The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-02

a report to the LeglSla tufe urging the
establishment of q judicious system of
public education. The matter ended,
however, with the recommendation and
nothing further vas done until 1925 In
that year fund for the establishment of
public schools was created by the Legis-
lature, consisting of the dividends arising
from the stock held by the State in GER
tain banks and navigation companies;
taxes arising from the licenses of retail
ers of spirituous liquors ard of auction
GERS; the urexpended balance of the
agriculture fund; all moneys paid to the
State for entries of public lands; all the,
vacant and unappropriated swamp lands
Of the State, together with such money as
the State might appropriate from time
to time.
The fund thus established was con-
trolled by a corporate body known legal
~ as The President and Directors of the
Literary Fund but popularity called
1.-THE Literary Board. This board con-
sisted of the Governor, Chief Justice.
Speakers of the Senate and House OF
Commons. and the Treasurer The fund
was at first but the Pickering of the
flame which later was to kindle the
torches destined to shed so much of the
light of knowledge in North Carolina.
Small appropriations were made from
time to time and the fund grew slowly.
large increase was made to it by an
| act of Congress of June %, 1886. dis
tributing the surplus revenue of the
United States government to the sew
eral States. For of the part turned over
TO North Carolina, $l00, 900 was used by
the treasury 5000, 900 was used for drain
ing swamp lands. while the balance.
amounting to 81, 133, 1913 was added 10
the literary fund On November [. 1910.
the resources of the board amounted to
S2,241, 5000
With this considerable fund on hand II
became necessary for a better organi-
zation OF the schools of the State In
1910. therefore, a new school law was
enacted, entitled AN act for the estab-
ishment and better regulation Of the
common schools. The Literary Board
was made the head of the system. But
this was an inadequate arrangement. the
board from the nature of its composition
not being able TO attend properly to the
various duties incumbent upon the execu-
tive OF such system A single eXecu-
tive head was needed. Recommends
tons for the appointment of a General
superintendent of Common Schools were
urged upon the Legislature during a
PERIOD Of twelve years, but TO no pur-
pose. The system thus foundcred about
without rudder and in this situation
was on the point of going to wreck
1t was at this point that Calvin H.
Wiley took up the work The first step
was taken when he was elected to rep
resent Guilford county in the General
Assembly of 1850 81. During this session
he introduced bill for the appointment
OF General Superintendent of Common
Schools. the bill was ably supported
put failed. Disappointed but not dis
heartened, DR.. Wiley again stood for
election and was returned Through his
Influence bill was introduced by Mr.
Cherry, of BERTHE, for the appointment OF
General Superintendent of Common
Schools and passed both houses
The 18th chapter of the acts of 1852 is
entitled IAN act to provide for the an
pointment of a Superintendent of Com
mon Schools and for other purposes"
The act provided for the election by the
General Assembly of a. General Superin-
tendent of Common Schools, to hold Of
fee for two years or until his successor
should be duly appointed. His duties as
outlined by the act consisted of the usual
duties of collecting information. making
Proper reports, enforcing the laws, etc,
ETC. But in the words of Mr. Wiley, His
law and if he does not possess the spirit
of his station. conformity with the
mere letter of legal requirements g
Wi hn n of dt,ti 70
the public. He is the chief executive
head of the system; he ought
TO be the chief thinking mind: the organ
Of ntercommunication among the parts;
the recording memory also of the sys-
tom. He has also to be the heart as
well as the head of the system. infusing
into it life, animation and hope en-
ccuraging the Responding and stimulating
the energies of the enthusiastic"
This law, the foundation of the best
ante bellIm system of schools in the
south once passed. it became necessary
to find man of sufficient ability TO I'M
Gertake thc arduous and responsible du-
TIES OF the office. All voices called on
enc man. Though he was Wing and
the Legislature Democratic, yet State
patriotism prevailed over party patriot
ISM, ana, without solicitation on his part,
Or. Wiley was elected in December 1852
On January /. 1888 in the thirty fourth
year OF his age, he entered upon the du-
ties of his office. Surely no man ever
undertook more arduous task with
greater sense OF the vast personal re-
sponsihility that lay on him DR.. Wiley
realized that upon his conduct of the
duties of the office depended the life of
the common schools. He had everything
to do aud everybody to instruct. The
compass of experience by which he could
know the channels in which to steer his
course and avoid the thousand shoals
that creircled him about was lacking to
him. Fri he fi1chcd not from his duty
Ills Eapa WIS at the helm, and well for
North Carolina that it was steady
band. guided by d penetrating insight into
the murky conditions facing him, and
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