The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-05-24
IMPROVING RURAL PUBLIC AND HIGH SCHOOLS.

1t hasn't been ten years since the aspirant for
the Office of superintendent of Public ~Instruc-
ton in any Southern State needed only to prove
a rood war record and an unblemished reputation
for party loyalty; as to his interest in education
and his fitness for educational work, that was a
| secondary consideration. That day, thank heaven!
has forever past, and the South now has a group
of young, enthusiastic Superintendent trained in
school work and giving themselves unreservedly to
the task of improving our educational system.
Another striking feature of the educational
revival in the South is the awakening to the i'm
portance of maxine the public schools train for
practical work. The school officials are no longer
content to have the country children use text
books that ignore farm life. On the other hand,
State after State is making agriculture a com
mon school study, and our North Carolina text
book, agriculture for Beginners" is admitted
almost everywhere to be the best work of this
kind that has been brought out. We found it
very popular in Alabama, and in Georgia it was
so heartily supported by leading educators that
only the most vigorous appeals to State pride kept
it from being adopted instead of the book by a
Georgia author.
Another North Carolina idea that is winning
favor in all sections is our rural school library
law. Superintendent Martin, of South Carolina,
GCIS US GLIdG Iu6 library dCG pdSSSu ny Ills TOC0uC
Legislature is almost an exact copy of the North
Carolina Statute, and we were gratifed to hear
that before it's passage a copy of the article on the
advantages of these libraries which we printed in
The Progressive Farmer some weeks ago, was sent
to every member of the Legislature-simply to
show the need of these libraries and the success
of the plan in this State.
South Carolina. however, does not allow us to
take the lead in all wise and progressive meas
ures. This same General Assembly of 1908 to
which we have just referred, for some inexplicable
reasan saw fit to violate all the traditions of the
politicians and pass a law to tax dogs. 1t is al
most incredible, but such is the fact. The meas
ure passed both Houses, and hereafter a tax of
fifty cents on each South Carolina canine will be
levied annually for the benefit of the public
schools of the State. This looks like a real revival
of craftsmanship in the South.
Alabama also has taken an advanced step in
educational affairs that we should do we'll to con-
slider. In every one of the nine Congressional
districts of Alabama there is now an agricultural
high school for which the State appropriates
$500 annually. These schools attract a great
many pupils who are rot prepared or not inclined
to take the higher courses in the State Agricul-
tural College, and are undoubtedly doing a great
deal to promote agricultural education. In con-
nection with each, school a farm is maintained,
and the money paid pupils for farm work enables
many of them TO pay their way through school.
We have not discussed the plan with anyone. but
it occurs to us that in North Carolina such schools
might we'll be run in connection with the Test
Farms of the Department of Agriculture. it be-
ing proposed ultimately to have one of these
farms in each Congressional district.