The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-18
Organizer of
Public Schools
Continued from Page One.)

Constitution. In 1917, as chairman or
the committee appointed in obedience
to q resolution of the preceding Leg
islature, Judge Murphey filed his ia
nous report on CdGcntiOH. L doubt II
a more able and scholarly report was
ever filed by any man on any subject
in any North Carolina Legislature. It
reads like blank verse and deserves to
rank forever as an educational classic
1t marked the beginning OF new era
in education, formed the basis of the
common school system, and worthily
won for its author the title OF Father
of the Common Schools" But Il was
not vouchsafed unto this great man
to see the realization OF his great
dream in the establishment or q sys-
tenn of common schools for his people.
The bill incorporating tht Ideas OF his
report was defeated.
No practical steps were taken by
the Legislature for providing means
for carrying out the Injunction OF the
Constitution OF 1776 until the passage
of the act of 1925, creating the Lit
erary Fund" from the parlngs OF the
treasury" as the author of the bill ex-
pressed it, and providing for Literary
Board consisting Of President and
a Board of Directors that should have
the management OF this fund. The
fund was to be applied to the In
struction OF such children as it may
hereafter be deemed expedient by the
Legislature to instruct in the common
principles of reading, writing ana
arithmetic" Bartlett Tancey, Of Cas-
W ell then Speaker Of the Senate, who
had been in earlier days q student in
Judge Murphey's office, and who was
now his able coadjutor in the cause OF
the common schools, was the author
a iaf al M ~
this service, he may appropriately be
called 1.-THE Creator OF the First Pub
lie School Fund" Ais name deserves
to be linked with that Of Judge Muir
phey's as the greatest two names
among the early friends and cham
pions of the peoples schools.
No action was taken, however, by
the Legislature looking to the apph
cation of the Literary Fund 90 the
purposes mentioned in the Yancey bill
until 1888. In the meantime the
fund had grown from the ''parings OF
the treasury" and from the apprCpria
ton to ii OF a considerable part of the
States portion OF the surplus revenue
distributed by the Federal Govern
ment, until the annual income from IL
amounted to about $100,00O.0O. Upon
the urgent recommendation of the
Literary Board" the Legislature of
1S3S-'39. passed the initial act for the
organization of the common schools, as
they were called before 1868, entitled
can act to divide the counties into
school districts and for other pur-
poses" Little was done, however, to-
ward the organization of these schools
until 1910, when a new, more definite,
and fuller law, entitled, IAN act for
the establishment and better regula-
ton Of common schools was passed by
the Legislature"
Under this act the net annual in
come Of the Literary Fund was to
be divided among the counties in pro-
portion to Federal population. The
authority to divide the county into
school districts, to apportlon the FUNDS
among the districts and TO nave gen
eral management Of the school affairs
of the county was vested IN BoarA
of Superintendent of common schools
Of not less than five nor more than ten
members elected for one year by the
county courts OF such counties as voted
for schools The county courts OF Sucn
counties were authorized ana empoW-
cred to levy tax for school purposes
not to exceed one-hat the estimated
amount to be received by the reSpec-
tive counties for that year from the
Literary Fund. A schooi Goliiiili 1,t %
three was to be chosen by ballot or
the white electors of each district to
servo for one wear. This school COM
mittee was to provide house, make a
census and employ teachers me
taxes levied and collected for school
ruTposes were turned over TO the
oh AMMAN of the Board of Superintend7
ents Who was required to give bond.
T rr.s eoh 80 committees were to report
- hin, and he was directed to report
to the literary board all essential facts
and statistics. st.
80 annaralt Under it there was and
a. ba ~ efficient supervision, there
49, go ,,.octicolly no executive head of
~ Ms'' ,f,stan, There was and could be
, ne of;cailv no unity or uniform ty in
The !, a. system. 1t was almost entirely a