Friday, March 7, 2014

State To Provide Tuition-free College to Train Teachers in Western N.C., 1903

Watauga Democrat, March 12, 1903

The Newland Bill to establish a training School for Teachers passed the House by an overwhelming majority and made its way through the Senate 25 to 12. The school is to be located in one of the following counties: Yancey, Mitchell, Watauga, Caldwell, Ashe, Alleghany, and it gives free tuition to all teachers of public schools in North Carolina. Two well-known citizens of each county compose the Board of Trustees, who will locate the school. Capt. E.F. Lovill and Mr. Moses H. Cone are Watauga’s Trustees.

The bill provides that whenever an amount raining anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000 by private subscription, is secured, that an equal amount shall come from the State’s Treasury for the plant; also $2,000 per annum for running expenses of the school.

The trustees and county superintendents of the above named counties are to meet at a call of the State Supt. In Blowing Rock next May and organize. It really looks like business and the mountain counties are recognized at last. Mr. Newland—the paper says—made a magnificent speech in behalf of the bill—the most masterly effort made during the meeting of the General Assembly.


This means much along educational lines in the west, and we take this opportunity to thank the broad-minded men throughout the State for this little concession to our mountain teachers, who have worked so long under many disadvantages.

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