The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-08-15
n MESSAGE TO THE WORLD
FROM WAKE COUNTY
z.4.r1ay Johnson. in Springfield Re
49, publican.)
Raleigh, n. c., July 80, 1911.

Palpigh. N. e., july 81, 1911.
This is called a story because 1t is
movement that possesses a gen
=" human interest with the qualities
/" firtion derived from truth. Since
% q true story Of a fine i~nterpreta-
N If the best sort of community
i ,i2' is value rises to the Importance
- message to all the world where
ovar vegetation grows and uman1ty
t,C cn ffciently gifted to respond to the
neniration of sincere enthusiasm.
,-ake county may be regarded as a
Hnross section of the earth'S surface;
I.bat its people under the guidance OF
-. school officers have done, should
not he indigenous to North Carolina,
nr the SOUTH, but an instance OF pos
e;hi1ities in every corner Of the world
far good deeds are not constrained
NV fine limitations of geography and
know no East, West, North or South.
Tha achievements Of Wake county
could be repeated in every New Eng
Ind State-for there is no differentia-
lion between the conditions or the
neople: there is needed only the
shought and the magic to transmute
it into acts.
Wake county is is an agricultural
sartion including over 500 square
miles, 10 townships and a population
of over SO, 900 souls. including the city
If Raleigh. Ten years ago there was
no district in this county that offered
aid to the school system beyond what
WAS afforded from the regular State
and county taxes, in many
the buildings were inadequate, one
room buildings-some Of them built
of logs-a dismal and fOrbidding
scene. the awakening Of young ambi-
ton. Today there are over a score
Of school districts voting special
for new school buildings and improve
ment. over $4,000 has been volun-
tarily given, largely in money actually
earned by labor, schools have been
consolidated, the transportation Of
pupils has begun, many new school
houses have been erected and a ma
ioraty of the citizens Of the county
nave been vitalized by a real interest
in public education. h causes OF
so unusual an educational evolution
cannot fail to be helpful and are
worthy Of extended publicity.
Wake %cOunty's superintendent of
schools expresses the belief that "life
flows from the ground upward and
the aggressiveV a!truistic woman, who
acts as his assistant has coined the
aphorism ito get to give and to
give to get" During the year just
ended they traveled over $500 miles
to spread this dual gospel. In 1902,
there entered the cosmic conscious
ness of the women Of North Carolina
an idea that has been an instrument
OF wonderful power in changing con-
ditions-the women's association for
the betterment Of public school
houses. AS soon as formed the era
OF change began; from the State as
ISOLATION, county branches ave been
organized, and SO on down into the
school districts themselves this vital
fluid Of a human thought has filtered
into the hearts Of tho citizonS Since
the beginning of the organization a
new school house has been erected
IN the State, every day in the year,
including Sundays and holidays.
There are today 80 Of these associa-
tons in Wake county alone and their
contributions in various forms last
Year amounted to $7,591.33, there
were 2S special tax districts raising
money to add % days to the average
school term, and 81 days were added
through volunteer funds after the
county appropriations had given out.
IN comparison with their achieve
ments the membership Of these as
socIatlons seems small. numbering 651
adults out of a population Of 10000
white citizens. But their forceful-
ness is ten-fold greater. they have
been willing to do everything that
mas come to their hands to dO-even
to working in the fields; they have
indue the meaning or the WORD eau
cation a live thing to the men, Win
ming their support to Improvements
never before countenanced, and have
Elevated the term "betterment' from
the dead level of a p~latitude to the
dignity of an i~dealization.
While the women have been prac-
Iclng the give-get policy. under the
leadership of the assistant county
superintendent, the county superin-
tendent has given his people a great
soclalizing factor in the introduction
OF the school farm surrounding the
School hOuseS-nOt only an added
financial asset, but a nucleus around
winch the people have gathered for q
harmonious discussion Of their needs
Inc county superintendent had beer
troubled by the fact that an elaborate
educational system benefited a very
ie" and overlooked the needs of the