The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-17

were enrolled in the white schools, a
decrease of 1924.
ance.
"In 1903 there were enrolled in the
rural schools 292,60 white children
and in the city schools 25,023, total
enrolment of 317,623, more white
lchildren than had ever before been en-
rolled in the history of the State, and
l97371 more than We're enrolled in
1887 under Fusion rule. In 1908 the
average daily attendance was 194,1S9
white children, 1851 more than the
average for 1902, and S3,512 more
than the average daily attendance
during Fusion rule in 1897.
Improvement OF School Houses.
There has been a marked increase
and interest. both in the number of
school houses and the Improvement of
school property. Under the law
placing the construction of school
houses in the hands of the County
Board of Education under the super
vision of the State superintendent,
the best results are obtained in archl-
lecture and cost of building.
In 1903 the Legislature made of the
Public School Fund derived from the
sale of State swamp lands a loan
fund TO be devoted by the Central
State Board of Education to making
loans to such districts as are most in
need Of the help which the fund
affords. Under the policy of the
board the preference is given to rural
communities and such districts as
have voted a special school tax
Only one-half the cost of a building
is loaned fromthe fund. Only since Au-
gust 1903. just year ago, the loan
fund became available. In the
twelve months the Board has made
loans which amount in the aggregate
to s10S,SS1. This money has been
lent TO sc counties and 272 school
districts and has aided in the erection
of school property which was built
at a cost in the aggregate of $330,000.
So that by lending $10S.SS1 the State
has enabled the expenditure for
school purposes of three times that
amount of money.
In three years 1,076 school houses
have been built as follows: In 1902,
three hundred and twenty-nine: 1903
three hundred and forty-Seven, and
in 1904. not less than four hundred.
Special Tax Districts.
The increase in special tax school
districts since the present admins
tration came into power has been a
remarkable growth, showing the con-
lidence of the people and the wide
spread impulse of educational prog
ress. From thirty of these districts
existing in the State in 1900. the
number has grown until there are now
two hundred and twenty-one school
districts, which have a local tax. they
being confined to no section, extend
ing from Cherokee in the West, to
Dare at the eastern extremity of
North Carolina.
Rural Libraries.
Another school advance is that OF
rural libraries. for which the State
makes an appropriation of $1,000
not more than siy libraries to be es-
tablished in any county--whereby the
library is established when $40 is
raised by private subscription. $40
from the general school fund and $40
from the State appropriation.
SuDt. Joyner's Summary.
In making a summary of school
conditions, past and present, it is said:
Under Democratic administration
the public schoo! system was first es-
rablished and brought to efficiency be-
fore the war. After the Civil War.
under Republican administration, the
system fell into chaos. the funds
We're squandered. the schools We're
either closed, or became SO inefficient
as to be unworthy of the confidence,
respect and patronage of the people.
Under Democratic administration
from 1876 to 1895. the school system
was re-organized the schools were re-
opened, new institutions of learning
were established, there was a gradual
but continual Improvement in the
system and in the schools. a rapid in
crease in the school fund and in the
expenditures for school purposes in
proportion to the increase in the
0f 70 IN, he
quirements of the schools; and a
corresponding increase in the eff
cheney of the schools and in the con-
fidence and respect and patronage OF
the people. Under Fusion rule from
1895 to 1899, educational progress was
checked, and, Notwithstanding there
was no decrease in the rate of taxa
ton for schools and no material de-
crease in the school fund. there was
Il marked decrease in the enrolment
and attendance of the public schools,
showing a deplorable loss of the con-
hdence and the respect of the people
With the return of the Democrats to
power in 1900, there was a reStora-
ton ct the public confidence and
wonderful awakening of public inter-
est IL public education. The present
Democratic administration has been
an era of wonderful progress in ed
ucaton, marked by a commendable
increase in the public school fund and
in the length of the public school term
without any increase in the rate of
taxation for public school purposes, a
remarkable increase in enrolment ano
attendance, q wonderful, improvements
i'll public school houses, a marvellous
increase in the number of new school
houses built a rapid growth of the
idea of self-help finding expression in
local taxation, and q contagious en-
thusiasm for education such as was
never known before in the State, re.
sulting in filling to Overlooking ali
the schools in the State, high and low,
public, private and UNCONVENTIONAL
1.-The Democratic party proudly
points TO its past record in education
as earnest of it's future record, and
confidently rests upon that its claim
to the support of every honest friend
of education