be Libracp ) of the | Ciniversity of orth Carolina || , Collection of sorth Caroliniana Ce 319.113 MS]. FOR USE ONLY IN THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION OO iia REPORT | AG IN i PROF. CHAS. H. MOORE STATE INSPECTOR OF NEGRO SCHOOLS Made Before the North Carolina State Teachers’ Association, Assembled at Greensboro, June 23, 1916. | (SERGE meee cee mae _ Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2021 with funding from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill https://archive.org/details/reportofprofchasOOmoor 0 e!999 President and Members of the N. C. State Teachers’ Association: As State Inspector of Colored Schools, it is with pleas- ure that I have the honor and privilege of submitting a report of the work of the Rural School Extension Department of the N. C. Teachers’ Association from September Ist, 1915, to Pune 20th, 1916. It is unnecessary for me to take up your time to give an account of how this new educational movement was first start- ed, and why; because its inception is of so recent a date, the history of its origin is, doubtless, well known to all of you. While engaged last summer in the work of the National Negro Business League, | was informed by the Secretary of the Rural School Ex. Dept., Dr. A.M. Moore, sometime in July that I had been chosen by your Executive Board as State Inspector of Colored Schools. After a little correspondence between the president (Prof. J. B. Dudley), and the Secretary (Dr. Moore), of the Board and myself, to learn definitely what would be expected of one holding this new and responsible office, I decided to accept the position and try to do the best to give satisfaction to those who deemed me worthy and competent to make the experi- ment in an untried field of educational endeavor. After the adjournment of the 16th annual session of the National Negro Business League in Boston, I returned to North Carolina, and on September Ist, in company with the Secretary, Dr. A. M. Moore and Mr. Berry O'Kelly, a member of the Executive Board, I went to Raleigh to have a conference with the State Superintendent, Hon. J. Y. Joyner, and Pro- fessors N. C. Newbold and E. E. Sams, of the Department Rural Elementary and Colored Normal Schools respectively. After Dr. Moore and Mr. O’Kelly had satisfactorily ex- plained what the projectors, viz.: N. C. Teachers’ Associa- tion, of this new movement intended to accomplish, Dr. Joyner then expressed his approval and, furthermore, his willingness not only to co-operate with us, but also to give the State Board’s endorsement of this movement by requesting Prof. Newbold 2 to outline and plan the work to be tentatively done in the dif- ferent counties, to which I would be sent. Therefore, as a result of this conference and understand- ing on the part of both parties to the agreement in the prem- ises, I received my first itinerary outlined, and started out Sep- tember 3rd, 1915, in prosecution of the work, as laid out for me from time to time by the State Department of Education, through its representative, Prof. Newbold. | While I have not by any means covered the entire State of one hundred counties in my work, nevertheless from the Pied- mont region to the Tidewater section I have endeavored to sound the tocsin for better schools, better health, and a_ better community life. | In my travels I have visited thirty-five (35) counties, viz. : Alamance, Anson, Beaufort, Bertie, Chowan, Columbus, Dup- lin, Durham, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Gaston, -Gates, Greene, ‘Guilford, Halifax, Hertford, Iredell, Johnson, Martin, Meck- lenburg, New Hanover, Orange, Pamlico, Pitt, Randolph, Rob- eson, Rockingham, Sampson, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wayne, Wilkes, Wilson and Yadkin. During this time I have covered by railyway 9,500 miles; by street cars, teams, boat, automobile, 2,500 miles, making a total of 12,050 miles traveled. On these trips I have addressed meetings of almost every description, such as conventions, associations, teachers’ meet- ings, churches, Sunday schools, secret orders and school im- provement boards of education, leagues, school closings, county commencements, etc. Perhaps not less than 100,000 persons have heard and listened to us with interest. In addition to my travels and many speeches delivered during the year, I have made out every month that I have been in the field three re- ports of my itinerary for the month, and forwarded one to Prof. N. C. Newbold for the State Board of Education, one to Dr. A. M. Moore, secretary and treasurer of the Rural Extension Department, and one to Prof. J. B. Dudley, presi- dent of the Executive Board. Moreover I have written quite a number of articles for the local white press in the counties I have visited and, also, for the colored press, in order to acquaint the public as to the 3S aim and purpose of this new educational movement undertaken by the State Teachers’ Association. My correspondence, with a view of seeking information, answering questions, and making