The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08
|LL|1ERACY DOOMED
Supt. Joyner on Greensboro S
Grand Example.
II indicates The Dawning OF a New Day Educa
tionaIIy in North Carolina. Spirit of
Unity Manifest.

at Greensboro yesterday evening, was
much enthused over the grand results
and said to a News and Observer man
last night:
81 think it indicates the dawning of
new day educationally in North Carolina.
The bringing about of a closer union and
sympathy. as there is a logical unity OF
interest. between town, city and country.
The determination the desire and the
intention iof the stronger towns and cities
that have already largely settled their
school problems by providing excellent
systems of schools open to all their
children for or 10 months in the year,
to help the weaker surrounding rural
districts settles this perplexing rural
school problem by aiding them in pro-
viding better school houses, in such a
way as to stimulate the consolidation of
smaller districts, and voting upon them
selves reasonable local taxes to supple
ment their small general school fund and
have better schools, better teachers,
longer terms
1.-THE example set by Greensboro in this
respect last night, is going to be follow
ed by other large towns and cities in
the State, just as the example set by
Greensboro in 1876, in the establishment
of the first successful and adequate sys-
tenn of public graded schools in North
Carolina has been rapidly followed by
all the cities and larger towns in the
State, until there is scarcely one of them
today without "a good system of public
schools.
IF the counties of the State in which
the conditions are favorable can be
helped little at the Opportune time
and stimulated to self help in the up
building of their public schools, until
none but the really weak counties and
districts shall be left, which, because
of very sparse population and little
taxable property are unable to take care
of their schools, the State will be amply
able to render these the necessary as
sistance by direct appropriation, provid
ing them with a fairly good system of
schools and stimulating them to as much
self-help as possible always, until most
of them shall be able to take care of
themselves.
THE effect of Greensboros action in
raising this fund for the rural schools
will of course. be to strengthen the tie
between city and country, and to over
come any unjust prejudice. 1t is a just
recognition of the mutual dependence
between the two and of the great truth
sfnat the prosperity of the city depends
upon the prosperity of the country, and
the city must draw it's new blood from
the country, and therefore is intensely
interested in helping to keep these
country fountains clear and strong and
pure through better educational facili
ties. Cowper says:
God made the country, Man made the
town
You may destroy the town, and the
country will build it back; but let the
county be destroyed, aud what hope is
there for the town?
Greensboro responded grandly last
night When this obligation was pre-
sented to her people, they met it as they
have always met honest obligations.
They are a great people; they are true
people; they are a brave people. There,
are no very rich men there, and yet last
night with ease and amid great enthu-
siasm they raised 81, 900 in a short time,
in response to the proposition of the
General Education Board, though its
executive, Dr. Wallace Buttrick, who was
to the extent of 1000. Not content with
that, after the $4,000 was raised, sew
eral others insisted on being allowed the
privilege of contributing to the sum.
believe $4,000 would have been raised, if
the proposition to duplicate had have
been $4,000 instead of $4,000.
THE funds raised last night will be
under the direction OF an excellent com
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Greensboro, and will be wisely used for
the purposes above indicated.
Every County superintendent of the
twenty counties invited to participate in
this meeting was present, except one
who was detained by illness. The con-
ference with the county superintendent
lasted all day yesterday l believe that
it was profitable, as it was certainly in
spring and encouraging. The resolu-
tionS adopted by the conference, after
full discussion of the subjects and full
information of the conditions existing
in the various counties, from the various
superintendent, show that the superin-
tendents are of one mind upon the vital
questions of Improvement of school
houses, consolidation of school districts
and local taxation. The discussion by
these men showed clearly that much was
needed that something was being done,
and that much more was going to be
done in these directions. l was greatly
encouraged by the spirit of deep earnest
ness manifested by these men, and by
the evident character and intelligence of
the superintendent present. The con-
ferences were largely attended by out
siders and the discussions were atten-
lively listened to and participated in, not
only by the superintendent, but by some
of the other educators attending, like
President Winston, President Henry
Louis Smith, of Davidson Prof. Carlyle,
of Wake Forest; Prof. Minis, of Trinity;
President Venable.s of the University;
President McIver and others
Another encouraging feature of this
Greensboro meeting was the spirit of CO.
operation and unity manifested from be-
ginning TO end between all the various
educational forces represented, denomi-
NATIONAL, private school. public school,
college and university. 1t indicates that
the spirit of the educational conference
held in Raleigh, February 18th, under
whose general auspices these meetings
are being held, is going to pervade
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