North Carolina Newspapers

The news in this publi cation is released, for the press on receipt. THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA NEWS LETTER Published Weekly by the University of North Caro lina for the University Ex tension Division. SEPTEMBER 14, 1927 CHAPEL HILL, N. C. THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA PRESS VOL. XIII, No. 44 Editorial Board: E. C. Branson. S. H. Hobbs. Jr.. L. R. Wilson, E. W. Knight. D. D. Carroll. J. B. Bullitt. H. W. Odui Entered as second-class matter November 14. 1914. at the Postoffice at Chapel Hill, N. C., under the act of August 24. 1912. H!GH-SCH00L GRADUATES 1927 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES The table which appears elsewhere in this issue shows how the counties of! North Carolina rank in white public | high-school graduates per ten thousand white population. The figures are for the last school year, which ended in June, 1S27. It will be noted that Pamlico ranks; first with a rate of 143.0 graduates per ten thousand white population. The actual number of graduates was eighty- educational tradition is stronger in some sections than in others, but everywhere there is an educational awakening and a constant expansion of high-school facilities is found necessary. In 1912 there were only about eight hundred high school graduates in the state; in 1927 there were 11,384 in- . eluding 797 graduates of private second- ranks low in the ratio of graduates to public-sehool enrollment. One authority , „ j ^ i claims that we rank last among the three. Pamlico ranked first last year ' Authoritative data also. Stokes ranks last with twenty- i are lacking, . , , but it is certain that we rank well down four graduates, or 12.8 graduates per , particular.- ten thousand white population. Ihe' total number of white public bigh-school Paul W. Wager. graduates in the state was 10,587, or 63.4 graduates per ten thousand white population. The previous year there were 9,166 graduates, or 47 per ten thousand white population. Boys versus Girls It is significant that 6,702 or 63.3 percent of the graduates of the white public high schools were girls, the pro portion of girl graduates being slightly higher than it was a year ago. The number of girls graduating exceeded the number of boys in every county except Avery and Cherokee. In several counties there wete twice as many girls as boys and in a few instances the disproportion was even more pro nounced. This condition is no doubt due to the fact that many boys are obliged to drop out of school to work, or at least do so. East versus West It is rather interesting to note that thirty-two of the forty-nine counties which graduated more pupils than the state average are located in the eastern half of the state, known as the Coastal Plains area. Two groups of high-rank ing counties are conspicuous, namely, the northeast Tidewater group and another centering around the Sand Hills. Probably the presence of Chowan Col lege in the one territory and Flora Macdonald in the other has had much to do in building up an educational tradition, as welt as supplying qualified teachers. The eastern part of the state has been settled longer than the western part, its families are the sur vivors of a slave-holding gentry which cherished education, and the abundance of negro labor has also been favorable to white education. Below State Average The* counties which fall below the state average of 63.4 white high-school graduates per ten thousand white popu lation lie mostly in two distinct areas, namely, the combination cotton and tobacco belt centering around Wilson, and the tier of counties along the Vir ginia and Tennessee border, stretching all the way from Caswell to Cherokee, with the exceptions of Alleghany and Watauga which barely make the higher bracket. In other words, this group includes most of the northern Piedmont counties and most of the Mountain counties. The low-ranking counties are the excessively rural counties of the west and the combination cotton-tobacco counties of the east with high white tenancy ratios. Urban and Rural It is rather surprising that many of the counties which rank high in high- school graduates are rural, and that some of the urban counties rank rela tively low. The five highest-ranking counties are all rural counties,, though two urban counties appear among the highest ten. Mecklenburg ranks twenty- seventh, Buncombe thirty-fifth. Wake thirty-seventh, Guilford forty-fifth, and Gaston seventy-third. Although the urban counties usually have superior school systems, the mortality among high-school students is high. Some of the counties ranking high last year rank low this year and vice versa, indicating that there is\ a great deal of fluctuation