The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-10-09
THE FUTURE OF NORTH CAROLINA
EDUCATION


EDUCATION
CLYDE Erwin eff Rutherfordton, Superln-
tendsnt of schools in that county, who
stands out in front among the educational
leaders of North Carolina, made speech
TO the Hendersonvile Kiwanis Club last
week. It was the kind of speech that con-
strains intelligent citizens to do some seri-
Gus thinking. Mr. Erwin was talking about
schools and education-as he usually is.
The Rutherford county superintendent
believes that the educational movement IN
this State, which had its beginning around
thirty years ago, under the leadership Of
GsEernsf Ayeoek, Walter Hines Page, DR..
Mefver and Dr. Alderman, not only ad-
vaneed public school education and high
er education in North Carolina at the most
rspid pace ever known in the history of
the State, but, also, is measurably respon=
sible for the vast industrial and business
expansion enjoyed by North Carolina in
that period.
With the progressive educational move
ment came the development of industry
and agriculture and the business expanr
sion which caused the value of property
in North Carolina to increase from much
less than one billion to more than five bill
lion dollars.
Prof Erwin is correct in this conclusion.
The educational movement has been a
leading factor in the material progress
and development of North Carolina. From
q material standpoint, education pays
especially public school education and the
practical vocational training which the
modern schools are undertaking to give to
both boys and girls. Education pays in dol
lars. Those hard-headed, practical citizens
who measure all RETURNS in financial terms,
should remember this, and that these re-
turns will continue to came in as long as
Nsfth Gafalina maintains first class
school system. 20
Prof. Erwin, however, has advanced
much further in his thinking about educa-
tinnal problems than to merely reach the
conclusion that Nerth Carolina has DEM
, fanstrated that education brings material
development sRd profits. He has come TO
the definite conclusion that North Caro-
z Ina today 1aees an era in which education
= must do far more than simply prepare
men and women to make living or at
tain material success
These fundamentals of education, the
three RS, may prepare men and wemel to
read, write and cipher. but they do not
necessarily make geed citizens of the bays
apa girls of Nesth Carelniaj and the same
test applies to higher education. Charaer
ter and culture, integrity and ideals, must
be the foundations of that citizenship
which will eeastfaia North Carolina to go
forward and climb upward. -, ,', Z,
To be good citizens of the future NORTH
!. Gsseiiaa heys and girls must have training
Of the head and hear; they must lift the
! average eff the States iatelligeaces -.
The States greatest handicap today is
isnsraRee. Citizens Of tsHafraw must
! have the fundamentals Of education and
ell that vocational training can give, and
that true culture which is the distinguish.
Ing characteristic of what used to be
- known here in the South as ladies and
gentlemen. Culture is not for the wealthy
alone, or those with worldly position;
should be the requirement of men and
- women in all the walks of life; and q