suggestions for the welfare of the work, necessitated my writing, perhaps, over one thou- sand letters during the year. In all of my talks and speeches my chief purpose has been to create and stimulate a desire for better educational condi- tions in the rural districts, and to start movements looking to improvements along this line. In this effort, I must confess, not speaking egotistically, that I have met with gratifying SUCCESS. In my contact and conferences with the County Superin- - tendents I have, with a few exceptions, found them pleasant and co-operative in spirit. Cheerfully and willingly they have given me all the aid and the information I would ask for, re- garding the conditions of the colored schools under their sup- ervision. A few of them would even postpone their office work to accompany me in their machines to visit the schools in their counties. I wish also to acknowledge my indebtedness to the Jeanes Fund workers, known as Industrial Supervisors and Teachers. Without their assistance it would have been well-night impos- sible for me to have met with the measure of success which I hope I achieved. For, being acquainted with the location of the schools in their respective fields of work, 1. e., the counties to which they had been assigned, they made it very convenient for me to reach the schools without the loss of much time, and at a min- imum expense. They also, arranged meetings for me in com- munities where there is need of new school houses, that I might meet the parents there assembled, and talk to them so as to arouse and create within them a greater interest in educa- tion, and at the same time induce them to organize for the purpose of taking steps. to secure a new school house by first doing something in ‘this direction themselves, before calling upon the local school authorities to come to their aid. Wherever I have gone and spoken, I have endeavored to - commit our people to the policy of self-help, and be it said to A their credit, they have become aroused and enthusiastic, as a _ rule, and in the most instances have entered: upon the work among themselves with much zeal and enthusiasm in raising money, or giving material or furnishing labor for the new school house. As other communities either see, or learn of what their neighbors have done to improve school conditions in their dis- tricts, likewise have they caught the. spirit and made a move to replace the old shacks with modern school structures. IRREGULARITIES During my visits to some of the counties, I have been in- formed of not a few irregularities in practice by some of the local school authorities, which are not in harmony with justice and fairness to the colored schools in those counties. How long such a policy has prevailed is known only to those who have control of the situation. The most serious irregularity which I discovered was where thousands of dollars had been diverted from their proper channel; that is to say, instead of being used for the benefit of the colored children, whose parents’ property had been assessed in local districts as special taxes for school purposes, this money had been spent in helping to build school houses, supplying more teachers, or increasing the school term of the white schools. I am glad to say, however, that wherever I have learned of such unfair dealings with our people on the part of the local school authorities, and have reported the same to the State Department of Education, the matter has promptly been taken cognizance of by the Department, and the injustice has been in part, 1f not wholly remedied. TEACHERS According to the State Superintendent’s Biennial Report of 1912, to 1914, there were 2,534 colored rural school teach- ers, 829 held first grade certificates, 1,662 second grade, and 43 third grade. That the necessary qualifications of our teach- ers are sadly deficient is only stating over again a fact that is already more or less well known to all who are informed as to the situation. D I very much doubt that, if the 1,662 teachers holding sec- ond grade certificates were put to a proper and reasonable test, the majority of them would be able to stand it; for not a few of the county superintendents have told me, in reply to my question as to whether or not they granted third grade certifi- cates, that they have been obliged to give simply a permit many times to some applicants to teach, who couldn’t upon examina- tion make even a third grade, inasmuch as the school was ready to open, and there wasn’t any other teacher at the time available. This deficiency, however, will gradually be remedied; for the State Board of Education, the county authorities, the Jeanes and Slater, and General Educational Boards all are co- operating to make more efficient every year, from now on, the teaching force in the rural districts of the State by the estab- lishment of teacher-training schools in the different counties, of which there are already six. Furthermore, it will be understood that where the teacher will not take advantage of the opportunity as offered in