in the number of graduates. For instance, Durham had 129 last year and 306 this year; New Hanover had77last year, 225 this year; Edgecombe had 82 last year and 52 this year. Local Attitude After all it is local sentiment more than economic factors or school facili ties which determines the extent to which high schools are patronized. The THE HIGH SCHOOL STATUS There is not a county in the state that has iiot at least one public stan dard high school and most of the coun ties have two or more such schools. There are 607 public high schools that are standard or accredited and 40 private, making a total of 547 standard high schools for the white pupils in the state. It is true that 170 of the 607 public accredited high schools be long to the lowest class; that is, a three-teacher high school with a four- year course and an eight-months i term. It is interesting to note in this connec tion that the size of the high school, both in enrollment and in number of teachers employed, is increasing. There are 232 Group II, Class A schools, which means that each of these schools has at least four teachers with an average daily attendance of 70 pupils. All Group II schools have at least an eight-months term. There are 66 schools running at least nine months with four teachers and an average daily attendance of 70, and 67 schools running nine months with at least six teachers and an average daily at tendance of at least 130 pupils in each school. Some schools of the larger type are being developed in the state. There are 23 schools with at least 12 teachers and an average daily attendance of 300 pupils in each school running at least nine months. The largest of these single schools is Winston-Salem (Richard J. Reynolds High School) in which 73 teachers are employed with an enrollment of 1,788 pupils and an average daily attendance of 1,629 pupils. There is a total of 726 high schools of all sorts for white children. Enrollment Increases The enrollment in the schools is steadily increasing. In the public high schools 81,021 pupils are enrolled and in private schools 4,072 making a total enrollment of 86,093. The 81,021 public high-school students were distributed as follows: First year 30,209 Second year 21,964 Third year /. 15,986 Fourth year 12,873 This enrollment is not as large as it should be. In order to have the in telligence which should characterize a progressive democratic commonwealth at least 10 percent of the total popu lation should be enrolled in high school. While the progress in the state is encouraging and commendable much remains to be done. It is interesting to note that of the 30,209 first-year pupils 19,274 are in rural schools; of the 21,964 second-year pupils 13,682 are in rural schools; of the 16,986 third- year pupils 9,720 are rural; of the 12,873 fourth-year pupils 7,684 are rural. In other words the boys and girls in the rural districts are more and more being supplied or given something like an equality of educa tional opportunity so far as high schools are concerned. It is true, however, in this connection that the student in the small high school does not have the same or equal chance with the pupil in the larger type of school. Graduates Increase Increasing numbers of pupils are stay ing in high school until they graduate. Of the 10,687 graduates of public high schools 6,496 were from rural high schools and 4,092 from special charter or urban schools. The private high schools with an enrollment of 4,072 graduated 797 pupils, bringing the total number of graduates in all high schoeds MODERN PUBLIC LIBRARY The modern public library believes that it should find a reader for every book on its shelves and provide a book for every reader in its com munity, and that it should in all cases bring book and reader together. This is the meaning of the great multiplication of facilities in the modern library—the lending of books for home use, free access to shelves, cheerful and homelike library build ings, rooms for children, cooperation with schools, interlibrary loans, longer hours of opening, more use ful catalogues and lists, the exten sion of branch-library systems and of traveling and home libraries, co ordination of work through lectures and exhibits—the thousand and one activities that distinguish the mod ern library from its more passive predecessor.