The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13

heW logs. and erect school houses.
Some old farmers entered the school
and began to teach the children 10
read and write Elder G. j. Taylor and
j. Fl. Doughton, | will here mention
without any hope of remuneration. we
soon got small log houses, dabbed
with mud, within reach OF almost eV-
cry child. Teachers were secured
and insufficient, having never had any
training for the important duty Of
training the minds of children
Time rolled on, and we were cheer
full and hopeful Of the future. Flnal-
ly Prof. S. w. Brown established
good school at Sparta, Whlch result
ed in much good for the country
Many young men and women Weni
out from under his inspiring influence
and all now bearing a good snare OF
raising the standard of society ana
lettering everything that it came in
contact with Later j. FL. Doughton, of
Laurel Springs, visited what was then
known as the State Grange Whefe the
subject of the betterment Oh ScnoolS
were the overshadowing issue. He re-
turned home filed with nope ana de-
termination to inspire ms nelghpofS
to action through his devotion to the
educational interest OF the country ana
never firing energy. He succeeded in
getting a good house built at Laurel
Springs which was the admiration of
the whole country; and soon started
an academic school, securing the sell
vices of Prof j. b. Hans who set
about the work of preparing men ana
women, and sending them out as lead
ers among those with whom they
came in contact with. Others soon
saw the fruits of good school by
their position taken in society; and
were inspired to do as Laurel Springs;
and bring home to their children the
same opportunities that the Laurel
Springs children enjoyed, belleVlng
their children were susceptible OF the
same achievements if an opportunity
was offered.
Four years ago the county was ripe
for action when the Board of Educa-
ton and Supt. f. Left Wagner was
sworn in under the present law. They
found the county with but few houses
fit to teach children in, and districts
badly arranged They, with the ap-
prevail of all the progressive men or
the county, entered into redistricting
and consolidating small districts with
a view of putting good school mouse
in reach of every mans child III pos
sible with the help of our able state
Superint andent and the generous man
ner in which the State came to our re-
lief
Nearly every district has a good
house A number of them built on
state plan, four months school being
taught A number of them having two
and sometimes three teachers. Good
houses have taken the places of the
little log huts, and fairly we'll trained
teachers have taken the places of un-
trained men.
The salary of teachers has been ad-
vanced some, but still too low to hold
our best teachers, only as they are
supplemented by the patrons. School,
property has greatly increased in val
ue in the last four years.
In truth. the school interest In gen
eral has been advanced more in the
last 4 years under the energetic and
| able supervision of Supt f. Left WACO
ner than it has before in many years.
The time had come for a revival in
| the educational work in this county.
| | sincerely hope it may not cease
until we shall be BILE to cease crawling
and get upon our feet and walk off
| hand in hand, with our sister counties,
who have more favorable opportuni-
ties and have been SO kind to us in
taking us by the hand and lifting us
up from a two and a half to a four
months school.
| ] will close by extending the graft
| tude of our little county to the State
| for the gifts to us to have a foul
| months school.
c. J. TAYLOR.
Supt. of Schools of Allegheny Co