The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-25


matriculated in all the colleges Today
there are not less than $500
Within the past fifteen years the State
has established two great industrial in
titutions the A. and NJ. College for white
boys at Raleigh, and the A, and NJ College
for colored boys at Greensboro. The ag-
CRATE appropriations and expenditures at
both have three quarters Of a million
dollars. At Greensboro the State
has established for women the
State Normal and Industrial Ollege, the
success of which has been al
most phenomenal. 1t represents an ex-
penditure of more than half a million dol
lars in ten years. The appropriation from
the State Treasury has been increased
from $12, 500 to $4,000 year. The State
has added largely to the institution for
the blind at Raleigh and erected commo-
dious and modern buildings for model
school for the deaf and dumb children at
Morganton. costing 100000 Private
benefaction has constructed five new
buildings at the University at a cost OF
over 100000 The appropriations from
the State Treasury for the University
which re-opened in 1876 with State APP
preparation of ST 500 per year, have been
increased to $S7, 500 per year. Eight
normal schools for the training OF treach-
ers for the negro schools are maintained
by the State at locations convenient and
accessible.
The private academies and preparatory
schools-(North Carolina from its earliest
history has always been blessed with a
few private schools worthy to rank with
the best in England or New England)-
have multiplied in numbers and attend
ance, doing a great and needed work,
filling the gap between the public
schools and the colleges.
The UNCONVENTIONAL colleges have gone
forward steadily and rapidly. The en-
dowment in one alone, Trinity College,
coming almost wholly from two men
father and son-has grown to something
like half million Wake Forest has in
creased to a quarter of a million; David
son to a quarter of a million; Elon dur
ing the past year received handsome
donation. The endowments in the denomi-
rational colleges for women have not
been so great, but these colleges have
shown a growth that tells nightly the
story Of the belief in educating the wo-
cational characteristic OF the State during
the past ten years. New colleges for wo-
men have been established and grown to
great usefulness in single year.
Time would fail me to enumerate all
the forward steps that the state has
lately taken. / must name three l. Tho
Legislature has now for four years made
an appropriation of 100000 a year, out
Of the general funds to be applied solely
to the schools in the poorer counties
whose revenues are not sufficient to
bring their school terms up TO the con-
stitutional requirement. 2. 1t has made
appropriations of $12,500 for free
rural Libraries in connection with the
public schools which, supplemented Dy
the counties and private subscriptions,
will amount to s37 500. 3. The GEN
eral Assembly, which adjourned last
month. recognizing that the pressing need
in public education is better school
house, upon the recommendation Of the
States able and wise state Superintend-
ent of Schools, one of the first educators
in wisdom and in executive ability In
America today, set aside the sum or
$500, coo and all funds hereafter arising
from the sale of thousands of acres OF
public lands belonging to the State, to
be a Permanent Loan Fund for Build
ing and Improving Public School
Houses" The State Board Of Education
is directed to lend this money at four
per cent to school districts which have
not the money to build school houses,
to be repaid in ten annual in
stallments. This sum will be used
to supplement local appropriations and
contributions. If it could be doubled and
the entire school fund, a large part o.
which has necessarily been used to build
school houses, could be used exclusively
to employ teachers, the good result
which we confidently expect in ten years,
would be accomplished within one year.
I believe that this is the most tmpor-
tant step taken in public education IN
any Southern state. You cannot secure
full attendance without comfortable
school houses. Good school houses must
be at the foundation OF all permanent
progress in public education The Loan
Fund established by North Carolina has
the germ of the best work possible of
early accomplishment that philan-
thropists and legislators can undertake.
These facts tell in outline the story of
the educational progress in North Caro-
lima as far as it can be told by brick,
mortar, statutes and appropriations.
These are the visible signs of the revival
that has, like living fire, touched the
minds and hearts of the people Of the
State But as the spirit Is
always superior to the mate
rial, these facts and figures can
not convey the full story OF the wonder
tul progress that this generation has
witnessed. That story will be found in
the newer life of intellectual and In
dustrial activity that dominates the South
today, and that will lead 1t into larger
fields in the days that are to come.
North Carolina S contribution to the
educational revival is found mainly with
in the State, for the true Tar heel is ever
mindful of the injunction, Beginning at
Jerusalem" Perhaps We stay there TOO
/ long and preach too much only 10 the
| saints. But North Carolina has furnish
! ed educa tional leaders, not only Tor us
own schools and colleges, but mas
! furnished educational leaders also
| nd plEpVI-l