the Summer Normals and Teachers’ Institutes, or in other schools of learning, where there is a teacher-training course, they'll be forced to do so, or be obliged to seek a job elsewhere. Several’of the County Superintendents here told me that they intend to increase the salaries of those teachers, who gave evidence of capability and progressiveness, so that they will be able to spend some time in a Summer School somewhere. Just here I would say I am in a position to know that many of the County Superintendents would do better by the colored schools and our teachers, but the Boards of Education in their counties, or white sentiment opposing Negro education are not in harmony with them. Not a few of these superin- tendents deserve the race’s deepest sympathy and greatest praise for the bold and uncompromising stand which they sometimes take in behalf of our schools, in opposition to the sentiment of members of their own race, who almost demand that the superintendent spend as little of the public funds as possible on the colored schools in the county. I speak ad- visedly on this subject. 7 / 6 SCHOOL HOUSES I find in the report of State Superintendent that there were 85 school houses built for the colored children during the scholastic year of 1912-13 throughout the State. In the 35 counties which I visited, there were 43 of the 89 new school houses erected in 22 counties in the year 1912-13. That left 13 of 35 counties visited, in which no new school house has been erected during the same period—1912-13. I’ll state, however, that in another part of the report 1 find a record of 115 new school houses built for the colored in the year 1913-14, showing an increase of 25 new school houses, over the number for the previous year. But as there is no table, as in the first instance (1912-13), published, specifying in what counties these 115 new build- ings were erected, 1 am at agloss fo™sayawiaieumo tices counties I visited, were fortunate enough to get new ones. Digressing a little, permit me to state that, in consulting the State Tax Commission Report for the year 1915, I find that the colored free-holders in the 35 counties I’ve named, and visited, and in which only 43 new school houses were built during the school year of 1912-13, were assessed for taxes on real and personal property amounting to $20,035,818. I make no comment on the obvious and striking contrast, viz.: only 43 new school houses in one year, and the more than 20 millions of dollars in wealth possessed by the race in these 35 counties. These figures convey their own silent testi- mony ; consequently there is need of no argument. Moreover, there were in this same territory of 35 counties, when the Biennial Report of the State Superintendent was issued for 1912-14, 106,165 colored school children, more than one-half of the total number of rural school children of the race in the State. Prof. N. C. Newbold, State Agent for colored rural schools, in his report for 1913-14, submitted to the Hon. J. Y. Joyner, among the other phases of the problem he discussed in con- nection with his work, said regarding the rural school con- ditions among our people :— “It.is just that a brief discussion of rural school conditions among the Negroes should be given here. It will, however, 7 be only stating over again facts that are already more or less well known to all well informed North Carolinians. ‘The av- erage Negro rural schoolhouse is really a disgrace to an inde- pendent, civilized people. ‘To one who does not know our history, these schoolhouses, though mute, would tell in un- mistaken terms of a story of injustice, inhumanity, and neglect on the part of our white people. Such a condition would ap- pear to be to an observer uninformed of our past as intolerable, indefensible, unbusinesslike, and, above all, un-Christian.” “When we come to look the matter squarely in the face, as we say, we are compelled to admit that other things, among them prejudice and neglect, have entered into the count, and we have not, as a people, tried very hard to do simple justice by the Negro. In the main the best, most tolerant minded, far- seeing among us have regarded the Negro schools as a hability rather than an asset. Many have gone on the theory that the poorer the school supplied to the Negroes, the better it would be for society and the State.” ROSENWALD FUND In the beginning of my work last fall, Prof. Newbold re- quested me to call the attention of our people to the Rosenwald Fund and its purpose, viz.: to donate one-fourth the cost of a new school house, the maximum amount being $350.00, where the other three-fourths is already guaranteed. In complying with his suggestion, I urged our people in every county i went to take advantage of this fund. As the result of such agitation, I am satisfied there will be erected from 25 to 30 new school buildings this summer, costing, per- haps, not less than $25,000. Before I began the work last fall, I am informed that at least half dozen houses had already been built, having received help from this source. Last January, when there were about 25 applications for grants to as many new school houses to be built, before the Rosenwald Fund Board, whose headquarters are at Tuskegee, and because there was more or less delay and suspense as to whether the applications would be considered favorably, in view of the late Dr. Washington’s sickness and death, Mr. Newbold requested me to go to Tuskegee and take the matter up with the Board. 