—A.E. Bostwick, libra- riao. St. Louis. NOTES ON PUBLIC EDUCATION 7. AN EFFECTIVE COUNTY ORGANIZATION in the state to 11,384. Between 60 and 60 percent of these high-school graduates will enter college somewhere. This large number of high-school graduates has tremendously increased the demands upon the colleges of the state. To be sure too many ot our high- school boys and girls drop out before they finish the high-school course, but it is gratifying that so many complete the course and that so many enter college and thereby equip themselves more adequately for more effective citizenship. It is likely,that the enrollment in white high schools during the session 1927-28 will be about 116,000 and the number of graduates should be about 12,500. Tfie problem of High School Reorgan ization is well under way and should greatly simplify the work of the high school. A few of the objectives or goals which should be set up are these: 1. A larger type of high school wherever it is possible to develop such school by means of consoli dation and transportation. An increase in the length of the term, giving all pupils as far as possible a term of at least 160 days exclusive of holidays and 180 to 200 days wherever possible. Increased information or know ledge on the part of high-school pupils of the subjects taught in the high school. This can be brought about through better- trained teachers, more adequate equipment, and increased empha sis upon directed study. In other words high school pupils need to study more, to learn more and, therefore, to know more in order to be equipped more adequately for participation in the worth while work of the world fpr those who leave school and for prepara tion for college on the part of those who continue their school training.—J. Henry Highsmith. j The size of the board decermines I somewhat its effectiveness. The ten dency is toward a board of five meni- I bers, though very good results are I evidenced in states with boards of three ’ members and others with boards of seven j or nine. The members are elected from j the county at large or from electoral dis- I tricts, sometimes but not always on a non-partisan ticket. The individuals on the board should be men and women of high standing and ability, interested in education, but not necessarily selected from those who have had actual school I experience. They should serve with- ! out pay, except for the necessary ex- ; penses when attending board meetings, i Their duties are strictly legislative, I leaving all executive functions to the j county superintendent, j Among progressive states with mod- • ern county school systems the following are recognized as duties of the county I board of education: I 1. To enforce the laws, relative to ! education and the rules and regulations of the state board of education within their respective counties. 2. To select the county superinten dent and all necessary supervisors and office assistants; also to select one director for each school community within their jurisdiction, who shall be the custodian of local school property and represent local needs before the county boards. 3. To have direct charge of all county schools outside of incorporated city districts, including the closing of unnecessary schools, building new schools, consolidating schools, and con veying children to school, and organiz ing rural hitzh schools. 4. To select ail teachers needed in the county schools, on nomination of the county superintendent. 6. To levy a uniform school tax on all the taxable property of the county under legal limitations and to expend the funds thus procured to equalize educational advantages among all the school childnen of the county. 6. To exercise all other powers and duties not enumerated above but which are prescribed by law. Subdistrict trustees.—In nearly all states organized with the county as the unit for administrative purposes, subdistrict trustees, one to three for each school or school district, are ap pointed by the board or elected by the people to have general charge of the school plant, to perform certain duties assigned either by law or by the county board of education, and to act in an advisory capacity to the county board concerning school conditions in their districts. These subdistrict trustees act as local representatives of the people of the county, receive sugges tions from the people, and make rec ommendations to the county board on the basis of these suggestions. In some states they are intrusted with important duties, such as keeping the school building in repair, having charge of thi care and supply of school equip ment, assisting in enforcement ot the compulsory education law, and taking the school census. 2. 