The farmer and mechanic., 1909-12-07
EVERY SCHOOL SHOULD TEACH
NORTH CAROLINA HISTORY.

/ B.
NORTH CAROLINA HISTORY.
To the Editor: / want to make a
| little inquiry:
Why is North Carolina neglected in
OUR schools?
Does not the law require North
| Carolina history to be taught in all
| it's schools?
Are any schools "bigger" than the
law, or are some a law unto them
selves?
These inquiries are suggested by the
fact that this writer has found what
seemed to him to be too little interest
in our history in some schools. For
some little time this writer has been
selling Capt Ashes history of Norh
Carolina. He regrets to say that he
has been surprised at the apparent
little interest some teachers take in
our history.
In q school in a nice little town
where there must be near two hun
dred pupils, he called on the prin-
cipal. This principal was not a real
North CarOlinian and as he did not
know how long he would teach in the
State did not care for a History Of
North Carolina. but said Professor
------ taught history. "see him."
Professor --- was seen and
gave out the important information
that he taught history but not North
Carolina History, and further that
| North Carolina history was not taught
| in THAT school THAT school was a
graded school.
At another graded school in one Of
our large Eastern towns, the informa-
ton was had that North Carolina his
tory was not taught but that Aliens
history stories were used.
In one town man offered to bet
that a North Carolina school history
! could not be bought in the town: that
the schools did not use it. However,
it was found for sale and perhaps was
used.
Professor or President Hills history
| seems to be on sale very generally and
more used in the rural schools than
any other schools.
Inquiry being made Of one high up
In school matters, gave the informa-
ton that the law required that North
Carolina history be taught In the pub
lie schools. but that many Of the high
er and graded schools were independ-
ent and were under law unto them
selves, given by the Legislature and
could do as they chose. How can any
school choose to ignore teaching the
children State history?
This reminds one very much OF a
man who got up in the world In money
matters and built very nice home
He thought 1t very necessary that he
should have books. But first he got
the book cases. Then along came
wide-a-wake agent and sold him
lot of books just to match the finish
of the cases. The binding had to be
Of a color to suit the case and as MANY
were wanted as would fill the cases Of
just some books
And again one is reminded Of be-
ing invited into "The Library in a
very nice home and on entering finds
room rather richly furnished with
small book case in one corner. about
TWO thirds filled with cheap books
All this being said and printed about
our great history and seeing it neg
lected In the schools is not INSPIRING
The law should compel our history
TO be taught in every school. even
though some be private
These history stories NAV he vary
good, but they are hitting the "ground
only in high places" While some het-
ter they are very much like the waiter
was about the soup. At a hote1 din
ner, me- the waiter came around with his
Soup, Sir?' Soup, Sir?" "What
KIND asked guest. Chicken soun
pr PIT ne said. Bring it then" When
me soup was brought it was some
concoctlon that might have been a
remedy for hook-worm or pellagra ..T
.nought you said chicken SOUP % said
the guest 20. that's only the name Of
IT, Sir: said the waiter
80 It WcIld seem that much of our
history taught is not much moro thar
ene name: 1t should be more. Let the