8 - Just when I laid my plans to go, I was taken sick and pre- vented from going. But after I recovered from my sickness, I wrote to Mr. C. J. Calloway, Secretary of the Board, and ask- ed him please inform me what disposition they intended to make regarding our applications for aid. On February 2nd, Prof. Newbold received a telegram from Mr. -Calloway, in- forming him that the Board had granted 20 of the applications. Subsequently I received the following letter: “Tuskegee, Ala., Feb. 19, 1916. MirsCeEtleiioore Rural School Extension Dept., Greensboro, N. C. Dear Mr. Moore: “Recently the Executive Council advised that I promise twenty additional schoolhouses in N. C., aid from the Rosen- wald Fund. I have written to Mr. Newbold with reference to the matter. “IT am very glad that you are in ie field in N. C. doing good work. We hear a great deal of your work, and its far- reaching influence. : Very truly yours, Culp ALrows vs Director Extension Dept.” OTHER WORK THAN RURAL Sometimes it has been possible for us to accomplish work that will be helpful to our people by, meeting other school. officials than the county superintendents. In the conference already referred to in the beginning of this report, held in Raleigh, September 2nd, with State Supt. Joyner and his associates, Messrs. N. C. Newbold and EF. E. Sams, Dr. Joyner said that while my work would be primarily in the rural districts, nevertheless, he would suggest that I give some attention to the conduct and management of the graded schools, whenever it might be convenient for me to do so, and let the local school authorities know what I thought of the situation. 7 In a few instances, whenever the opportunity presented it- self, I’ve endeavored to carry out his suggestion. For instance, 9 last fall, in the month of September (although school hadn’t opened in Little Washington or Washington), I had a confer- ence with the city superintendent, Prof. Palmer, concerning the shabby graded school building, which the local school au- thorities tolerated for the colored children. To make a long story short, he said he was ashamed of it himself, that he was going to do whatever he could with the Board, that the old building might be replaced with a new one just as soon as possible. Right here I'll say that I have recently been informed by a reliable person that a modern, up-to-date building, with not less than 18 rooms, costing about $15,000, is now in the course of erection, or soon will be. While passing through Goldsboro the first week in Novem- ber, at the request of Rev. Clarence Dillard, 1 stopped over a few hours, and in company with him I went and had a con- ference with the city superintendent, Prof. Huffman. After expressing my opinion concerning the old dilapidated school building for the education of the colored children of the town, I soon found that he was in sympathy with my mission; be- cause he said, “I believe you can help us in this matter, if you'll write a letter to the Board of Education, when you can find the time to do so, and say to them pretty much what you have said to me on the school situation.” When I found it convenient, I wrote the letter and sent it to Prof. Huffman to hand the Board. The middle of May, while enroute to Greene County, I stopped over again in Goldsboro to learn whether or not my letter had any effect, as I had not heard anything from it since it had been written and sent last fall. Agreeable to my sur- prise, in visiting the graded school the morning of my arrival, the Rev. Dillard, the principal, as soon as he saw me said, “Come here, I have something to show you.” He walked with me a little way to the rear of the front. of the main part of the school building, and pointed to the site on which he said the Board had promised to erect this summer a two-story brick building, with rooms for graded and high school depart- ments, costing not less than $14,000. “This, said he,” is the result of your letter to our Board of Education last fall, for all of which we are very grateful to you.” 10 While in Wilmington in November, I had a conference with Professors Blair, City Superintendent, and Washington Gat- lett, County Superintendent, in regard to the ancient Williston school building. Both of them expressed themselves to me as being perfectly willing, so far as they are concerned, to do what they can to relieve the very undesirable situation. But the main obstacle in the way is a want of unity among our lead- ers in the community. And the cause of this division among them is a spirit of narrow, bigoted and intense selfishness, so I am advised. In the meantime the