The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-15
NO STEP BACKWARD.


ted by the last Legislature for public
schools ought 10 have been paid before
any other appropriation. One hundred
thousand dollars has been paid. The
school authorities OF every county in the
State have already made provisions that
call for the payment of the additional
500 O00 Provision for it should be made.
In response to inquiries, State Superin-
tendent Joyner has written the following
letter, every word of which we endorse;
Dear Sir; In answer to your ques-
ton about the second hundred thousand
dollars, | desire to say that it is my
earnest hope and belief that the Legisla-
ture will make provision for its payment.
1t will be nothing less than a calamity
to the school interest of the State if the
General Assembly should fail to do this.
The reports that l have been receiving
from the County superintendent in re-
gard to their schools this winter inCi-
cate that the public schools are in bet
ter condition than ever before, and the
PEOPLE are taking more interest in item
and that the attendance is better than
at any previous time in their history.
have not, of course, received reports
from all counties, but this is the testi-
mony Of a lumber of the superintendent
and teachers in many counties, from
whom l have heard from time to time
through personal and official letters,
After all the promises made to the peo-
pie during the last campaign that they
should have a four months school, l do
not think that the Legislature can afford
at their first meeting after the election
tc permit these promises to be broken.
The people have acted upon the faith OF
the promises of the party that they have
learned to trust, and that has establish
ed in North Carolina a reputation as a
pledge keeping party.
In many counties all the arrange
ments for conducting their schools four
months have been made, and in some
counties the teachers in many of the
weak districts have already taught out
more than the county apportionment
under the advice of the County Superin-
tendent and County Board of Education
that the second hundred thousand dol
lars from the State would probably be
available and that it was better to have
continuous term of the schools than
to close them and allow them to become
disorganized and begin later in case they
should get their part of the State ap-
preparation. If this money should fail
to be provided now It would complicate
greatly school affairs in many counties,
would cause a number Of county deficits
instead Of one State deficit, and would
have a tendency to retard educational
progress and dampen the educational en-
thusiasm. It would weaken the faith of
the people in the promises of the State
and of the party. 1t would, as is usually
the case in all school troubles, strike
| the poor, innocent teacher hardest and
probably result in the loss of part o.
their hard earnings to many Of these
poorly paid teachers. The failure to pro-
vide this money now would work hard
ship to more people than the failure to
provide for any appropriation made ty
the last Legislature.
This second hundred thousand dollars
was appropriated by the Legislature of
1901 for this purpose. 1t is as binding as
any other appropriation made by that
Legislature. 1t effects more vitality the
educational interest of the great masses
fthe people of North Carolina than any
other appropriation made by that LET
islature. If the other appropriations
made by that Legislature are provided
for, and many of them have been paid
in full to date already, then this appro-
priation made for the benefit of the lit
tie children of North Carolina must be
provided for. II there should not be
enough money to pay all the appropria-
tons made by the last Legislature, then
as State superintendent of Public In
struction and the legal representative OF
the educational interest of the children
OF the State, | shall insist that all an
preparations shall be scaled and that
this appropriation shall be put upon the
same footing with all others and that
the same per cent of this shall be paid
| IN other words. if we have not money
enough to pay all then I shall insist that
ELL aSr ropriatiOns made by the preceding
Legislature shall be pro-rated. It would
not be fair or just to allow all the deficit
or the largest part thereof to fall upon
| the appropriation for the public schools
| and the little children. l am confident
however, that this General Assembly
| composed Of many of the States able
patriotic and just representatives. will
see the wisdom and the Justice in nro.
Vidlng the means to keep the State,
| pledge to its little children
Very truly,
J. JOYNEp