CONFERENCE OF STATE SUPERINTENDENTS AND STATE AGENTS OF NEGRO SCHOOLS
EDGEWATER PARK, MISSISSPPI - DECEMBER 15, 16, 17, 1946
III Major Problems in Negro Education
A. Graduate instruction; Junior College development (see data from Dr. Shepard
and President Bluford)
B. Progress in race relation (see statement to presidents of Duke and Univer-
sity of North Carolina, and Dr. Erwin)
C. Jeanes work and supervision of rural schools. In 1933, in the heart of the
1929-1938 depression, the Legislature of North Carolina made several drastic
changes in the public school system of North Carolina. One of these changes
was the elimination of supervision in local administrative units so far as
support from state funds was concerned. Since that time, supervision by
Jeanes Teachers as we have known it and been mostly on a part-time basis,
that is, the Jeanes worker was a full-time teacher or principal, with only
very limited time given to supervision. This has been true since 1933, except
in some counties, from ten to fifteen, where the totaly salary and expense of
travel were paid from county funds. To this was added a small token allot-
ment by the Southern Education Foundation.
Prospects in this field of service seem brighter now. The State Board of
Education, now a very potent agency in public education, has recommended to
the Budget Commission and the Legislature that funds be provided sufficient
to employ 125 supervisors whose salaries would be about $2,750 per year.
The recommendation is that two thirds of these salaries be paid from state
funds; with one-third of salaries and travel allowance to be provided by the
counties.
If this recommendation is approved by the Legislature, it will mean that
instruction in the public schools should be very greatly improved. It is
also reasonable to assume that a fair proportion of this service will be
used in Negro schools.
The part-time Jeanes supervisor in one county reports an item of progress
as follows: “Rockingham County votes £1,500,000 to build and repair
all county schools. The completion of this program will mean every Negro
boy and girl will attend a modern consolidated grammar and high school with
access to school bus transportation.”
D. Distribution of school funds. In a centralized system of public education
such as obtains in North Carolina, a very small percentage is distributed,
as that term is generally understood. All salaries of teachers, principals
and superintendents are drawn by the city or county superintendent upon the
State Treasurer. The same is true of all other school personnel. Likewise,
all kinds of supplies, furniture, equipment, fuel and the like are paid for
in the same way. After the checks are used and cancelled, they are, so far
as school personnel are concerned, returned to the files of the State Board
of Education where they became a permanent record. There is no dis-
tribution of state school funds to local units except in such cases if special
funds such as Jeanes money and other similar funds, and they are drawn payable
direct to whom they are due.
