The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-12

State Superintendent Public Instruction.
State in the average length of term OF
the public schools, making an average
of 1871 weeks. I have no doubt that
under a proper appOrtionment OF the
second hundred thousand dollars for
bringing school terms in weak districts
to four months, in accordance with the
amended law, for the discussion OF
which we have an appointed hour on
this program, we shall be able to in
crease this school term this year at
even less expense TO the State. shall
need the wise and careful cooperation
of county superintendent and county
boards of education in the apportion-
ment of this special appropriation and
in the enforcement OF the new law ap-
propriating it. | shall have opportun-
ity to confer with you more fully about
this, however, later.
| am glad to be able to report, also,
that during the present year, the nigh
water mark was reached in the aver
age salary of teachers. The average
salary Of white school teachers being
1886 and the average salary Of col
ored school teachers being $22.G3, an
| increase of $1.5S per month in the sal
ar yOf white teachers and of Al cents
per month in the salary Of cOlored
| teachers.
The Campaign for Education.
Through the generous aid of the
Southern Education Board the cam
paign for education has been success
fully carried on under the direction of
the campaign committee for the pro-
motion of public education in North
Carolina, consisting of DR.. Charles D.
McIver, district director of the South
ern Education Board; Governor c. B.
| Aycock, and the State superintendent
of public instruction, with Prof. e. G.
Brooks as secretary. Sixty-six coun-
ties have been covered by this cam
paign. Thirty-four speakers have Ia
ken part in it, among these represen-
tative teachers, editors, lawyers,
preachers, business men, public Off
Gals and others. Great good has been
accomplished by this campaign in help
ing to secure local taxation and con-
solidation of districts and in the edu-
cation of public sentiment along all the
lines of our work for public schools.
Work to be Done-School Houses.
| / feel that in the work of the year is
to be found cause for gratitude and
encouragement, yet sometimes as l
look to the future, l am almost ap-
palled with the contemplation OF the
magnitude of the work yet to be done.
| 1t may be we'll for all of us to pause
here and consider for few moments
some of this work. There are still 527
houseless school districts to be sup
piled with houses. There are 719 log
unfit for use TO be replaced. There
are hundreds of old houses to be re-
paired, enlarged, equipped and beauti-
| fed.
Local Taxation.
There are still only ia local tax
districts in the entire State. After the
total number of school districts has
been. reduced by consolidation to the
minimum consistent with the right Of
every child TO. be within reasonable
reach of some school, there will still
remain hundreds and even thousands
of school districts that cannot have
schools adequate, in houses, teachers,
term and equipment TO the educational
demands of the age without supple
menting the school fund in those dis
tricts by local taxation; SO that, as you
may readily see, the work OF local tax
alton is scarcely more than well be-
gun.
School Teachers.
The average monthly salary OF white
teachers is still only $2S.36, and the
average annual salarly only S11S.4O. It