Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-06-03

viewed with grave concern DR.. Al
bert Raw NeWSome, head of the His
tory Department in the University
of North Carolina, asserted here last
night that "for the first time since
1900 North Carolina has begun to lose
ground in its educational position a
mong the states Of the union"
Addressing the graduates of the
Raleigh high schools in the Memorial
Auditorium, DR.. NeWsOme asserted
that during the present decade pub
lie education in North Carolina has
been penalized and reduced in COM
parison with other governmental ser
vices"
Presenting comprehensive analy-
sis of the State situation in public
education, based on a careful study
of facts and figures that are avail
able to everyone" DR.. Newsome
said "this profound trend Gloss in
educational status) has been so re-
cent and unobtrusive that the people
generally are not aware of the fact.
mot only is the financial support
of the States schools below the 1880
level, but there is a widespread in
difference and lack of leadership a.
mong the school forces" he said.
with its low wealth and heavy
student load, North Carolina eXpendS
greater effort in maintaining its poor
school system than most states in
supporting their better systems. Since
1890 North Carolina has lost more
ground educatiOnally than any other
Southern state; and an awakening
in Alabama and elsewhere threatens
to press its actual rank in the Union"
Asserting that since 1884 diScrm-
ination against public education has
occurred, he said all other major
state service has been more than re-
stored to its 1880 place in the pub
lie budget while the schools have
barely recovered in current eXper@ e
and not in total or per pupil cost
"They have larger enrollments ans
more teachers than in $780," he said
pointing out that at the same time
teachers salaries in this State drop
ped to 10th place in the nation in
1884.
Continued exploitation is bring
ing degradation, inefficiency and de-
terioration to the profession. DR..
Newsome warned, saying that today
the teacher load is heavier, their
scholastic qualifications higher and
their salaries lower than in 1890.
The people of North Carolina I'll
not long be willing to entrust he
precious personalities and minds of
their children to persons whose abili-
ties and services can be bought for
an annual wage about equal to that
OF JanItors in state offices and ABC
stores" he declared Good teachers
and a healthy teaching profession
cannot subsist upon an average wage
OF $500 per year."
Or. NeWsome declared that public
education and the ''Other necessary
governmental services of a RAPIDLY
growing state are threatened with a
stuntlng Of their normal growth bv
a rigid, straight-jacket state BUDGET
ilcapaDle OF any great expansion un-
DER the present tax system
While the budget is larger than
That Of many other far wealthier-
states, the state tax system, with the
exception Of the sales tax. rests
cnieily upon a restricted urban and
industrial base in a state still large
ly rural - So
The state political leadership
Wnicn Is responsible for the existing
D1ogel and tax system and the con-
SEluent plight Of the public services
cannot discharge its responsibility
u q growing state by announcing
SofIo"fully that the end of state
support IS near
Dr NeWsome advised that the
legislative restrictions on local to-
supplements be eliminated. and 30
aggressive state-directed campaign
D lauhcned to teach the people
tle necessity and wisdom Of local
tax supplements" in order TO "res-
cue me essential services Of a grow
ing state from strangulation bv an
- nnelS1lc budget. Public education
snould be restored to its 1890 posi-
llon IN comparison with other state
I services, he declared. :
- Inc alternative to elimination of
restrictions of local tax sunnle-
mlents would be to enlarge state
support by raising present tax rates
Vi broadening the tax base bv a
modest state ad valoren tax on Hro' "
perty," he said. O-' pi'-
Inc people of North Carolina aro
not opposed to reasonable taxes
wisely and economically spent f.,
the states welfare No neon1o ~ VI
state has ever become great '1r on =, q
policy of short-sighted econom~ W. Il .
such basis public services as nHblio IT,
education" 90 PUBIC
Or. NeWsome declared that the
sreateSt conceivable boon to NH
nc education in the South would be
& lederal aid, "and that tbe rooI DS
I. Iiriends OF the schools will worL
Tor that trinity of public s,,nnor3 m2if
local aid, state aid, and federal ia
Maintaining that the state adnnin n,u
lstratlon Of public schools is char t,s,,
acterized by, a division Of anthor;t, ~ Hmst
and responsibility conducive ,oi anoitL' ~
er to administrative efficiencv ~, NJ,
constructive educational leadersh;,, hiU,
Or. NeWsome said the .Legislat,1re
with questionable wisdom and md ~, 49,,
thority,' has transferred real co, %
L.. troll to an appointive School Cona
mission which is "a spending o rail-,
- er than constructive educationa =
agency '''oi'e'
80 effective administration an,
educational leadership would Nv ~
p promoted by concentrating roe,o'1 ~