Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-01-07


months term for the whole state, but
that cannot be realized now.
But what of the immediate obiec-
tives in education? I am definitely in
favor of retrieving our lost ground.
continuing the process of restoration
of salaries of teachers to the former
level and increasing the facilities of
our public school system, including
the encouragement of public libraries
in every county, until adequate oppor-
tunities shall be provided for child
hood. 1 believe we should begin the
policy of inaugurating twelve grades
instead of eleven, which will serve the
double purpose of increasing the op-
portunities of all the children and
giving them more thorough prepara-
ton. A Standard comparable to our
sister states must be maintained. I
know 1t all costs money, and we must
proceed sanely, but North Carolina is
too poor not to educate, and we must
not fail to meet the situation ade-
quately.
We furnish free tuition, we REQUIRE
the children to attend school, and we
transport them to school in large
numbers-an yet many of them are
without the necessary school books.
l believe the state should complete
its service by furnishing free school
books. The rental system has been
helpful, but I recommend that provi-
sion be made for free text books for
all the elementary grades beginning
with the fall sessions of 1887 and that
the rental system be continued for
the high schools until one or two
years later. I think the present rent
al system covering supplemental
DOCKS, which obtains in a few of the
counties in the elementary grades
might properly be continued and ex-
tended to as many other as desire
this service. The furnishing Of free
school books will relieve parents of
a heavy burden and will greatly in
crease the efficiency of the school
and give to every child an equal OBJ
portunity in our public school system
better denominated the university Of
all the people.
North Carolina is becoming more
educationally minded. Our people
are looking to you with confidence
for an advance step in education. The
child must be our first concern We
believe in our educational system, but
we also believe that it can be i'm
proved. 1t needs money, but it needs
more than money. Less than ten per
cent of our children go to college, so
the public school is the finishing
school for ninety per cent. This be-
ing true, the curricula should minist-
er to the needs of this vast majority
and make a real effort to prepare
them for the duties of life as fully
as it prepares the smaller number
for further scholastic training. I
would not have less cultural training
provided, but more practical, and the
practical given the same dignity as
the purely cultural studies.
The vocational course ought to be
available in our high. schools. The
agricultural courses have already ac-
complished remarkable results Home
economics is now receiving attention
somewhat commensurate with it's i'm
portance, but ought to be in every
school. Another course in building,
comparable to the agricultural course
and embracing architecture, carpen-
try, brick-laying and all character of
construction, would help to round out
paration for skilled workers. These
are merely suggestions. We must ed
ucate, train and equip people to work
with their hands. Today there is de-
mand everywhere for trained people
-brick-masOns, mechanics, builders
and all kinds of skilled labor The
federal government has been assist
ing in vocational training in our pub
lie schools and the appropriations this
year will be greatly increased. Here
tofore the local schools have been
matching the federal funds and conse-
quently the benefits have been limited
to such schools as could provide the
money. I believe the state should CO.
operate with the local schools in Civ
ing some reasonable assistance so
that the increased federal appropria-
ton can be obtained. The federal
funds this school year amounted to
$303,932, whereas, next year it will be
more than double amounting to $780,
230.
I offer no criticism of our public
school set-up, but it occurs to me that
some unificatiOn should be effected
so that the local authorities would
not have to apply to so many differ
ent angencies in order to get a deter
mination of their local problems. I
think the School Commission has per-
formed a valuable service and should
be continued. The Board of Educa-
ton, composed of the constitutional
state officials, could not devote the
time and attention necessary to as
sure a strict business administration
of the school finances, which is high
ly essential, but if a closer relation
was effected between the Department
of education and the School Commits
sion, feel that less irritation and
annoyance would be experienced by
the school officials generally, and
some duplication of activities could
be eliminated. I cannot escape the
conclusion that the State Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction should
be the real head of the whole public
school system, but the good offices
of the Commission should be retain
ed with full power to safeguard the
school funds by a wise and business
like apportionment and expenditure
of the school appropriation. In edu-
cation, as in all other governmental
activities, there should be checks and