children suffer because of such a baneful disposition prevailing among their parents. In Charlotte, where we made an attempt to induce the local school authorities to give our people a new graded school building on Myers Street, there seemed to have been some mis- understanding as the spirit and purpose of an article, 1 wrote soon after my visit there the second week in January, and for- warded to the Charlotte Observer, to be published at their re- quest. While the colored people may not get a new building this year, nevertheless, without boasting, I am satisfied there are going to be some improvements in the school conditions in Charlotte in the near future, which, perhaps, might not have resulted had it not been for that unfortunate article of ours appearing in the Observer the morning of the 29th of January. As Shakespeare says, “All’s well that ends well.” Hear: The Board of Education for the city of Charlotte met in session the night of June 6th to elect teachers and trans- act other business in the interest of the schools for both races. The Charlotte Observer the following morning (the 7th inst.) contained the following items among others, giving an account of that meeting: “The Committee on Buildings and Grounds recommended that some needed improvements be made on the Myers Street graded school building, and, also that fire escapes be attached to the same.” “Furthermore that two additional rooms be built onto the colored graded school at Fairview, to relieve the congested situation, which has prevailed in that school for a year or two past.” 11 “Moreover, the salaries of all the grades were voted to be raised from $2.50 to $5.00 a month more than what the teachers had hitherto been getting; and provision was, also, made for the employment of a Domestic Science teacher, and a Manual Training Instructor, these being new teachers added to the teaching force.” While we do not presume to say that our interference, or intercession, if you please—brought about all of the above mentioned results, yet we feel a pardonable pride in suspecting that some of these improvements and advantages might not have been forthcoming so soon had it not been for this school extension work set in motion by your honorable body. Furthermore, Mecklenburg County, which heretofore had been enjoying only a four-months’ school term, unsupported by special taxation, as a result of this very same unfortunate article hereinbefore mention, wherein I expressed my surprise that Mecklenburg County, one of the richest in the State, could afford only a four months’ school, I surmise, is in the future going to experience the pleasure of having a five months’ school for both races. As corroborating this statement, my informant is again the Charlotte Observer of February 9th, which contains the fol- lowing: “As the result of a conference with State Superintendent of Education J. Y. Joyner on Tuesday, County Superintendent of Education J. M. Matthews received the assurance that Mecklenburg County should receive a sufficiency of revenue from the equalizing fund to insure a general five months’ term throughout the system. ‘The journey of the official to Raleigh for purposes of conference, was decided upon at a meeting of the board of school commissioners on Monday of this week, when the subject of the equalizing fund and its local applica- tion, was discussed at length. ‘The arrangements reached be- tween Mr. Matthews and Mr. Joyner are regarded as emi- nently satisfactory, since it guarantees that each of Mecklen- burg’s schools unsupported by special taxation, shall receive a pro rata share from the equalization fund of sufficient pro- portions to warrant its operations throughout the full five months.” he While, personally, we would not attempt to claim any credit for the new modern graded school buildings that have come to my knowledge, in the course of erection this year, to replace the old ones in Selma, in Raleigh, in Salisbury, and the $10,- O00 one in Greensboro, already completed the first of this year, and entered in February, and the much needed improvements having been made to the school in Greenville, costing several thousand dollars, and the additions and improvements contem- olated this summer for the one in Wilson to cost $25,000, so I am told; nevertheless, I suspect that the influence of this new educational movement, known as the Rural School Ex- tension, inspired more or less these improvements in our local school conditions. LETTERS CONCERNING THE WORK, ETC. During the year I have received hundreds of letters from county superintendents and others, in which they have ex- pressed their opinion regarding the work, etc. I shall, at this point, read a few of them, they will explain themselves. For the good of the work the names of some of the writers and the headings, are the headings are omitted. Chadbourn, N. C., Nov. 20, 1915. “Protec. tite Moore, : Greensboro, N. C. Dear Sir: “I am very much pleased with the report of your work in Columbus County. I think you got a pretty clear idea of the real situation in every school you visited. Your suggestions are timely, and they will be considered. “I am very anxious to stir up a deeper interest among the colored people in the school buildings and- equipment. You are in a position to do more along this line than I am, and I hope you will aid me in my efforts to get the colored schools in better shape. 