The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-12
MEETING OF COUNTY
!. SUPER|NT ENDENTS.

Last night something of a sensation
was sprung in the meeting of the Coun-
ty School superintendent when superin-
tendent T. W Costen, Of Gates, offered
resolutions condemning the paper of
Prof. Bessett. They were ruled out Of
order by State Superintendent Joyner,
who was presiding, and a committee on
resolutions was provided for, in order
that they might be submitted before
that body.
Ii was evident that the sentiment OF
the meeting was divided on the question
of the advisability of this Association
OF County School superintendent adopt
ing such resolutions; but conversation
last night with number Of members
made it very plain that there was no
difference of opinion on the question Of
the condemnation OF Prof. Bassett' )
Particle.
The appearance OF this body of repre-
sentative educators is splendid. They look
like leaders, because they are leaders.
No finer body of men, perhaps, ever sat
II the House of Representatives Of Nor.E
Carolina than sat there yesterday. There
are ninety superintendent in attendance,
besides many members OF County Boards
OF Educatio. school teachers and others
interested IN the great work of public
education, in which North Carolina IS
passing on with seven leagued boot strides.
Many ladies' were in attendance, too,
and naturally, for are they not vitality
concerned In this greatest OF questions?
fter the organization, the magnificent
address of welcome of State Superintend-
ent J. Y Joyner. occupied the remainder
Of the morning session. 1t will be found
in part on page three Of this paper.
The afternoon and night sessions were
taken I'D with interesting discussions of
some of the most vital topics concerning
public education and public schools. Last
night ex-State Superintendent Charles II.
Mebane spoke on Visitation OF Schools
by County superintendent and How TO
Make it Most Helpful" His remarks were
practical and entertaining, and were heard
with marked attention.
All three sessions yesterday were we'll
attended. there being hardly an absent
member OF those III the city
"A
At $50 O'Clock yesterday afternoon the
meeting wa SCALED to order by the presl-
dent, and MI B. j. Crisp, OF Dare, spoke
on How LEGAL Taxation was Secured tor
Every District but One in Dare County.
Mr.. Crisp was introduced and said III
part:
The campaign for local taxation for
schools in Dare and it's successful result
were the natural results OF a general edu-
cational awakening in that county. The
spirit that prompted the movement was
awakened by the visit of State Superln-
tendent to the county last June, and 1t
was at the close OF magnificent address
by him that the idea of immediate action
having this object in view took definite
shape.
THE elections were ordered at the July
meeting of the County Board of Educa-
ton and there was an absence of unusual
political methods in the campaign that
Immediately followed. The first step
taken was TO ascertain the strength of the
opposition to the tax from the public
school committees in the fifteen districts
in which elections were to be held. This
ascertained efforts were made to overcome
this opposition by every means that was
thought would prove efficient. Letters
were written to known friends of educa-
ton in each district, suggesting such ac-
ton by them as was thought would be
beneficial. Correspondence was opened
with such Of the leaders of the opposition
as was thought would be amenable to rea
SON. Ministers of various religious de-
nominations interested themselves In the
fight and educational sermons were deliv-
erde in most of the districts on the eve
of the elections.
Through the influence of the State SUI
perintendent of Public instruction Hon.
T. w Blount, of Washington county came
to our assistance and visited the districts
in which elections were pending. He made
friends and votes everywhere, and al
though there had been opposition to the
tax in every district, his splendid educa-
tional speeches and influence so far re-
moved opposition that IN twelve of the fiji
teen districts voting on Local taxation, not
a ballot was cast against 1t. There were
twenty-five schools districts in the county
until reduced by the County Board of Ed
ucation to nineteen at the July meeting
of the board. Of these, eighteen are for
white and one for colored children. In
seventeen of the white and in the one col
ored districts the public school fund is
supplemented by local taxation, and iii
the one district in which the tax was de-
feated the friends of education are alert
and in earnest, and we are encouraged by
them to believe that in the near future
we may claim the honor of being the first
county i'll the State having local taxation
for schools in every district in it.
1.-THE five districts on Roanoke Island
and one on the main land have tax of
ninety cents on polls and thirty cents on
each one dollar valuation of property; the
other >..stricts thirty cents on polls and
ten cents on property.
Our people will not be content to stand
still but are determined to advance in ed
ucational matter as our means and cir
cumstances will permit. In every part of
the county interest in public school has
been stimulated and attendance increased
as a result of the educational campaign p
Mr.. Crisp was followed by Mr.. T. A.
Sharpe, Of Guilford, and Mr.. w. s. Long,
Of Alamance, who discussed What the
County Superintendent Can Do to Secude
Consolidation and Local Taxation