The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-03-10

That good work is recognized beyond
state lines is shown by the following
editorial taken from the New YorA
School Journal OF February 18th. This
is one or the most influential school pa
pers in this country. and il should be a
matter OF pride to the teachers of North
Carolina that one of their number Is
gwen such merited praise Says the
Journal:
There is a teacher down in Iredell
county, North Carolina, who is made OF
the right sort OF stuff. Not only is his
example going to help Iredell county,
but the story of what he is doing. and
therefore what can be done where there
a will, is speeding a good many miles
beyond the borders of his State. The
young man, according to the Raleigh
News and Observer, is Franklin Erwin,
and he teaches in District No 5, OF
IIedcll county. While country teachers
generally are complaining of the short
terms, the small salaries, and the hard
work Of the country school, Mr.. Erwin Is
busy improving conditions IN his neigh
borhood. He began his work as a teach
er after completing his college course,
in a three months school, at a salary oil
$40 a month.
HE was not satisfied, however, that
the children should have such meager
opportunities as were offered in his dis
trict. By ~canvassing the neighborhood
he secured voluntary subscriptions SUI
fcient to maintain a nine months school
free to all. The house soon proved 100
small and again Re canvaSsed the neigh
borhood to build a better one. The peo-
pie contributed of what they had; some
subscribed money, some gave lumber
others promised labor. Pine trees
standing in the woods We're gratefully
accepted.
During the afternoons and Saturdays,
the teacher with his own hands cut the
trees into saw-mill logs, hauled them to
the mill and the lumber from the mill to
| the grounds. He sawed the framing ard
| other timber ready for the building.
He could do no more. He needed a
| carpenter who knew how to build a house
! and to direct the labor that had been
promised. He needed money to buy the
| windows, hardware, etc. After stating
the case to the board he was asked
how much would be necessary to finish
| the work. He said it could be done with
| SlZ0. ana llo DOGTu, ltuOu HtolLolich,
ordered that amount paid him at such
| time and in such sums as might be
| needed.
MANY a young teacher dreams of bet
ter Positions, signs for a finer school,
and laments the fate that has placed
him where he is, who might open mines
of happiness for himself and his school
community by a~vailing himself of the
| opportunities near at hand. A teacher
| like Mr.. Erwin exerts an influence for
good upon his time which will bless
whole generations"
Where there's a will there's a way. Mr..
Erwin has proved the truth of the old
adage by what he has done. Other noble
teachers in North Carolina have proved
it. But the number is too few. There
are literally hundreds Of our teachers
who are teaching under conditions no
worse, and even better, than Mr.. Erwin,
and who are waiting for their oppOrtu-
mites instead of taking advantage Of or
making the opportunities. Opportunities
are very sensitive. Sighted once they
may not return. Sighted often they go
forever. He who grasps the opportunity
at land does we'll; but he who creates
an opportunity does much better. The
former makes two blades of grass grow
where one grew before; the latter makes
two blades grow where none grew be-
fore. Mr.. Erwin and those like him be-
long to the latter class.
1t is often said that the people of a
community are Indifferent about good
schools; and it is often true. But how
many communities would remain indif-
ferent will teachers Of the determination
and enthusiasm OF Mr.. Erwin? Nothing
SO touches the hearts Of the people as
a deep interest shown by the teachers in
the welfare of their children. They will
respond to appeals for the children when
nothing else will move them. They can
not always give money; nor is money
always the greatest need. If the school
grounds need identifying it is interest.
not money, that is needed. The grounds
can be leveled up and cleaned, trees
and flowers can be planted, and a fence
1NAA1 ASAAoo 0SAAao ~ " SSht VI lAlOACy
Ii more room is needed much of the
lumber and labor can be had without
money. And even if money is needed it
will be forthcoming in the large ma
jority Of cases if the parents see that
the teacher has exhausted every other |
resource and will not be denied.
And so we commend to the teachers of
the State the work done by Mr.. Erwin.
The Invest Goa to set on fire the in
terest in the neighborhood school should
be the teacher of that neighborhood. |
Surely if there is a cause that should |
enlist the u~nconquerable zeal of the |
teachers, it is the cause of the little |
ones who come to the school-room with
patient faces and innocent eyes and !
make silent appeal for those opportuni- |
ties of development which CANNOT come
by the right of might, but which must
come. if thew come at all nv the mioht |