Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-08-14
ADMISSION.
AN AFTERMATH.

The Progressive Farmer, whose unapproachably superb editor,
Mr.. Clarence H. Poe, by his splendid work through it's columns is
doing more for the general upift Of the State than can be re-
counted in words, or measured in a century, has this to say of the
educational renaissance that is characteristic of u time:
I'VE all know that good school houses, good equipment and good
teachers cost money, and that if we have good schools we must
pay for them. The money thus spent would, in almost every case
be a good investment if it never brought back one cent in actual
manhood and womanhood-the two most valuable things in this
world; but all this aside, let us look at the matter from a purely
business standpoint and see if a good school will add enough to
the material welfare of a community to make the money spent for
it a profitable investment.
"It is impossible in such a case to give actual figures showing
just what return the school makes to the community, because no
girl n or""oman' Is worth with lis or her school training
than he o + she would be worth without it. But this is @ neces-
sary. There are other ways of getting at the matter.
Taking a general survey of the world, or of our own land, it is
indsputable that the countries o sections where there r. good
schools + far in advance, financially as well a otherwise, of
those which have poor schools n no schools at all. There is a still
surer test: Let every reader take his own neighborhood and give
it a roomy, convenient and attractive school house and good
teachers for five years, and what will be the result? Is there one
houses, bigger barns, better stock, more productive farms, and a
more prosperous people in that neighborhood? Then, o the other
time-let the buildings be neglected, the grounds allowed to grow
up in weeds and bushes, the furniture to go to pieces, and the
commissioners encouraged to employ the cheapest teacher availa-
ble-and what will the result be? Does anyone believe that the
people of his neighborhood will have made much progress?
1T is a plain business proposition. The difference between the
cost of a good school and a poor n is really a small matter to
any individual; but the difference between the effects of the two
schools on the life of the community may be the difference between
progress and stagnation.
"A good school, then, is a source of profit to the people who in
vest in it. 1t is the best advertisement a community a have,
adding to the value o every ere OF land and always attracting to
it the better class of citizens. 1t increases the earning capacity of
every boy and girl who attends, and opens their eyes to oppor-
tuntles "hlcn ne never QUE eel without IT. 1t educates,
too, in a degree proportionate to his own willingness to learn,
every adult within its sphere of influence, and by this education
enables MN to q % better n prohtable orr. 10 pay taxes
cheerfuly for school purposes; to take IN interest in the teachers
secured and in the work they do; to aid in obtaining better
buildings and equipment longer term and more practical courses
of study; to help keep up the attendance and the interest; to assist
the children with their studies-to work for better schools, in
short, is a public service, but it is also a highly profitable way of
Investing time, thought and moneS!"