The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-14

There are six things, he SAID, that
Durham needs and will have, viz: /.
Reasonable consolidation of districts;
2. A good school house in every district;
g. good library in every school: 4.
good teacher in every school; s. local
taxation in every district; 6. mild COM
pulsory school law
There was loud applause when the
sixth necessity was mentioned.
WEDNESDAYS NIGHT SESSION.
The first discussion of last nights ses-
sion was on observed Benefits of Better
Houses ard Equipment" led by Supt. ].
NJ. Way, of Randolph. He told of one
school house that had been built in his
county at a cost of $500. The idea had
been at first for the county to furnish
$50 and the patrons $3.50. But the peo-
pie were so we'll pleased that they con-
tributed $3.50 as a private fund.
He contended that compulsory eduea-
ton laws were not needed in Randolph,
or he thought, anywhere else in the
State Once you convince the people that
their children will be we'll cared for after
they get to school and they will send
their children there. The attendance
had been about doubled in two districts
where new school houses had been built.
The plan in Randolph, he said was for
the patrons of the school to put down
dollar for dollar of the general school
fund, and every dollar put down by the
county was always promptly duplicated
by the patrons.
Supt. Way was asked how he got his
people to want new schools.
by sending in the first place good
teacher he replied"
He laid great stress upon the incentive
aroused by the presence of a good teach
err This he considered the key to the
whole situation. The parents, he said,
were unwilling to send their children to
ugly school houses when there were
pretty ones. Good houses, he had found,
inculcated good manners.
Discussion on the ways and means Of
building new school houses was engaged
in by Supts. Sentell, of Haywood; An
thony, Of Cleveland; Johnson, of Macon;
Henderson, of Caswell; Maddry, of
Orange; Long, of Alamance; John, of
Scotland; Cox, of Forsyth; Peele, of
Martin; Rucker, of Rutherford.
1t seemed to be the opinion of the ma
jority that the money for new buildings
should come out of the general school
certain percentage of that fund. The
plan Of the county giving dollar for
every dollar raised by the people was
generally approved.
In this connection Supt. Joyner called
attention to the fact that before any
thing of consequence was done this doc
trine of self-help must be instilled. He
spoke very earnestly on this matter, de-
-,
lima was as nothing compared with the
poverty in Europe and in the crowded
cities Of our own country.
Supt Long said he thought that law
ought to be passed that not less than
two or more than four acres of land be
condemned for school house. He was
of the opinion that every district could
contribute something toward building
new school houses.
BY request of Mr.. Cloyd, the question
was put as to how many counties were
insisting upon more than one acre for
their new houses. About fifteen superin-
tendents arose. 1t was then asked how
many were trying to get five acres.
Supt E. P. Ellington, of Rockingham,
arose upon this.
Supt Ledbetter, of Davidson, then
county school maps. He claim
ed that properly managed a school map
for county could be gotten up with
practically no cost He told of how at
one time, when he was in charge of a
certain school. he asked the children to
draw maps of the surrounding district.
He finally, by this means secured a very
accurate map of the district He stated
10 70 IF
Davidson county within the next few
months by urging his teachers to get
their pupils to draw complete maps of
their various districts, and also to take
the census of the districts. From these
maps he will draw correct map of the
whole county.
Mr.. Cloyd said he considered this a
very practical method of getting maps
and very beneficial to the children.
Supt Henderson, of Caswell, said his
county had map made by the county
surveyors. This work had been done a
long time ago, at the expense of the
county.
DR.. Buttrick then suggested that, as
lit was of value it be required in the
curriculum.
Supt. John, of Scotland, suggested that
the teachers De noJlned 1mmeQlaIeIy InaJ
the making of maps would be required.
Supt. Joyner said he thought it would
be a good idea for some interested citi-
zen in a district to offer a prize for the
best map.
Supt. Venable, of Buncombe, proposed
that an accurate outline of the map be
first made, and then let the children fill
it in.
The chairman said he thought the
county commissioners ought to CO.
operate with the county boards of edu-
cation in the making of maps.
In the absence of Prof. Thos. Newlin,
of the Board of Trustees of Guilford Col
lege Rural Graded School, Supt. Joyner
called on Supt Wharton, of Guilford,
and President McIver, to speak on the
benefits of local taxation and ways and
means of securing it, Supern-
tendent Wharton said that many per-
sons who had at first bitterly OPP
posed the plan of local tax had come to-
favor it very strongly. There are now
splendid schools and teachers, and the
teachers are getting better salaries.
The people arc enthusiastic over it,
L.