The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-31
lYCOCK SPEAKS
FOR EDUCATION
DR.. McIver Tells of Our
States Progress.
ncCInEDc ABE nuncEN
OFFICERS ARE CHOSEN
Governor Aycock Declares that Uni
versaI Education Alone Will Re-
store the Prestige and Pri-
macy ihe Old South Held
i'm the Nafinn.
in the Nation.
lBx the Associated Press,

first session OF the Southern Educa-
Forward Movement, which was partIc-
ipated in by superintendent of public
schools Merritt. of Georgia. Superin-
tendent Hill. of South Carolina. Pres
ident O. b. Martin. of the State Nor
NAL School, of South Carolina: Presi-
dent Charles D. McIver of the State
Normal School, of North Carolina; DIR.
Purington, of the University of West
Virginia; DR.. Abercrombie, of Ala.
bama. and DR.. Andrew Shedd, of the
University of Florida. Governor Ay-
cock. of North Carolina, occupied d
box during the session and followed
the proceedings closely.
DIR. McIver Speaks.
In discussing the forward movement
in North Carolina DR.. McIver of the
State Normal College at Greensboro
said among other things:
THE subject assigned me by the
management of this association was
not OF my choosing, but if the South
ern Education Association wishes to
hear about the Forward Movement oil
education in North Carolina. il will
be my pleasure to present a few facts
III regard to the progress of that State
during the past four years.
NV story, however. shall be bret
and consist chiefly OF comparison
between the education condition CT
North Carolina in 1900 and 1904 az
shown by our public reports, though
not exactly in the form In which /
shall present them. l submit the fol-
lowing cheerful list of facts showing
the education progress of North Caro-
lima for the four years since 1900:
Increase in length of school tern.
l6 per cent; increase in average sal
airy for white teachers, 16 per cent;
increase in school population per
cent; increase in school enrollmen-
% per cent: increase in average at
tendance, AZ per cent; increase in
school property. 50 per cent; increase
in salary of State Superintendent 81
1-3 per cent: increase in the averag,.
salary of County superintendent over
100 per cent. increase in total schooi
fund. about 100 per cent: increase
in the number of local tax districts.
663 per cent: decrease in number o:
school districts by consolidation. AL
number of school libraries established.
S17: number of new school houses
built, .015.
while the State is still far below
what she ought to be and what she
soon will be in length of school term.
teachers salaries and general educa-
tional investment. it is advancing "a
every point; and in its entire history
the State has rarel ytaken a backward
step after undertaking to do any gooG
thing.
For the past four years there have
been many very active agencies at
work to promote educational progress
in North Carolina. Our suffrage
amendment has greatly stimulated
school attendance. The Woman's AS
sociation for the Improvement of pub.
lie school houses and grounds is vigor-
Gus and influential. The press has pro-
noted every wholesome agitation
scholarly and jealous Superintendent
of Public Instruction, with the gentle.
ness ct a dove and the courage of
Hon. has labored INCREASINGLY and Sys-
tenlatically. The governor, whose
magnetic presence you will feel to-
night. has shown by his action that
he regards the education of all the
people as towering above every other
political or commercial consideration
When nominated TO the high office of
governor he pledged to the conven
ton which nominated him that ii
e;ected. the entire influence of his Of.
nee for four Years would be used to
promote the cause of universal duca-
tion and the Improvement of the
states public school system. Many
have wondered at what he has ac-
cemplished by his eloquence and his
courage, and some others have been
astonished that he meant what he said
when he accepted the nomination for
governor and that he has not varied
hairs breadth from that pledge :
Election of Officers.
While the Southern Educational AS
ISOLATION held no regular Afternoon.
session. a number of its departments
met and listened to addresses.
The committee appointed for the
purpose reported a constitution and
bylaws which will be acted on at the
session of the association to-day.
At the meeting of the Department
OF Superintendence, papers We're read
pF superintendent S. Philips, of Levy
county, Fla. on Things not seen
ana py Lawton 3. Evans of Augusta,
e1d., on The securing and training OF
competent teachers.
The following officers were elected
for the ensuing wear:
President, j. H. Van Sickle. Ralti-
more; pice-President. Iawton y.
Evans, Augusta. Ga: Secretary AIla1
}. BaEwick. Superintendent of Citv
Schools, Thomasville Ga.
Aycock's Address.
At the night session Governor Az
cock, of North Carolina. smoke on The
subject Of universal education He
said in part
The late Senator Hoar in an ad-
dress which he delivered at Charles