44 pare “I hope we will have you visit Columbus again in the near future. Yours truly, F. T. Wooten, County Superintendent. 13 o Wandsor wy Gr pret}, 1916: Ei ror. ©. H.: Moore, Greensboro, N. C. ear sir: “In compliance with your request, I am sending you the names and home addresses of the colored teachers of Bertie County. “T am. glad that you came to Bertie last week. Your visit will mean much good to the schools in this county. We hope to have you again next year. Yours very truly, HERBERT W. Fiarty, County Superintendent. “June 15th, 1916. ee ror C. H. Moore, Kind Sir: “We are working here very hard for our training school, and. we feel that we will succeed after you visit here. You have no idea how much interest you stirred up in our county _on the question Oe (aces...) | ain, Very respectfully TREES YT GAA eke “June 20th, 19106. meror.. iH. Voore, ) Greensboro, N. C. Wear ir’: “T thank you very much for your interest in our behalf, and wish you much success in your immediate work. “Your visit to this county has brought to pass many things that would have remained undone. The superintendent did as he promised you with reference to the special tax fund, and as a result many of the schools have longer terms. In a talk to the County Association, I urged upon the teachers in the special tax districts to show their appreciation by at least sending their joining fee to the State Association. I cannot tell how much effect it had. | bh eny sincerelyyvourss su ere 14 “THE. JOHN ‘Fy SE Ay Bi ae ~ 61 Broapway, New York “Mareh 20, 1916: i PrOressOl. Gala yloore, 232 Mebane Street, Greensboro, N. C. My dear Mr. Moore: “T thank you for sending me the report, and would say that I certainly should like to have you send me such as oc- casion occurs. | “With good wishes. Yours truly, James H. Dinyarp.” THE UNIVERSITY QOFRWOR'T Hea Cai RurAL ECONOMICS AND SOCIOLOGY “Chapel Pian. Cami lancrie 7 iho! Mrs eV Gore, Weldon, N. C. Dear Mr. Moore: “Please let me have the accounts of your visits to the vari- ous counties; it gives me an intimate look into the condition and the progress of Negro school education in the State. You understand, of course, that I am tremendously interested in that. “With best wishes, I am, Yours truly, E. C. BRANSON.” FIRE PROTECTION The 16th of last January I received the following letter from the Hon. James R. Young, Insurance Commissioner: “STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA “Ratlei gh}? arent £O. “ETOigeGebln Moore Supervisor of Colored Schools, Greensboro, N. C. Dent ao it z I note you are going over the State inspecting colored 1d schools, and I am sending you, under separate cover, copies of two pamphlets I have issued bearing upon better and safer buildings. If you care to distribute them I will send you a sup- ply so you can give them out to the teachers at each school you visit. Very truly yours, James R. Youne, Insurance Commissioner.” Soon after receiving this letter, I answered it, and said to him that I would be pleased to distribute the circulars which he mentioned in his letter. At the same time I called his at- tention to three schools where I thought the children would be Mieareri case of a fire, I would have named other city schools, but up to the time of the reception of his letter, I had not taxed my mind so much with this particular phase of the school conditions ; and, consequently, not being so sure of the lack of fire protection in other city schools, which I visited (while I have no doubt there is such a lack in most of them), I decided that silence would be the part of discretion. In reply to my letter I received the following from Mr. Young: ; “Raleichy, Ne@arigo. 2461916: miro. ©. El. Noore, Greensboro, N. C. Wear: “Tam in receipt of yours of the 20th inst., and thank you for same. “2. .I thank you for your letter and the information there- in, and especially for your expression of willingness to help me in the matter. I am anxious to bring about a condition of - better and safer school buildings in the State, and believe that I can do so with the aid of those engaged in the work. pol thank yousior the -intormation. im regard” to ‘the schools at ‘Tarboro, Charlotte, and Elm City, and will look into them. Very truly yours, | JAMEs R. Youn, Insurance Commissioner.” 