Since Parents Already Pay Taxes to Allow Their Children to Attend School Until Age 21, Should They Pay Extra for City High Schools? Sept. 9, 1925

The School Situation in Johnston County

The school situation appears to be coming to a head. For months we have heard criticisms of this board and that board, the county superintendent, the special chartered schools and those that are not special chartered, until, as the opening of the schools approaches, the situation is demanding relief.

The effort to get some satisfaction yesterday failed and on Friday a mass meeting will be held to consult with both the board of county commissioners and the county board of education.

The situation I part as we talked with various school patrons in the county seems to be that in those districts where there are not large enough high school pupils to justify the employment of a high school teacher, no provision has been made for their attendance upon high school. High school instruction is available but at a tuition cost. These patrons insist that since they pay school tax for the purpose of sending their children between the ages of six and 21 to school, this tuition for six months should come out of the tax money. A number of them have been to Raleigh to see State Superintendent Allen, and they feel that they have a just contention. There are many phases to the situation which some do not understand. The county commissioners and the county board of education appear to have the law on their side. But the pity of the whole affair is the fact that some boy or girl will be knocked out of attending school this winter unless something is done. It may mean they will lose interest in school and stop altogether. Aycock and McIver’s dream—that of equal opportunity for every child in North Carolina—is far from being realized yet. There are many problems still to be worked out. But we are optimistic enough to believe that all of this discussion which is now going on will result in a better understanding, and a more cooperative action in providing equal school facilities for the children of Johnston County in the future.

Some have intimated that politics has affected the situation. No doubt it has had some weight, but as we saw those me here yesterday, we were not impressed as much with party lines as we were that parents, both Democrats and Republicans, were intensely interested in seeing that their boys and girls have the chance of an education.

From the editorial page of The Smithfield Herald, Tuesday morning, September 8, 1925

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073982/1925-09-08/ed-1/seq-4/