University of North Carolina Greensboro - Pine Needles Yearbook (Greensboro, NC)

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Laura H. Coit. ' SIB, Clii Jessie EDITORS OF THE DECENNIAL ! Stamps, ' 02 Virginia 8. Ncwl. arrie L. Siiargt-r, ' 0: . 8. Ncwliy, ' 02 T. Gilbert Nettie Leete Parlier, ' 03 Cliristina M. Pearsoa Suyiler, ' 03

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ftatory of tit? North (Earoltna tnU Normal anb HltibuBtrial (Eolkg . IX tlie tonic atmosphere of universal education, which to-day stimulates to enthusiasm every true North Carolinian, one finds it hard to believe that it is only a decade since the youth of the State, interpreted from the standpoint of State provision for higher education, was conceded to mean only its sons. Notwithstandinof the fact that in Section 41 of the Constitution of 1776, adopted at Halifax, the State acknowledges its obligation to provide educa- tional facilities for the instruction of youth at low prices, and the Section closes with the words, and all useful learning shall be encouraged in one or more universities, as late as 1889 we find the Legislature, in response to the following memorial, considering for the first time a broader interpretation of this mandate : To the Honorable, the General Assembly of North Carolina: Sirs : — As members of a committee appointed by the North Carolina Teachers ' Assembly to present the matter to the Legislature, we beg to call your attention to one feature of the Training School Bill now before your honorable body. That it is expedient to change the present system of normal instruction in the State, few people doubt ; that a system of county institutes would do more good, nearly everybody admits. The Joint Committee on Education from the two Houses were unanimous on these points, and decided to report favorably the entire bill as you see it printed. It is to call your attention to the importance of the Training School as the head of the system of county institutes that we take this means of addressing you. Everybody agrees that a permanent Training School would be a good and desirable help to the school system of the State. The Superintendent of Pub- lic Instruction has twice recommended it, and the North Carolina Teachers ' Assembly, through their committee, is now asking for it for the third time. But without considering these points, it seems to us that there is one thing which alone ought to pass the bill — namely, its importance to the education of our girls. If it was wise a century ago to provide, at the State expense, a University for boys, and if it is right to give this University support now, as no one will deny, can any man consistently refuse to allow a small amount from the public school fund (not enough to shorten the school term one-half day) to establish a Training School where girls can prepare for almost the only