any. What was done, was
| from a sense of duty, and no more than
duty was done. Every county superin-
tendent. fully acquainted with his duties
under the school law. and fully i'm
pressed with the moral obligation rest
ing upon him to perform them, can do
| the same. | was about to write "easily
do the same" but that is not so. with
my experience of the last three years
/ can safely say that, owing to the neg
lect of duty of the past, there is not a
| harder duty to perform than what has
been described above. and / here say
woe to him who fears public opinion
so-called, but public abuse" in reality
, fulfillment of his duty. He will make
many enemies and have every possible
opposition, but he will have the great
pleasure of duty performed and behind
him the best element of his county. Coo
grant that every superintendent in the
State may so view his duty, and earn
estly and fully perform it, The greatest
comfort and consolation to him will be
| the blessing that he has conferred upoI
'the little ones"
S. F. VENABLE,
County Superintendent.