The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-01-04
STATES PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Report Of Superintendent JOY
ner Shows Progress Along
Educational Lines.
aleigh Cor, 25th, Charlotte Observer.

LuuCdLlOIldI LaUCSs
Raleigh Cor. 25th Charlotte Observer.
The report Of State Superin-
tendent }. Y. Joyner for the
years 1907 and 1908 is made pub
lie. He says that the statistics
show continued educational prog
ress. The annual available
school fund raised by State and
county taxation has been increas-
ed S288, BIT. During the two
years there has been an increase
of 282 in number of special tax
school districts established by
popular vote, making the total
number at this date 719.
With this increase in funds
there has been a corresponding
increase along other lines; for
example, $500, 900 in the value
of country school property and
as much in the value of city
school property, and there has
been spent a million dollars for
building, improving and equip
ping public school houses and ITO
new country school houses have
been built, costing on an average
$685.. The average annual school
term for the whole State has
been heightened three days and
the terms in the new local tax
districts doubled; in many cases
salaries Of teachers and county
school superintendent increased.
There has been an increase of
500 in the number of rural school
libraries, making the total num-
Der now 2,058. There has been
an increase of $216, 572 in loans
for building and improving pub
lie school houses. The public
high schools established in 81
counties, from one to four in
each and totaling 1856, have prov
ed great success, the enroll
ment being 3,949 and the aver
age daily attendance 5000. The
maj ority of these would other
wise never have attended any
high school. The compulsory
attendance act is a good one but
needs some amendment. The
facilities for training teachers
would be greatly increased >hy
the new school now under con-
struction at Greenville. The
Supreme Court has rendered de-
cisions which allow special school
taxes which were voted and
levied. Much work is yet to be
: done, for old school houses neeC
to be replaced. Some way must
be found and enforced for over.
comingnon-attendanceat schools
The public high schools must be
t increased in number, and with
} these or in separate schools in
: dustrial and agricultural train
ing must be provided for tn,
: masses of the children of tn,
( people, of whom 80 per cent. ar,
5 rural and agricultural. A specia
e appropriation of 5000, 900 for tn
: public schools should be con
: tinued. The apportionment O
f what is known as the secon,
3 800, 600 of this money should b
= so arranged as to require ever
t county getting aid from it t
r raise as much by special tax O
S all its property and polls as
S receives. The terms of the cour
ty boards of education should b
e six years. The Legislature Shout
: increase the high school appre
p priation SIS, 900 to put these
e counties which now have none
d The old idea of dislike to publ
Il schools was born of the false NJ
'e ton that they were a publ
# charity. The great enrollmer
= in the public high schools show
o the almost pathetic eagerness {
5, the country boys and girls #
r this instruction.