3. WHITE PUBLIC HIGH-SCHOOL GRADUATES In North Carolina per 10,000 White Population in 1927 In the following table, based on information supplied by the State Depart ment of Education, and adjusted population figures, the counties are ranked according to the number of white children graduating from public schools in 1927 per 10,000 white population. The parallel column shows the actual number of white graduates in each county. Pamlico, with 83 graduates, leads with a rate of 143.0 white high-school graduates per 10,000 white population. Stokes, with 24 graduates, comes last with a rate of only 12.8 high-school graduates per 10,000 white population. The state average was 63.4. The total number of white high-school graduates in the state this present year was 10,587, an increase of 1,421 over last year. The number in each county varied from 414 in Guilford to 8 in Graham. Twenty-two counties had one-half of the total number. Of the total number of graduates, 3,886 were boys and 6,702 girls. In addition to the above there were 797 graduates from private high schools, giving a grand total of 11,384 high-school graduates for 1927. Department of Rural Social-Economics, University of North Carolina FARM HOME COMFORTS Thirty-seven out of every 100 farm homes reprted water piped into the kitchen'in a recent survey of farm- home equipment made by the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. Some 40,000 women in 642 counties of forty- six states replied to the questionnaire. It was shown that forty-seven out of 100 have water piped to the back porch or some point near so that in more than half of the farm homes the water for household use must be brought from a place outside the house. About twenty percent of the farms receive electric power from a central station and nine percent of the homes have individual electric plants. In more than half, the old-fashioned wick lamps are used. Wood stoves are the prevailing method of heating. Only fifty-eight out of every 100 homes have any way of keeping food cool in the heat of summer. In most cases the washing is done at home, forty- two out of 100 homes having washing machines. Eighty-six percent of the homes have doors and windows screened. Thirty-seven percent of the homes have pianos and thirty-five percent have phonographs. More than one- fifth have radios. Almost four-fifths of the families have automobiles.—The Nation’s Health. White Graduates White Graduates high- per 10,000 high- per 10,000 school white school white Rank County graduates popula- Rank County graduates popula- 1927 tion 1927 tion 1 Pamlico 83. .... 143.0 61 Martin 63 .... S0.4 2 Richmond ... 248. .... 137.0 62 Chatham 84. .... 60.3 3 Northampton 109. .... 116.0 63 Burke no. .... 50.2 4 Gates 68.. .... 106.5 64 Beaufort 98. .... 50.0 6 Warren 79. .... 96.4 64 Hoke 28. .... 50.0 6 Durham 305. .... 91.1 66 Henderson.... 87. .... 48.8 7 Moore 166. .... 89.1 67 Anson 70. .... 48.6 8 Scotland 51. .... 86.0 67 Halifax 102. .... 48.6 9 Hertford 63. .... 84.1 69 Stanly 136. .... 48.2 10 New Hanover 226. .... 76.8 60 Davidson 171. .... 47.8 11 Lee 80. .... 74.8 60 Pitt 122. .... 47.8 12 Cumberland . 176. .... 74.3 62 Haywood 116. .... 47.1 13 Washington . 44. .... 73.4 63 Forsyth 299. .... 47.0 14 Catawba 251. .... 73.2 64 Sampson 123. .... 46.8 16 Union 217.. .... 73.1 66 Rutherford.. 136. .... 46.6 16 Montgomery.. 81.. ... 71.0 66 Wilson no. .... 46.4 17 Bertie 77,. ... 70-6 67 McDowell .... 79 .... 46.2 18 Craven 107. .... 68.6 68 Avery 49. .... 45.8 19 Alexander 79.. ... 66.9 69 Johnston .... 189. .... 46.2 20 Iredell 221.. .... 66.8 70 Clay 22. .... 44.0 21 Granville 98.. ... 65.8 71 Lenoir 83. .... 43.2 22 Alamance .... 180.. ... 66.7 72 Caldwell 82.. .... 42.9 23 Duplin 138.. ... 66.4 73 Davie 60.. ... 42.0 24 Carteret 28.. ... 66.2 73 Gaston 216.. .... 42.0 26 Chowaii 36.. ... 63.7 75 Columbus 89.. .... 41.6 26 Pender 47.. ... 6?.6 76 Orange 66.. ... 41.3 27 Mecklenburg 398.. ... 63.4 77 Transylvania 40.. ... 40.0 28 Perquimans... 36.. ... 63.2 78 Robeson 111.. ... 39.6 29 Person 71.. .. 62.3 79 Randolph 106.. ... 37.4 30 Franklin 99.. ... 61.8 80 Yancey 61.. ... 36.3 31 Pasquotank... 67.. ... 61.4 81 Madison 71.. ... 35,8 32 Cleveland 191.. ... 60.8 82 Yadkin 66.. .... 36.0 32 Folk 48., ... 60.8 83 Vance 61.. ... 34.4 ' 34 Nash 169.. ... 60.2 84 Swain 49.. ... 34.3 36 Buncombe 379.. ... 60.0 86 Surry no.. ... 34.2 36 Wayne .... 166.. ... 69.4 86 Harnett 80.. ... 33.7 37 Wake 307.. ... 69.2 87 Ashe 73.. ... 33.3 38 Hyde .... 30.. ... 68.8 88 Brunswick.... 32,. ... 32.7 38 Lincoln 97.. ... 68.8 89 Greene 28.. ... 32.2 38 Tyrrell .... 20.. ... 68.8 90 Cabarrus 102.. ... 31.5 41 Rowan .... 222.. ... 68.3 91 Dare 15.. ... 30.0 42 Camden 19.. ... 67.6 92 Edgecombe .. 52.. ... 29.2 42 Jackson 72.. ... 67.6 93 Mitchell 34.. ... 28.6 44 Guilford 414.. ... 66.3 94 Onslow 43.. ... 26.9 46 Watauga .... 78... ... 66.7 96 Wilkes 83.. ... 26.8 46 Bladen .... 72... ... 66.4 96 Caswell 20.. ... 23.8 47 Jones . .. 33... ... 66.0 97 Cherokee 27... ... 17.2 48 Currituck .... 76... .. 64.3 98 Graham • 8... ... 16.7 49 Alleghany .... 38... .. 63.6 99 Macon 21... .. 16.3 50 Rockingham... .... 202... .. 52.2 100 Stokes 24... .. 12.8