The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-26

| Inc most pressing ueeu OF the PUBIC
J schools in many districts in North Caro-
| lima is a modern public school house
| There has been marked Improvement in
/ the character of the school houses built
/ but there are many ram shackle'' build
| lngs used as school houses in the State
| today which are reproach to our edu-
eational progress. This problem is pre-
scented in many districts: A new school
house is needed and must be had to at
| tract the children, but there are no funds
to build the necessary school-house with
out closing the schools for several ses-
this juncture, when it is all important
that every opportunity be given the
boys to be educated so they can vote af-
ter 1908 1t is, therefore, apparent that
the first need is for better public school
houses 1t is equally plain that these
school houses cannot be built where
they are most needed except through
some assistance outside of the general
/ school fund
Below we print a letter by State Su-
perintendent Joyner outlining plan for
using the present permanent school fund
-sacredly set apart for the advancement
of public schools-as a permanent loan
fund to be used in building good school
houses in the districts where they are
sorely needed. 1t is our belief that if
this Legislature adopts this wise sug-
gestion the present fund will be largely
increased by donations by philanthropists
and the General Education Board. No
money could be so wisely expended by
those who wish to really advance the ed
ucation of the people of this State as by
helping to erect good school houses in
the weaker districts.
The letter by Mr. Joyner points out the
correct way for accomplishing the great
est thing for public schools that it is pos
sible in this generation. We endorse
every word of it. The letter is as fol-
lows:
A PERMANENT LOAN FUND FOR
BUILDING AND IMPROVING PUBLIC
SCHOOL HOUSES IN NORTH CARO-
| LIMA.
| To the Editor: There is in the hands
of the State Treasurer about two hun
dred thousand dollars belonging to the
State Board of Education arising from
| ~
/ hundred and fifty thousand dollars of this
i is in State bonds at four per cent inter-
est. The fund has been accommodating
for years. A part of it is the old Lit
erary Fund Under the law only the
| interest on ii is disable for the public
schools This has been apportioned to
the schools per capita from time TO
time and has scarcely been permanently
| felt in increasing the school fund or i'm
proving the public schools. / have recon-
mended that this entire fund and all
| funds arising hereafter from the sale of
lands belonging to the State Board OF
| Education shall be created a permanent
loan fund and placed under the control
/ of this Board to be loaned by them under
such regulations as they may adopt to
County Boards of Education and by
these in turn to school districts to build
! and improve public school houses. A
bill has been introduced in the Senate by
| Senator White to carry out this recon-
mendation. The bill provides among 9TH
er things that this money may be loaned
by the State Board of Education to
/ County Boards of Education payable in
| ten annual installments. bearing inter-
est at four per cent. The County Board
! of Education is authorized to execute
a note for the amount borrowed and d.
rected to set aside sufficient amount
| from the county school fund each year
before apportioning the same to pay the
annual installment and interest The
j amount loaned to any county is made &
lien upon the total school funds of such
county in whatsoever hands such funds
may be found. Upon failure to pay any
installment or interest or part of either
when due the State Treasurer may bring
action against the County Board of Edu-
ton of such county, and person or per-
sons in whose possession may be any
part of the school funds of the county
and against the tax collector Of such
| county If the amount of TIE school
fund then on hand be insufficient to pay
in full the sum so due then the State
/ Treasurer shall be entitled TO an order
directing the tax collector of such county
to pay over to him all monies collected
for school purposes until such debt and
interest shall have been paid. This, OF
course, makes the State Board of Edu-
cation absolutely safe, insuring repay
ment of all amounts loaned. The County
Board is authorized to loan to the dis
trict and deduct, if necessary, from the
annual apportionment to that district the
annual installment of its debt with in
terest This renders the County Board
! absolutely safe. The district can, OF
course raise by private subscription or
otherwise its annual installment and Sc
cure its entire apportionment each year
for running its school if it prefers. II
this bill putting into operation my recon-
mendaton be passed by the General AS
sembly, two hundred thousand dollars
will be available the first year for build
ing and improving public school houses
and twenty eight thousand dollars every
year thereafter perpetually for the same
purpose. Under the rules of the State
Board of Education this fund could be