University of North Carolina Chapel Hill - Yackety Yack Yearbook (Chapel Hill, NC)

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opportunity for studying every phase of school work. Here he colikI practically test the best methods of teaching, he had daily experience in training young teachers for their work, he was ever laboring for the building up of the school library, and the needs of his own school system forced him to plan constantly to secure fostering legislation for public schools. And again, his duties led him to arrange courses of study, to supervise the making of programs and schedules, and to settle in the best way possible many questions so vital to the successful management of a public school system. In 1893 he was elected Professor of English in the State Normal and Indus- trial College where, for nine years, he made a splendid record as a teacher of the young women of North Carolina, many of whom are now faithful and effi- cient teachers in the schools throughout our State. In 1902, upon the death of Gen. Toon, he was appointed State Superintend- ent of Public Instruction by Governor Aycock. At the general election held the following autumn, he was elected by the unprecedented majority of 67,631, and, in 1904, he was re-elected by an overwhelming vote. As State Superintendent, he has been aggressive, wise, and successful. He has so developed and organized the department of education, that the service. ' ; of two additional men of public school training and experience are employed as assistants in the office. Under his leadership, the number of public school libraries has steadily increased, many districts have been consolidated, new houses built, local taxes have been voted in order to lengthen the school terms, a great stride toward compulsory education has been taken by recent legislative enactment, a bill ir. aid of the establishment of county public high schools has become a law, the pub- lic school law has been greatly improved, and the seven Colored Normal Schools have been consolidated into three better and more effective ones and placed under competent supervision. So well had he served as State Superintendent, that after the death of Dr. Mclver, all eyes turned toward him as the logical successor, and his election was a foregone conclusion. At this time, however, teachers, college faculties, and the public generally, so earnestly begged him to continue as State Superin- tendent and personally direct and carry out the many plans he had already inaugurated, that he refused to allow his name to be considered by the Board of Trustees ; and to-day, encouraged and buoyed up by the unanimous support and hearty good will of his fellow citizens, he is laboring constantly, thoughtfully, wisely, and successfully for the coming of that time when every child in North Carolina shall have abundant opportunity for training in any branch of modern education. The University is proud of the record she has made by giving to the State such public school leaders as Yancey, Murphy, Wiley, and Mclver ; and when she looks at the life and service of Mr. Joyner, she feels that she has given another son who, like his predecessors, has led the people to better things in education.

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JAMES YADKIN JOYNER THE editors take genuine pleasure in dedicating this number of the Yackety i Yack to Hon. James Yadkin Joyner, State Superintendent of Public In- struction for North Carolina. If University life, during the first decade following its re-opening in 1875, is especially characterized by any one thing, it is the pronounced trend of thought among the students of that period towards the righteousness of public school education as a State policy and the profession of teaching as an inviting field of public service. Among the alumni of this first decade. Mr. Joyner stands pre-eminent for good works in the several departments of public education, having served his people not only as principal of a private school, but as a public school teacher, county superintendent of public schools, city superintendent of schools, con- ductor of Teachers ' Institutes, college professor, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction. It is with pride, then, that his Alma Mater gives this brief story of his life and service. Mr. Joyner was born in Yadkin county, August 7th. 1862. His parents were John and Sallie Wooten Joyner, the former being of German and English descent, and the latter being of English and Welsh parentage. Left an orphan when he was not more than one year old, he was cared for by his grand-father. Council Wooten, Esq., until he was ten years of age, and then upon the death of his grandfather, he w-as taken into the home of his uncle and aunt. Mr. and ? [rs. S. T- Wooten who gave him the tender care of loving parents. After preparation for college at La Grange Academy, Mr. Joyner entered the University in 1878 and graduated three years later with the degree of A.B. After graduation he taught for three years as Principal of La Grange Academy and for two years of this period he acted as Superintendent of Schools for Lenoir county thus receiving valuable experimental knowledge bearing on many questions of popular education which, later on, he was to be called on to solve as the trusted leader of our State ' s educational system. He next taught success- fully for one year in the Graded Schools of Winston, after which he read law at Greensboro under Dick and Dillard. and upon receiving his license, practiced his profession at Goldsboro from 1886 to 1889. In 1889 he was elected Superin- tendent of the Goldsboro Graded Schools, succeeding Dr. E. A. Alderman who had been appointed State Teachers ' Institute Conductor. His four years service in Goldsboro was of practical value in fitting him for the great work in which he is to-day engaged. In this service he had fine

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Indeed, it seems as there is something in the Hfe here at Chapel Hill that breeds in one a desire to champion the cause of popular education. This spirit will ever live here and impress itself upon our students, and in all the fights he shall make for the children of our State. University men will rally around Mr. Jovner and loyally support him. May he long remain the leader of our people in their great fight agamst illiteracy in Xorth Carolina. M. C. S NoBi.E