The North Carolinian

The North Carolinian.
FAYETTEVILLE.
Saturday, March 9, 1839.

COMMON SCHOOLS.

In the State of North Carolina, we are too apt to find fault with what may be done in the Legislature for the improvement of the State. -It should be remembered that, in a country like ours, where public opinion has almost the force of law, it is indispensable to the success of any scheme or project that may be adopted by our lawgivers in the Legislature, that the citizens should, in the first place, inform themselves well, as to the provisions and details of the measures adopted. And, in the next place, to determine, that where no better plan or enactment is likely to be soon offered for the public good, to join heartily in the support of the one proposed, although we may not in all regards, approve its provisions, or may fancy in our own minds, something less objectionable.

Our Legislature has already done much for education. It has erected, and endowed on a liberal scale, a University for the education of those, whose parents have the means to bestow on them a thorough education.

The Legislature have, for several years past, enacted salutary laws, establishing, and gradually enlarging, by sundry appropriations, a respectable fund in amount, with the design, from the interest thereof, to commence the establishment of Common Schools on some regular system, throughout all the counties of the State. The object of these well advised Legislative enactments, is, in addition to the facilities already furnished, by a collegiate course of instruction for the children of the wealthier classes, to bring the means of common school instruction, home to the door of every citizen.

To attain this latter object, an act was passed by the last Legislature, designed as a commencement of this great, this very desirable work. And by this act it is provided (as with the greatest propriety it should be,) that the free citizens of the whole State, shall be, in the outset, called upon to pronounce their solemn judgment, upon the propriety of its provisions.

The sheriffs are to give public notice, that at the next August election for members of Congress, the free voters (for such members) will be called upon to vote, for or against the adoption of the plan proposed in the above named act. That is, they are to vote- "school" or "no school"-as they shall be for, or against it.

Where a majority in the respective counties, favor the plan, the next county court is to appoint commissioners, to lay off school districts, not above six miles square, and when the taxes for the county are laid, twenty dollars will be required to be collected from each district, and a school house built. To this twenty dollars, forty more will be immediately added, to be paid out of the present year's interest of the school fund of the State, and with this sum of sixty dollars, and with the suitable building for a school house ready erected, the commissioners appointed, from among every man's neighbors in his own district, are to proceed in the use of it, to establish schools.

With this sum of sixty dollars a teacher may be employed to teach during the winter season, for six months, and during that period, all the children within the district may be instructed, in reading, writing, English Grammar and Arithmetic, without paying one cent of tuition or board.

Will any presume to say, that the adoption of such a plan is accomplishing nothing for the cause of education?

How many individuals in the State, (even of those who are called wealthy) send their children to school, upon an average, six months in the year? Remember it is employing children, one half of the year at school. Very few do this.

Will it be no benefit to the whole population of the State, to enable every father or guardian to do it ?

Let every one take a glance at the amount that will be thus annually expended in the good cause of enlightening the public mind, by the plan proposed.

The State of North Carolina comprises a territory of 43,800 square miles. There must be therefore at the least 1,216 School Districts, (without allowing for such as by the act, are to be of smaller dimensions when the density of the population will justify it,) which at 60 dollars each will amount to no less than 73,000 dollars, besides the value of 1,216 School Houses, large enough to accommodate fifty scholars each.

Let no one then be found to say that the Legislature have done nothing in this matter. Let none indulge in the usual querulous, censorious spirit prone to complain, that nothing is done when the fault is in themselves.

On the contrary, let every one take the trouble to procure the Act of Assembly, and read it attentively, so as to be enabled to remember its provisions, and impart them to all who are entitled to vote for members of Congress.

Let those persons of wealth and leisure and education, be especially careful enough of the interests of the lower classes, to bestir themselves by distributing a thorough knowledge of the Act of Assembly, so that the voters may be prepared to know something of the subject they are required to exercise their suffrages upon.

If one-tenth part the pains that are taken in Congressional elections, shall be exercised honestly and heartily, on this subject of schools, there will not be a county in the State, where the plan will not be adopted. And the matter being once set on foot, the Legislature may enlarge and improve it to any extent, attainable within the reasonable pecuniary means of the State.

We shall recur to this subject again, from time to time.