The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-09-29
A CUE FOR WHOLE STATE
Unused Hours of School Facil-
tiles Might Be Put in Com
mission and Prove a Mighty
Factor for a Higher Civi|iza-
ton and Punishment of S0r-
did From Daily Life
HAYNES)

tInOIt w ELL n-A N1AoJ
High Point, Sept. eff one hun
dred and fifty or more yCang and old
men in High Point are attending a
free night school. why should not
many more hundreds al over the
State attend such a school? h is
the matter that other young and old
men can not nave a chance SUCH as
this? What are the scnoCl buildings,
the desks. the b~lackbOarGs. the maps,
etc. in Raleigh used for a. night? In
Durham. what are they used for? Or
i'm Greensboro, W~instoh-Salem and
dozens of other places? Are all Of
them clothed in darkness, used dur
ing the year only six hours in the
day, 20 days in the month. and nine
months in the year Do you know
his means exactly out of $3.50 hours
during the year. the school buildings
and furnishings are used 1880 hours,
or less than one-eighth Of the time?
Figure it yourself. What business
man would invest money in such an
enterprise? The dollar of q keen
business man must keep busy every
mute every working and sleeping
hour. But the peoples money-O,
well, who cares anything FOR nat
It's tax money, and why bother?
1t Works in Kentucky.
In one county in Kentucky by these
night or moonlight schools iiliteracy
has been completely abolished. Why
should not the towns of North Caro-
lima utilize such an easy-wOrking,
ready-to-hand scheme? 1t wOuld sur
prise the majority of us to know just
the appalling number of men, grown
men, practically ones neXt-doorn neigh
bors, who are unable to write their
names.
Here are the men, here are the
school buildings, here are the desks
here are the blaCkboarde. the crayon
the maps. and everything to make 6
school, but-well some one to take
hold of it. Here is any amount o,
teaching talent, but-well, nobody ha!
ever got the men together for : .ch {
purpose. What a wasted opportunity
Here are young lawyers, and old mes
too. for that matter, who O TAX
q class Here are ministers. editors
insurance agents, physicians, princi
school, who would be glad to do sucl
work.
-Four Classes Formed.
At High Point it has been neces
sary to divide the men into fou
classes with about forty in each class
on. Four subjects are taught: spell
ing. ~penmanship. English, and arith
metic. The work is arranged on tn
departmental plan with teachers &c
ing from class. The class period
cover two hours, of half an hour eacf
ranging from 1880 to $50, two ever
ings in the week. Two more classe
will be organized soon, at which tim
it is hoped to augment the faCult
and lengthen the periods to three
quarters of an hour, though it he
been the intention, if possible, to II
serve the half hour from $50 to
for a current-event class to be taugl
by the competent citizens Of the tow
who would be willing to give a sho
lecture on such themes. Thus histol
and geography will be introduce
This lesson will be given to all TT
members Of the school at one time
they are assembled in the chapel
auditorium after the night lesso,
have been finished at $50. Loo
minister's, lawyers. editors. physician
and others, will help in this.
Larger Possibilities.
it is perhaps far ahead. but fro
this may develop educational fill
pictures. and other OF the great e
sential factors which make the scho
the predominating and all-absorbil
social center of the community. r.
free night school at High Point w
likely develop round-table discussio
a debating society, and perhaps "a
way excursions to the state uniN ersl
or college Of agriculture OF to heig
boring cities or points Of in.ert
whereby are gained larger vision q
inspirations.
Consider the G:r,S.
When will there be some Sll
chance for the s~hop-girl? When "
sue an opportunity open for thu g
who has bravely and desperat
started her life work i'll fitted me
tally What valid reason is IL.
Why such a night school should
he for her also. Why should
the women's clubs n North 81
lima search for a reason? Surely h