The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-03-17
PULLING DOWN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL
---- SYSTEM 5....

Directors of the Chamber of Commerce,
meeting Thursday evening, went on record
in opposition to the abolition of all special
school districts in North Carolina. Secre-
tary Hollowell was instructed to wire Sem
ator ]. o. Bell and inform him of the &C
ton of the committee.
In the discussion of the matter IN the
directors meeting it was stated mat tnere
is a strong movement in the Legislature ID
inaugurate a Statewide six months school
term and abolish all special districts. There
IS also movement to make the Statewide
term eight months, and it is understood
here that it is the plan of the advocates OF
the eight months term to abolish the spe-
cial districts.
The directors of the Chamber of Com
merce opposed the proposition to abolish
the special districts, taking the position
that whether the Statewide school term IS
six or eight months, towns and cities and
other special districts desiring longer
school year should be permitted to have 1t,
provided the additional money necessary
for the longer term is raised in the district,
which is the case as the law stands al
= present.
Discussing the matter, Thos. H. Franks,
attorney, formerly school teacher of
many years experience in some OF the
States leading public schools, expressed
the opinion that if the Statewide school
term is made eight months and the special
districts are abolished, causing Henderson
ville's school year to be reduced from nine
j. to eight months, great injury will be done
the school system and the general inter
{. ests of this community.
s If the school term is made six months
: and three months are cut from the Hender-
Sonville school term, Mr.. Franks believes
the local school system will be wrecked.
He pointed out the fact that Henderson
willie built up one of the best public school
systems in the State; that it was one of
the chief assets of this place; that people
came to Hendersonville to live in order to
secure the advantages offered by the
schools; that the local system has already
been materially damaged by reduction in
the teaching force, by salary reductions
and by other so-called economies. Mr..
Franks did not contend for impossible
school appropriations and the expenditure
h of more money than can possibly be raised
for schools; but believes that a nine months
! school term should be maintained in Hen
Jacksonville and that the people of this city
s should be permitted to tax themselves for
this purpose if they so desire.
= The directors of the Chamber of Com
merce were in agreement with the views of
) Mr.. Franks; and The Times-News desires
sSto go on record as endorsing the action of
the directors. ....
"a The problem of financing the Statewide
school term is up to the Legislature. The
: Tmes-News has not sought to influence
Senator Bell or Representative Ray in this
matter. The Legislature must determine
eswhether the school term is to be six or
eight months, and must find the money to
maintain the schools. This newspaper be-
sslieves the school term should not be less
than eight months and that the Legislature
can find the money to pay for eight months
schools. That is the problem of the Legis-
stature. The Times-News believes, how
! ever, that Capitalization and State control
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