Should School Terms be 8 Months Instead of 6 Months Long? Dec. 2, 1925

School Term Is to Remain Same for Some Years. . . Forces Favoring Two Months Extension Are Forced to Wait

Raleigh, Dec. 2—For the enlightenment of a wary legislative and political leaders, who have registered fear that the “time is not ripe” for the statewide eight months school term, Superintendent of Public Instruction A.T. Allen pointed out today that, at the earliest, the extended term cold not be put into effect before 1929 or 1930.

The school forces, who are organizing in earnest for a campaign in the next legislature to add two months to the constitutional term, have met thus far little active opposition. Somewhat disconcerting, however, has been the occasional comment of a legislative or political cadre warning against “trying to progress too rapidly.”

The circumstances of the school term fight are such, Mr. Allen assured today, that there can be no hurry in the first place. The school people will have to wait until the legislature 13 months hence. That will be in January 1927. If the solons agree to submit a constitutional amendment providing for the extended term, it can not be voted upon by the people until the general election of 1928. So that, if it carries, it cannot be put into effect until the fall of 1928, or possibly the year following.

By then, certainly, Mr. Allen thinks the time ought to be ripe. Ever legislature that turns the proposition down will be delaying it just two years longer, and the school people think the state’s duty to the children is such that it can not afford to wait indefinitely.

Most of the calls for “time” have been based on the need for the enactment first of legislation that will equalize the school tax burden among the counties of the state. The school forces think five years should be ample.

The 1927 session could submit the amendment, they argue, the 1929 legislature could work out the financial problems. The condition of the state by that time should be such as to justify the necessary legislation.

Between three and four million dollars I the estimate of what it would cost to extend to eight months the term of every school now running six. The present cost of running the schools is around $20 million, so that the added financial layout necessary would be about 20 per cent of the current total.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 1925

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