The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-03-24
uow TO HELP YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOL.

on+ Of the 400 or 500 rural school Libraries that
~ now Frightening the lives of thousands of
n,or school children whose homes are without
anv Of the treasures of literature. We again re-
mind our readers of the fact that the way is now
omen for the establishment of 500 more of these
libraries during the next two years, and those
districts that were too late to get aid under the
law of 1901 should now make haste to take advan-
tage of the new opportunity afforded them. Every
county is now entitled to State aid in the estab-
Isbment of six more libraries under the rules
heretofore prevailing. Let the patrons of the
school raise at least $40, the County Board of
Education will set apart $40 more from the dis
trict school fund, and another $40 will be given
from the State Treasury, thus insuring at least
$50 for the purchase of books. The plan has
worked we'll; everybody is pleased with it; the
children are taking greater interest in their
schools and their studies as a result, and if your
school, kind reader, has not yet improved this OPP
portunity, bring it at once to the attention of
your teacher and your friends. An excellent list
of books has been selected by a committee of dis
tinguished educators, the very lowest prices have
been secured, and Superintendent J. Y. ,Joyner,
Raleigh, will gladly give further information to
any who apply. We wish very much to see one of
these little libraries in every school district into
which The Progressive Farmer goes.
There is, moreover, an appropriation of $4,000
for rcplenishing or charging the libraries already
established, the provisions being, we think, that
the friends of the library shall raise S. or more,
another S. shall be set apart from the district
school fund, and the third S. furnished by the
State Board of Education.
And now there is one other plan, a new meas
Ue, looking to the Improvement of our rural
schools, to which we earnestly direct attention.
This is the 100000 loan fund now available for
building schoolhouses in country districts. We
have already given an outline of it's provisions and
on page 10 of this number Superintendent Joyner
explains the plan in detail. It is enough to Il know,
however, that if your school district wishes to
build a new school house or improve it's present
building, it can borrow money from the 5000, 900
swamp land fund" ~repaying the loan with 4 per
cent interest in ten annual instalments. The ten
per cent instalment due each year may be paid
from the school fund or by private subscription
by the last named method wherever there is sufi-
Gent enterprise and public spirit to make it pos
SIblc. That there is great need for better school
houses Is a fact too we'll known to require argu-
mcnt to establish it. Aside from the matter of
protection to health and comfort, you cannot ex-
pect children to take pride in their school so long
as 1t IS CHARTERED in a ramshackle building. Talk
the loan fund idea and get a better building for
the children. As to this matter too, Superintend-
et J"yner will gladly give further information
TO any who apply, and The Progressive Farmer
VIII from time to time jog the memory of its
readers and remind them of the progress and pos
sl6lIItics of the plan.
Il We can get a good building for every school
''' Il good library in every building, we shall have
d. substantial and enduring basis for our educa-
,o'""l revival in North Carolina. Whatever other
">,ricts may do or may not do, kind reader, see
" IL that your school district gets these two adj