16 I found a so-called graded school at Elm City (mentioned in Mr. Young’s letter) composed of two rooms, one teacher, ten pupils of the primary grade, in a very deplorable and dis- graceful condition, both physically and otherwise. Whenever it rained from without, there was a downpour within on both teacher and handful of shivering pupils. Old tow sacks were pinned up around the rooms to shelter and to ward off the cold winds from without. T'wo old cracked stoves, but only one in use, having holes on the sides like port holes in a fort, from which, every now and then, live, hot coals of fire would leap forth onto the floor, and threaten to set the school room afire, but for a barrel of ashes being spread around in close prox- imity to the stove. ; Before leaving the town, I sought a conference with the Chairman of the School Board, and told him of the conditions, I discovered at the colored school. He confessed woeful ig- norance of the situation. On the contrary he was surprised to learn of what I had informed him. He seemingly was under the impression that everything was moving along as smoothly and beautifully in the colored school as a day in the month of June, so to speak, as he had heard of no complaint whatever, so he said. Returning to Wilson, I called on Prot. Chas. L. Coon; an honorary member of our Executive Board, and reported to him the condition of this one-teacher, graded school in the County, of which he is County, as well as City Superintendent of Wilson, N. C. After giving me an attentive and interested audience, before I left him he said that he would see to it that a change for the better was made in the conditions and environment of that school. I am glad to report too that, according to recent informa- tion, the old stoves have been replaced with new ones, and the building made more secure and comfortable for teacher and children. So you may see from these two instances, the one in Char- lotte, where the Building Committee recommended the placing of fire escapes on the Myers Street Graded School building, and the buying of new stoves for the school in Elm City, that some steps have been taken, however few, through the School 1 Extension Movement for the safe-guarding of our school chil- pe enwiti ihe -case of fire, by the Insurance Department of the State. No fire escapes have been placed on the Graded School building in Tarboro as yet. I have good reason to believe, however, that they will be before the school opens again in the fall. , GONCLUSBION Now, fellow-teachers and friends, I must stop lest I weary you. I havé tried as best I could to render a comprehensive report in detail of the work which your Executive Board elected me to accomplish. I hope what I have attempted to do Bmeeenew ficld of activity has been “worth while.” » If it isn’t, 1 am sure there is not one you who can regret it more than I. I am satisfied more might have been accomplished if First —Those who are mostly to be benefited by this move- ment had thoroughly understood and realized its inestimable value to themselves and their children, and not manifested such little interest in our visits, as too often happened in some localities. Second :—If those mémbers of the race who, through the aid of Providence.and fortuitous circumstances, have been blessed ‘with a measure of wealth to some extent, had been willing to part with a little of it for the benefit of their less fortunate brothers. Our Secretary and Treasurer, Dr. A. M. Moore, in last week’s Durham Reformer, well and truly says: “T fear that our leaders are too much absorbed in money- making and looking after their own selfish interests to make themselves felt in the community life, and this is a fatal mis- take in any community. “We provide beautiful churches and comfortable pews for our own enjoyment for two hours service on Sunday, but our children are forced to dangle their feet from uncomfortable seats in cold and poorly ventilated rooms for five days in the week. This is not right.” As a matter of fact, however, after all that has been, or may be said to the contrary, if any such thing has been said, the friends of education, who have rallied to this cause in 18 answer to the appeal of Dr. Moore, have done exceedingly well. They may congratulate and take credit to themselves for the great good that has already been accomplished as a result of their moral and material aid. Before closing this report I wish to acknowledge my in- debtedness to the representatives of the State Board of Edu- cation, the Hon. J. Y. Joyner and Prof. N.C. Newbold, Prot. EK. E. Sams, without whose kindly aid and voluntary indorse- ment it would have been impossible for me to have succeeded as wellas I did. Credit; of comrse, is very largely due sr. A. M. Moore, our Secretary-Treasurer, who, on many an oc- casion answered our call. Prof. James B. Dudley, Chairman of our Executive Board, also, rendered me very often valuable assistance. In fact there are so many who stood ready, and willing throughout the State “to hold up our hands, and strengthen our knees,” so to speak, that we haven’t time to name each one; but here I express my sincere thanks to one and all of you. One question, then 1 am done: Shall this work, so well begun, be continued? I believe all of you will agree with me that, with you rests the answer. PRESS OF THE DURHAM REFORMER DURHAM, N.C. 4 « aiff | | sf i & iY cert 7 ae Be * a ah . . ; : 4 1) i r f Vipeat gis Siete eee Wicratiimed SOLINET/ASERL PROJECT