The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-05
YESTERDAYS SESSION.

/ / .
The session of the educational confer
ence in the Grand Opera House this
morning was well attended In addition
/ to the visitors, a number of business
! nlen of the city were present, evincing
a deep interest in the discussions The
great problem Of public education in
North Carolina was seriously and earn
! estly considered, the informal discussion
being Joined in by State Superintendent
| JOyner and most of the other educators
! present.
1t was noticeable that some of the
most earnest and practical speeches were
made by men who have never taught, but
who feel an abiding interest in the
school work and who are doing all in
their power to help it along.
superintendent Joyner called attention
to the lamentable fact that about 81
| per cent Of the school districts in North
Carolina have a school population Of less
than 65 children, the minimum number
! prescribed by law. Upon this showing
he based a strong argument for the
pressing need for the consolidation of
! districts, in order that better schools
and longer terms might be secured. In
his opinion, it would be wise TO so CON
| solidate enough Districts as to reduce the
present number of schools by about one
! half Unless something was done to up
build the rural schools, he expressed the
opinion that it was only matter of
! time until the country districts of the
State would be inhabited by the poorest
! sort of peasant population
/ The difficulties encountered in school
work in Caswell county were told by
Mr.. c. E. Henderson, who said the school
situation in Caswell had been steadily
growing worse for the past quarter of
! a century. The people demanded school
! facilities, and because they were not
available, many of the best people in the
county had moved to Danville Durham
and other towns, abandoning fine farms
to careless and Indifferent tenants and
leaving fine old residences to the bats
and owls The picture he painted was
not at all reassuring. With a per capita
| OF only "a cents to each school child. but
little could expected
A very practical speech was made by
Mr.. j. w. Umstead, of Durham county.
who has given much attention to the
needs of the public schools He is a
! farmer of the Flat River section and his
observation has convinced him that moth
| ing but consolidation can solve the prob
lem and give the country people the
kind OF schools they need and must have
! if the depopulation of the rural districts
is not to continue. He spoke feeingly
and earnestly and plead for better school
houses, longer terms and more capable
| teachers.
I He was followed by Prof. C. w. Mas
sey superintendent of the Durham county
schools, was told of the method adopted
in consolidating number of schools in
his county. His work was to bring the
members of the county board of edu-
cation around to his way of thinking
after which efforts were made to convert
the district committees. The result has
been gratifying. Several districts have
been consolidated a new school house
being built in each instance. The per
capita for the support of the schools
amounts to SO ard the term now runs
from six and half months to nine
months.
superintendent Long, of Alamance, and
Superintendent James, of Madison also
made short speeches telling of their eff
forts in the direction of consolidation.
superintendent Coon, of the Salisbury
graded schools, brought up the method
of employing teachers. He argued that
far better results would be obtained if
the method were changed so as to give
the employment Of teachers to the county
board of education.