Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1916-04-07
Subscription, $l.O0 Year in Advance
COLORED SCHOOS INSPECTOR
CRITICISES CONDITIONS
EecIares Taxes Paid by Halifax
County Negroes Entitle Them to
Better School Facilities

Prof. c. H. Moore, of Green
boro, State Inspector of. colore,
schools, was in Halifax Count.
last week on an inspection of tn
rural schools. His appointment
came about through the Nortl
Carolina Negro Teachers Asso
citation last June in its annua
session in Winston-Salem. He
is endorsed and recommended by
the State Board of Education To
the local school authorities in the
different counties to which he is
sent by the Board. After finish
ing his work in this county he
made the following statement
regarding his visit and observa-
tons while here: During my
stay in Halifax County, in COM
pany with Supt. A. E, Akers,
made visits to fifteen schools, in
cluding the Graded School in
Roanoke Rapids and the one in
Weldon. ...
| am informed that there are
GA colored rural school in the
county - more than in any other
county in the State, owing to the
fact that the colored population
is larger here than in any other
county.
The physical condition of most
of the houses is very poor; some
of them are fairly respectable;
the best one in all of its appoint
ments is at Summit IL new
three teacher school towhich the
Superintendent is contemplating
an addition for industrial train
ing, so as to make it a model
school for the county.
| was surprized to see the
shabby school buildings in Hall
fax and Littleton for our people.
1t is very obvious that something
is the matter somewhere with
somebody. that there are nor bet
ter provisions made for the
schooling of the colored children
in these communities where the
colored freeholders pay taxes on
Sal, 848 and $l46, 800 respective
ly in these two townships.
We are not disposed to make
individual comparison between
the administrations of the for
mer and the present county
superintendents, as we are not
acquainted with the conditions
under which the former labored;
but we are frank to say that we
shall be very much disappointed
if there is not a general improve
ment of the colored schools
throughout the county during
the supervision of Supt. Akers-
who, | believe. is very much in
terested in better schools for
colored people.
furthermore, the colored citi-
zens of the county deserve bet
ter treatment in their school
affairs; for Wake is the only
other county in the State, where
the negro is assessed for taxes
on a larger valuation of real and
personal property than in Hall
fax county. In the latter their
valuation is 81, SOP, 3W.
They, therefore, ought to have
better school equipment.
A factor which is instrumental
and very valuable in greatly i'm
proving the school conditions
and the moral and social life of
the community in some other
counties is the Industrial Super
visor, who is employed jointly by
the Jeanes Fund Directorate and
the County Board of Education.
Quite a contrast may be observ-
ed in the general attitude of the
pupils, as regards their habits Of
study, industry and cleanliness
and order, where such a teach
er is employed and where one. is
not. | hope, therefore, that the
school authorities may see their
way clear to invest in such an
asset for good next school year,
as an industrial teacher for the
county. For in the end the State
will get larger returns in its citi-
zens and smaller demands on the
police.
While on a visit to the Graded
School in Roanoke Rapids, |
found Prof. Moses W. Williams,