The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-30
LUCAMA'S PROGRESS.
Editorial Correspondence

lantic Coast Line built its quick route
south through Wilson and Fayetteville, it
made a depot here at the centre of Cross
Roads township, which was named Lu-
CANA This section was not then thiclIly
settled, had enjoyed poor school facilities,
and while fertile it was not a specially
prosperous farming section. 1t is not a
| city yet, but it is a good and growing
town, the centre of a thickly populated
and prosperous agricultural community,
one of the most thickly settled rural
portions of North Carolina. 1t is peopled
by as Industrious, thrifty, enterprising,
and moral people as can be found IN the
State. The whole tone of the township
has been elevated and the parents almost
without exception are deeply interested
in the education of their children. They
have maintained an academy for several
years, but it was not until this year that
they have put their school upon the prop
er permanent basis. In too many towns
in North Carolina the people look to
some teacher to open a pay school and
provide instruction for the children. Al
most always the teacher gives much tut
ton to poor boys, taking upon himself
a burden that should be borne by the
whole community to provide educational
advantages foI all-the children of the rich
and the poor alike in the public school
supported by taxation. A few months ago
this school district put its school upon a
permanent foundation by voting a special
tax of thirty cents to maintain a graded
school for the district. This was the first
school district in this section of the
State, outside of the large towns, to vote
this tax. 1t was voted by a very large
majority, enthusiastically and heartily by
the men OF this township who are re-
solved to educate their children.
To show the educational progress, I
need but to state that few years ago
the school here was being taught in a
small SIS building. There was then only
about seyenty-five children in the school
district. Since last June the citizens have
subscribed and paid over 5000 for the
purpose of erecting a public school build
ing This amount was increased by the
Board of Education to 1900. AS a re
suit a neat school building, containing
three school rooms equipped with modern
furniture, has been erected. 1t is a model
structure, erected lin the centre of am
pie grounds, well located. During the year
that closed today almost as many children
-168-as are enrolled in the school census
have matriculated at Lucama Institute,
and for the first time nine-months ses-
sion has been held. The good results are
seen in the declamations recitations, com
positions and examinations of the stu
dents. The success OF the school during
the session that closed today is due to the
excellent faculty. Mr.. George B. Strick-
land is principal He is young man of
real ability and capacity, and has won the
confidence of the community and the re-
gard of his pupils. The other members
of the faculty are Miss Edna sallinger,
Miss Chrissie e. Miller and Mr.. j. NJ
Barnes. The old time policy OF having
one teacher to teach all the grades does
injustice alike to teacher and children.
The Lucama folks have as good teachers
and as good graded school as Raleigh or
Wilson. The students are stimulated by
prizes in certain lines. For the best
defamation a morocco bound volume Of
Longfellow is given, for the best recitation
handsome edition OF Lucille, and for
the best attendance very neat copy of
Lalla Rookh. The competition for these
prizes was keen, and the pupils showed
great proficiency.
Lucama not only sets the pace for the
towns of its size in establishing and con-