The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-17
EDUCATION CAMPAIGN
PROGRESS its Aim. but it Must be
Along Conservative Lines
Only.

Yesterday the following statement re-
gardlng the purposes OF the educational
campaign in this State was given out by
secretary 4. c. Brooks, OF the campaign
COMMITTEES:
The purpose OF the campaign, ia accord
with the entire policy Of the Department
or Education, has been and $50 over
come indifference. to arouse interest, to
inform the people OF the facts as to the
conditions and needs Of their public
schools to show them what experience at
home and abroad has proven necessary for
improving these schools and making them
adequate to furnishing their children an
education at home that viii give them OPP
portunitles for success and power some
what equal TO those OF the children Of
the other sections OF our common country,
20 induce the people by persuasion and
argument to desire TO take the steps that
facts and experience show to be re cessary
for the Improvement OF their public
schools, and to aid those desiring to take
such. steps in the wise accomplishment OF
heir desire.
NO attempt has ever been made and
none over will be made with the consent
or cooperation of the State Supelntend-
ent or under his direction as head OF the
Department of Public Education, to in
augurate any boom for public education
Inflated with gush, frcthy sentlmentallty,
buster and manufactured enthusiasm.
Instead of trying to force people by artifi-
cjal and temporary methods TO do what
they do not desire to do, the effort has
been to induce them to desire to do what
they ought to do and what facts and eX-
Derlence show to be necessary. No wild,
impractical, radical schemes have been adj
yocated. The means advocated for the
Improvement of the public schools are
those that many communities in this and
other States have adopted and found sue
cessful. That more money is necessary
to make our public schools what they
ought to be in houses and equipment and
length OF term, salary and number of
teachers and competent supervision, no
body acquainted with the facts in this and
in other States will deny. That the only
reasonable hope of providing more money
for these purposes is to be found in re-
GuoiHg the number of school districts by
reasonable consolidation and in further
increasing the funds of each district by
reasonable local taxation, nobody can
uOEDl WHO is UctludlIIeu WIN the 1dcL
that in this State the constitutional limit
of general taxation has already been
reached in practically every county, and
with the further facts that the only com
| munities in this State that have adequate
public schools have secured them by con
aolidation ard local taxation: that the
| bulk of the money raised for public schoIs
in all States have we'll equipped, success
full public schools is raised by local taxa
| tion ard that siXty-nne per cent Of all
the money raised for public schools in the
United States is raised by local taxation
consolidation of districts beyond the
point of leaving the farthest children
within reasonable walking distance Of the
school house has not been advocated.
Neither consolidation nor local taxation
has been urged where the conditions were
not favorable for its success, and where a
reasonable majority of the best people of
the community did not desire it.
During the past two years 40 local
tax districts have been established about
| ! geo unnecessary small districts have been
consolidated, SS4 new school houses have
| been built.
There has been so much more progress
along the lines of local taxation, consolida-
sion and Improvement of school houses
during the past two years than ever be-
| fore in the history Of the State that l do
not wonder that some conservative men
unfamiliar with the means and methods
by which it has been secured should fear
| that the progress is not conserve tive
IF progress secured through conserva-
tive methods of arguments and facts by
means tried and found successful FOR years
by other States and by many communi-
ties in this State is not conservative and
safe. then no progress can be ccnserva-
tive and safe"