The times-news., 1936-12-18
BIBLE THOUGHT
JOHN 3:l6
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ID. Hiden Ramsey of Asheville, who
talked to Hendersonville Kiwanians yes
terday about public school problems, prob
ably started some trains of thought in the
minds of his hearers which will influence
them in their future attitude to the schools
and the problems of public school educa-
ton. Mr.. Ramsey made good speech and
in the maipthis newspaper agrees with his
conclusions, but The Times-News believes
that as citizens all of US may go much FUR
ther than Mr.. Ramsey had the time and
opportunity to go in our consideration OF
public education in this State. In fact, we
believe it is our obligation to do this and
that for the sake of the future general
welfare of North Carolina, at least ma
jority of citizens must take this course.
As lifelong friend and supporter of
the common school system, this editor has
as great enthusiasm for the cause as ever
actuated the labors of an Aycock, Mclver
or Alderman; but is not blind to the short
conIings and failures of the public school
system, and believes there is sufficient in
the records of the system in this State to
cause every good citizen to give serious
thought to these problems.
We endorse proposals for reasonable
Improvement of material equipment-such
as providing better school buses-and for
Improvement in administrative policies, in
cluding more adequate pay for teachers.
The Times-News is confident that these
advances in support and expansion Of the
common school system are to be the al
, most immediate results of anything ap-
proaching a restoration of normal eco
nouSe conditions in North Carolina-cer-
tain.y they will come with this restoration
if itiis accompanied by restoration of the
confidence OF citizens in the sanity, honesty
and moral rectitude of government.
Bht-the matter of chief concern to this
newspaper, and, we think, to all good citi-
zens of North Carolina, is the question as
to what the public schools are delivering,
and will deliver in the future, in exchange
for the millions of tax money expended on
the school system, as well as the personal
interest, labors and support of thousands
of citizens.
There are three agencies primarily dedi-
cateH and devoted to the training and de-
velopment of the minds and characters of
the boys and girls of North Carolina-the
home, church and the school. If all three
have not failed in measure, in the past
80 years, in diseharging these primary OBJ.
lOin I'm nlar oil xlOY.
this newspapers vision and understanding
of conditions has been obscured.
There is, no excuse or reason for the
failure of parents to meet their obligation:
for the training of their children. There i:
absolutely no way in which they can dodge
- or escape the responsibility, without them
selves, as we'll as their children, becoming
the victims of the consequences. No one
is compelled to come under the influence
of the church. Seeking and submitting t
the influence of the ehurch'is an individual
and voluntary matter. The case of the
common schools is different. School at
tendance is not voluntary act on the par
of boys and girls.
There are thousands Of people in NORTH
Carolina whom the church has never beer
to reach. They are so distant from
church influenee-although they may re
side in sight of church building-tha'
the church has never directly touched then
lives. This condition is not always due II
the failure of the church. The failure ot
the home and the school is essentially al